Need some sps help

[atrox]

So Im thinking of pulling the trigger on this coral or something similar and a few other high end acros..............Im a little anxious as they are on the expensive side and dont wan to lose ant thing. Ive had great success with a magenta birdsnest, orange digitata, and a green slimer. Would it be safe to assume that if these have done well, this coral and other milleporas, and acros will do well?

 

https://www.vividaquariums.com/p-13824-bubblegum-millepora.aspx

[clownfitch]

The 3 you have listed as having had good luck with can all thrive in lower light settings than some millipora and acropora. However, if you're sure of your lighting then yes, in my opinion you should be successful with the millies and acros.

[atrox]

I'm running dual 150 hqi with two 36" t5 true actinic.

[jservedio]

The 3 you have listed as having had good luck with can all thrive in lower light settings than some millipora and acropora. However, if you're sure of your lighting then yes, in my opinion you should be successful with the millies and acros.

 

Lighting is the least important factor, which OP has covered, since most any acro will live and grow (albeit slowly) down to 75 PAR or less so long as their other conditions are met. Stability, flow, nutrients, and food are going to matter more. Green slimer (A. Yongei) is an acro species and so is A. Millipora - both are pretty hardy species of acro in general.

 

I have the bubblegum millie and it seems pretty resilient (though I hven't had any swings in a very long time and it has never been through one except from shipping). I would suggest getting smaller pieces - bubblegum millie can be had for $30-$40 for a 1.5" frag so if you mess up you can try again without being out a bill. Try local hobbiests for frags since they will be much cheaper and bigger.

 

The problem with judging your SPS success with the 3 corals you have is that they stay colored up in almost ANY conditions - I have seen tanks completely browned out but the trusty green slimer still glowing. They can be hit by a bomb and lose 90% of their tissue and still come back no problem. Most others will be more sensitive, but millies are a pretty tough species too - but not as resilient in terms of keeping color!

[clownfitch]

 

Lighting is the least important factor, which OP has covered, since most any acro will live and grow (albeit slowly) down to 75 PAR or less so long as their other conditions are met. Stability, flow, nutrients, and food are going to matter more. Green slimer (A. Yongei) is an acro species and so is A. Millipora - both are pretty hardy species of acro in general.

 

 

 

The problem with judging your SPS success with the 3 corals you have is that they stay colored up in almost ANY conditions - I have seen tanks completely browned out but the trusty green slimer still glowing. They can be hit by a bomb and lose 90% of their tissue and still come back no problem. Most others will be more sensitive, but millies are a pretty tough species too - but not as resilient in terms of keeping color!

There is a difference between "live and grow" and thrive. If his tank can successfully sustain those 3 listed AND has the adequate lighting for more light demanding species then he should have no problems keeping a THRIVING (living, growing, and maintaining maximum color) reef. Not just living and growing. That was my point... Not sure why you quoted my post.

[jestep]

How stable is your alk and PO4? Also what is the lineage of the mili in the link? If it's one that's been cultured for many years, it will be substantially easier than one that is a few months removed from the wild or mariculture.

 

I can attribute pretty much 100% of any losses I've had with SPS to alk or PO4 issues. The milli is definitely more difficult than the slimer but only slightly if it is a long term aquacultured one.

 

If you're looking for other coral in the easier acro department, validas are another I would add to the list being similar in hardiness to milis.

[jservedio]

There is a difference between "live and grow" and thrive. If his tank can successfully sustain those 3 listed AND has the adequate lighting for more light demanding species then he should have no problems keeping a THRIVING (living, growing, and maintaining maximum color) reef. Not just living and growing. That was my point... Not sure why you quoted my post.

My point in quoting you is that proper lighting only has a slight bearing on whether he will be successful with more sensitive acros and the other factors are far more determinate to his question. The three species he listed will maintain color and thrive even with a moderately fluctuating system whereas many other species won't tolerate even tiniest swings in Alk or nutrients - far less than they will be effected by slightly less light.

 

Powerful light + success in keeping very hardy SPS !== success in keeping more difficult acros.

[atrox]

These numbers are steady. alk 7.4. dkh, ca 450, mag 1440, po4 levels are .002 - .004.

 

Check my tank thread in signature post, to see setup and general livestock health.

 

I cant seem to find a good cheap sps online vendor. Ive ordered from salty underground, blue zoo, saltwaterfish, and all the prices I find are in the 50-75 dollar per frag range. I dont have frag swaps, or local reefers to trade with. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[clownfitch]

The majority of my sps have come from local reefing buddies. There is no one with in driving distance of you that you can trade with or purchase from?

 

As far as online vendors, I will have to leave that to someone else for good suggestions. I have no idea.

[jestep]

I get most of my SPS from local hobbyists as well. Have ordered SPS from live aquaria / diver's den a few times but I definitely agree in the online prices often being excessive.

 

IMO the difference between easy and difficult SPS is substantial. Just getting difficult coral acclimated without losing them can be a victory in itself, and then getting them to start growing is another. Based on PE and overall coloring, it's usually pretty obvious when SPS are in favorable conditions. I would define thriving as relatively quick encrusting and subsequent new growth. No sign of bleaching or STN. Browned out coral will start coloring back up but this can take months even in a perfect environment.

[jservedio]

These numbers are steady. alk 7.4. dkh, ca 450, mag 1440, po4 levels are .002 - .004.

 

Check my tank thread in signature post, to see setup and general livestock health.

 

I cant seem to find a good cheap sps online vendor. Ive ordered from salty underground, blue zoo, saltwaterfish, and all the prices I find are in the 50-75 dollar per frag range. I dont have frag swaps, or local reefers to trade with. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

There are some really good hobbyist "garage vendors" on the bigger national forums - their prices are about half to 75% of retail, but shipping is more so you definitely want a bigger order. HUGE acro selection - more than some vendors (PM me if you can't find who I am talking about.)

 

For vendors, my personal favorite is Unique Coral and Divers Den. With UC, you can't beat their $20 shipping for under $200 and free shipping over - plus they have frags of nearly every high end and ORA acro. They don't doctor photos and are by far the healthiest acros I have gotten from a major vendor. DD is good, but is mostly bigger colonies. BattleCorals has a massive selection and everything is cut to order, but can be quite expensive.