Hello Every One...New here

[gordogutierrez]

Hello every one...I'm looking for a little advice as to what would be the best sps or lps corals (fastest growing) to add to my tank. I have a 220 reef ready with 100 gallon sump. around 280 lbs live rock. 72 inch aquapro with three 150 watt hqi de metal halides, ev 180 protein skimmer and a 1/3 chiller. The tank has been up and running for about three years. I havnt had any issues growing soft corals but i havnt been putting alot into it either. What should I add??? thanks

[Original Fin]

Welcome Gordo,

What is the height on your tank? Reason I ask, is that those 150w halides might be on the weak side for most SPS and LPS corals. I'm not saying they'll die under that light, but growth and color would be stifled for sure. If sticking with Halides, I'd do at least 3 or 4 250's, or 3 400's if you really wanted to focus solely on SPS. Acroporas can grow pretty quick under the right lighting and with the right feeding.

I haven't had much experience myself, but of the SPS I have had, birdsnests and monti caps seem to grow real quick. On the LPS side, I've had favia, brains, frogspawn and duncans. The Duncans are the fast growers of that bunch, as long as you target feed them.

[gordogutierrez]

From the halides to the top of the sand bed is 30 inches....

[Original Fin]

Yep, that's pretty deep. I'd definately recommend more intense lighting for SPS and LPS.
Or maybe you have room to supplement what you already have with additional T5's? They don't make 'em that long, but they do go up to 60" @ 80 watts, which would leave a 6" gap on the ends, by it's do-able.
You could add 4-6 of those to what you already have and probably do pretty well with mid to upper level placement on SPS, and LPS down low.


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[FoMoCo Master Tech]

I agree with Fin on the corals he listed. My monti cap has more than doubled in size in just a handful of months. Both my frogspawn and hammer corals have more than doubled as well. I got a frag of green acans a few months ago and it went from three heads, to 10+. A stylo frag I got has been growing slow and steady. Lighting is only part of the equation. Be sure nitrates are as low as possible and calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium are balanced. Also, soft corals have the tendency to inhibit stony coral growth so try to keep them apart. I noticed slower growth from my acans when my pulsing Xenia started to take over the tank. Same with the monti cap. It could have been coincidence but that's my story so I'm sticking with it!