Starter SPS?

Reinhold · 10-25-2001, 10:23 AM

Well, I've been reading all of the posts about how having hard corals will make you want to toss the softies in the lake.

So far, I only have softies in my tank, but I'd like to try an SPS. What would be a good, easy SPS to start with?

SueT · 10-25-2001, 10:44 AM

Reinhold, for a nice colorful starter sps coral you cannot go wrong with any of the montipora digitata's. I have green, orange and purple-pink tipped. They grow like mad and you will see growth instantly. Of course, this all has to do with your water param's. and lighting. With monti's. you can get away with less intense lighting as some of the other sps demand. Give them good current and good water quality and enough lighting and you may be looking for that lake.

my 180 ecosystem sps tank:
http://berlinmethod.com/suet/
my 120 sps tank:
http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html
www.marshreef.org/members

naser · 10-25-2001, 11:01 AM

sue, fot the 120 is that the amount of light your using currentlly? i just bought a 125 i was going to use two 400 mh's along with 2 140 vho atinics. i was thinking id still need more light. i have two 55watt pc's that i can use in the middle for more daylight? im not sure if ill need it though? any recomendations? nice tank once again.

Reinhold · 10-25-2001, 11:02 AM

SueT:

Beautiful tank pics on your web sites.

Are metal halides a "must" for SPS corals? I have a 55+ with 260 watts of PC lighting. I have a Crocea clam (which I mistakenly bought as a Derasa,) and it is thriving under the PC"s.

naser · 10-25-2001, 11:03 AM

my t ank is also 72 inches instead of 48? i might need the middle light then.

SueT · 10-25-2001, 11:26 AM

naser, Thanks again. The 120 had 2 250w iwasaki's and everyone was so into the "more light" thing I wanted to try them too. I have not been as happy with them as I thought I'd be. I love the way my 180 looks, lighting wise. I have 3 250w iwasaki's. IMO, you're 125 would crank with that light configuration. Add some actinics and I really feel you'd be happy with it. I actually am thinking of taking the 400w iwasaki's and replace them with 2 250w iwasaki's. When I switched out to the 400's I lost all of my blue for green. I have tons of blue in the 180 with the 250w iwasaki's.
Reinhold, Thank you too, I very much appreciate the nice words and encouragement. You can get away with some of the montipora that are tank raised with pc's. You would just need to do some checking to find out who has them. You do not have to have MH's for some sps corals. You may switch out some of the nice colors for health though. If you can find someone who has raised or grown the frags under pc's or vho's try them. You just might have to place them higher in your tank. HTH..

my 180 ecosystem sps tank:
http://berlinmethod.com/suet/
my 120 sps tank:
http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html
www.marshreef.org/members

naser · 10-25-2001, 05:37 PM

well ive got 2 140 watt super atinic r vho's to go with my 400 watt mh's.. should i go to two 250's?

SueT · 10-25-2001, 06:53 PM

naser, I think it's totally up to you and the lighting look you want to achive. I'm not happy with the 400w iwasaki's, and mine have the white look to the eye. It isn't the yellow some have experienced. I just do not like the color my sps have "not" colored up to. I love the 250w iwasaki's, and I think my 180 shows that you don't have to have 400w MH's to achive nice colored sps corals. HTH...

my 180 ecosystem sps tank:
http://berlinmethod.com/suet/
my 120 sps tank:
http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html
www.marshreef.org/members

naser · 10-25-2001, 08:38 PM

agreed... im thinking about going 20000k just so i can get alot of color...

Ironreef · 10-25-2001, 08:54 PM

fwiw I got a polciporia (sp) frag from a guy , it grows like mad in his 75g with just no lights. he keeps it up top and its brown with green tint. i put it in my 120g with 2-250 6.5k and 3 110vho it just turns light brown with pink tint.(@1mo) may change color more. My point is sps can be kept in alot of different light sources just need to know where it comes form.

**kevinpo** · 10-25-2001, 10:59 PM

I would agree with Sue that Montipora digitata corals have a wide range of light tolerances. Porites antennuata, and Porites lutes also are pretty bullet proof. If you don't have enough light for them they will fade over a 3-4 week period. If you already have them at the highest point centered under your lights you might have to increase your lighting intensity. Generally for SPS 3-5 watts per gallon works for me.

Regards,
Kevin

Barry N. · 10-26-2001, 10:09 AM

I would have to agree with Sue as I have had both lights, 250 and 400s. When I went to 400s the color of my SPS seem to lose there color and looked wasted out. I never had any trouble with the 250 but when I went to 400s my problems started, mostly cause I didn't have a chiller and didn't need one with 250s but with 400s I found that they got hotter. When I go back to MH as now I am using 4 x VHOs I will go with the 250s.

Sue you 180 looks GREAT

Barry

SueT · 10-26-2001, 11:38 AM

Barry, Thank you. I'm so sorry to hear about the problems you have had. I hope things get better. These 400w'ers can heat my entire house up during summer months, like living in Houston isn't bad enough. I may keep them around for winter and save on the heating bill.

The 250w IMO, are more than enough for colorful sps corals.

my 180 ecosystem sps tank:
http://berlinmethod.com/suet/
my 120 sps tank:
http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html
www.marshreef.org/members

naser · 10-26-2001, 04:19 PM

wouldnt you know it that dual 250's are more expensive than a dual 400!! and the bulbs are the same. so you guys think you can light a 6 foot long tank with two 250 watters? and some atinics?

mrok12 · 10-28-2001, 02:10 AM

Sue,
Have seen your tanks on your site and I must repeat again that they are nothing short of remarkable. I must now pose the following questions and I am hoping for an answer(sometimes people just seem to blow these off).

1) Just got a montipora digitalis(per your rec. to another person). It was purple according to the lfs but now is brown. I have 2-250watt 10kmh on a 36 inch 65 gallon breeder with actinic supp of 2 -55wattpc. Can I hope that this coral will color up.

2) I am dripping kalk on this tank and using BIO calcium by tropic marine. CA is coming along ( I am at 380ppm as of this morning) ALKis 3.2MEQ or 9DKH. I have a load of corraline on the live rock. Is It okay to do both of these measures to increase CA?

I appreciate any help you can provide.
Much thanks in advance,
MROK12(mike)

naser · 10-28-2001, 11:02 AM

tey will usualy brown up then adjust to you lighting. i have the same coral. bought it brown now its pink.

mrok12 · 10-28-2001, 11:09 AM

Should I move it a little closer to the light, It is on the bottom of the tank now

MROK12

naser · 10-28-2001, 02:17 PM

i would wait and watch it. growth brings new color.. as long as its healthy and polyops are out. not bleaching either. if its health changes then move it up down left or right. mine took about a month to turn pink.

SueT · 10-29-2001, 09:50 AM

MROK12, Thank you. I completely agree with naser. Let the frag adjust or acclimate to your system and then start moving the montipora up. It should completely color back up for you. You have to be patient with any of the sps corals. Your on their time frame. They will do what they need to acclimate to your system. I would give this frag atleast a couple of days and see what it does. If the polyps open and you think it looks ok, move it up a bit. Bit by bit when you have it where it starts to color back up then I'd find a permanent home or spot for it. Let me know how it does. HTH..

my 180 ecosystem sps tank:
http://berlinmethod.com/suet/
my 120 sps tank:
http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html
www.marshreef.org/members

mrok12 · 10-29-2001, 09:42 PM

Thanks for the reply Sue. It has been in the tank for 4 days and the polyps stay open most of the time. I may be hallucinating but it seems to be fattening up(corralites). My ca tested at 420 on Sunday to, Alk hanging at 3.2 MEQ. We are so excited that it is open. We are looking forward to watching it grow. I love frags!!! Because one day We can look at the pictures and say "We remember when you were just a baby". Thanks again Sue!!!!

MROK12

10-25-2001, 10:23 AM	#1
Reinhold Mayor Join Date: May 2001 Location: USA Posts: 941	Starter SPS? Well, I've been reading all of the posts about how having hard corals will make you want to toss the softies in the lake. So far, I only have softies in my tank, but I'd like to try an SPS. What would be a good, easy SPS to start with?

10-25-2001, 10:59 PM	#11
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,434	I would agree with Sue that Montipora digitata corals have a wide range of light tolerances. Porites antennuata, and Porites lutes also are pretty bullet proof. If you don't have enough light for them they will fade over a 3-4 week period. If you already have them at the highest point centered under your lights you might have to increase your lighting intensity. Generally for SPS 3-5 watts per gallon works for me. Regards, Kevin __________________ SPSguy On - On

10-26-2001, 10:09 AM	#12
Barry N. Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,034	I would have to agree with Sue as I have had both lights, 250 and 400s. When I went to 400s the color of my SPS seem to lose there color and looked wasted out. I never had any trouble with the 250 but when I went to 400s my problems started, mostly cause I didn't have a chiller and didn't need one with 250s but with 400s I found that they got hotter. When I go back to MH as now I am using 4 x VHOs I will go with the 250s. Sue you 180 looks GREAT Barry __________________ Barry ClamsDirect.Com Last edited by Barry N.; 10-26-2001 at 10:11 AM.

10-26-2001, 04:19 PM	#14
naser super-reefer Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SAN DIEGO, CA Posts: 1,908	wouldnt you know it that dual 250's are more expensive than a dual 400!! and the bulbs are the same. so you guys think you can light a 6 foot long tank with two 250 watters? and some atinics? Last edited by naser; 10-26-2001 at 04:22 PM.

10-28-2001, 02:10 AM	#15
mrok12 Mayor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Van Buren, MI Posts: 1,052	SUE T PLEASE Sue, Have seen your tanks on your site and I must repeat again that they are nothing short of remarkable. I must now pose the following questions and I am hoping for an answer(sometimes people just seem to blow these off). 1) Just got a montipora digitalis(per your rec. to another person). It was purple according to the lfs but now is brown. I have 2-250watt 10kmh on a 36 inch 65 gallon breeder with actinic supp of 2 -55wattpc. Can I hope that this coral will color up. 2) I am dripping kalk on this tank and using BIO calcium by tropic marine. CA is coming along ( I am at 380ppm as of this morning) ALKis 3.2MEQ or 9DKH. I have a load of corraline on the live rock. Is It okay to do both of these measures to increase CA? I appreciate any help you can provide. Much thanks in advance, MROK12(mike)

10-25-2001, 10:44 AM	#2
SueT Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Houston,Tex. USA Posts: 544	Reinhold, for a nice colorful starter sps coral you cannot go wrong with any of the montipora digitata's. I have green, orange and purple-pink tipped. They grow like mad and you will see growth instantly. Of course, this all has to do with your water param's. and lighting. With monti's. you can get away with less intense lighting as some of the other sps demand. Give them good current and good water quality and enough lighting and you may be looking for that lake. my 180 ecosystem sps tank: http://berlinmethod.com/suet/ my 120 sps tank: http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html www.marshreef.org/members

10-25-2001, 11:01 AM	#3
naser super-reefer Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SAN DIEGO, CA Posts: 1,908	sue, fot the 120 is that the amount of light your using currentlly? i just bought a 125 i was going to use two 400 mh's along with 2 140 vho atinics. i was thinking id still need more light. i have two 55watt pc's that i can use in the middle for more daylight? im not sure if ill need it though? any recomendations? nice tank once again.

10-25-2001, 11:02 AM	#4
Reinhold Mayor Join Date: May 2001 Location: USA Posts: 941	SueT: Beautiful tank pics on your web sites. Are metal halides a "must" for SPS corals? I have a 55+ with 260 watts of PC lighting. I have a Crocea clam (which I mistakenly bought as a Derasa,) and it is thriving under the PC"s.

10-25-2001, 11:03 AM	#5
naser super-reefer Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SAN DIEGO, CA Posts: 1,908	my t ank is also 72 inches instead of 48? i might need the middle light then.

10-25-2001, 11:26 AM	#6
SueT Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Houston,Tex. USA Posts: 544	naser, Thanks again. The 120 had 2 250w iwasaki's and everyone was so into the "more light" thing I wanted to try them too. I have not been as happy with them as I thought I'd be. I love the way my 180 looks, lighting wise. I have 3 250w iwasaki's. IMO, you're 125 would crank with that light configuration. Add some actinics and I really feel you'd be happy with it. I actually am thinking of taking the 400w iwasaki's and replace them with 2 250w iwasaki's. When I switched out to the 400's I lost all of my blue for green. I have tons of blue in the 180 with the 250w iwasaki's. Reinhold, Thank you too, I very much appreciate the nice words and encouragement. You can get away with some of the montipora that are tank raised with pc's. You would just need to do some checking to find out who has them. You do not have to have MH's for some sps corals. You may switch out some of the nice colors for health though. If you can find someone who has raised or grown the frags under pc's or vho's try them. You just might have to place them higher in your tank. HTH.. my 180 ecosystem sps tank: http://berlinmethod.com/suet/ my 120 sps tank: http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html www.marshreef.org/members

10-25-2001, 05:37 PM	#7
naser super-reefer Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SAN DIEGO, CA Posts: 1,908	well ive got 2 140 watt super atinic r vho's to go with my 400 watt mh's.. should i go to two 250's?

10-25-2001, 06:53 PM	#8
SueT Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Houston,Tex. USA Posts: 544	naser, I think it's totally up to you and the lighting look you want to achive. I'm not happy with the 400w iwasaki's, and mine have the white look to the eye. It isn't the yellow some have experienced. I just do not like the color my sps have "not" colored up to. I love the 250w iwasaki's, and I think my 180 shows that you don't have to have 400w MH's to achive nice colored sps corals. HTH... my 180 ecosystem sps tank: http://berlinmethod.com/suet/ my 120 sps tank: http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html www.marshreef.org/members

10-25-2001, 08:38 PM	#9
naser super-reefer Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SAN DIEGO, CA Posts: 1,908	agreed... im thinking about going 20000k just so i can get alot of color...

10-25-2001, 08:54 PM	#10
Ironreef Governor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Pacific WA Posts: 1,220	fwiw I got a polciporia (sp) frag from a guy , it grows like mad in his 75g with just no lights. he keeps it up top and its brown with green tint. i put it in my 120g with 2-250 6.5k and 3 110vho it just turns light brown with pink tint.(@1mo) may change color more. My point is sps can be kept in alot of different light sources just need to know where it comes form.

10-26-2001, 11:38 AM	#13
SueT Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Houston,Tex. USA Posts: 544	Barry, Thank you. I'm so sorry to hear about the problems you have had. I hope things get better. These 400w'ers can heat my entire house up during summer months, like living in Houston isn't bad enough. I may keep them around for winter and save on the heating bill. The 250w IMO, are more than enough for colorful sps corals. my 180 ecosystem sps tank: http://berlinmethod.com/suet/ my 120 sps tank: http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html www.marshreef.org/members

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

10-28-2001, 11:02 AM	#16
naser super-reefer Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SAN DIEGO, CA Posts: 1,908	tey will usualy brown up then adjust to you lighting. i have the same coral. bought it brown now its pink.

10-28-2001, 11:09 AM	#17
mrok12 Mayor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Van Buren, MI Posts: 1,052	Should I move it a little closer to the light, It is on the bottom of the tank now MROK12

10-28-2001, 02:17 PM	#18
naser super-reefer Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SAN DIEGO, CA Posts: 1,908	i would wait and watch it. growth brings new color.. as long as its healthy and polyops are out. not bleaching either. if its health changes then move it up down left or right. mine took about a month to turn pink.

10-29-2001, 09:50 AM	#19
SueT Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Houston,Tex. USA Posts: 544	MROK12, Thank you. I completely agree with naser. Let the frag adjust or acclimate to your system and then start moving the montipora up. It should completely color back up for you. You have to be patient with any of the sps corals. Your on their time frame. They will do what they need to acclimate to your system. I would give this frag atleast a couple of days and see what it does. If the polyps open and you think it looks ok, move it up a bit. Bit by bit when you have it where it starts to color back up then I'd find a permanent home or spot for it. Let me know how it does. HTH.. my 180 ecosystem sps tank: http://berlinmethod.com/suet/ my 120 sps tank: http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html www.marshreef.org/members

10-29-2001, 09:42 PM	#20
mrok12 Mayor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Van Buren, MI Posts: 1,052	Thanks for the reply Sue. It has been in the tank for 4 days and the polyps stay open most of the time. I may be hallucinating but it seems to be fattening up(corralites). My ca tested at 420 on Sunday to, Alk hanging at 3.2 MEQ. We are so excited that it is open. We are looking forward to watching it grow. I love frags!!! Because one day We can look at the pictures and say "We remember when you were just a baby". Thanks again Sue!!!! MROK12

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