Colorful Lower Light SPS Recommendations

[Pinchy]

Hello All,

I am finally starting to get into SPS and was wondering what your recommendations are for some great easier to grow lower light sps (I am running 3W Cree LED's) and will only be placing the SPS in the highest part of the tank. I am looking more for a mix of color then a specific type of SPS. Below is was what i was thinking for color. If you could make a recommendation under each category and perhaps include a picture that would be great!

Pink
Green
Red
Blue
Purple
Yellow

Thanks for your help all. Following this thread i will most likely be scouring the marketplace for some frags..
:mrgreen:

[spawn]

Bad idea pinchy

[Pinchy]

Why is that? I was thinking Birdsnest, Bali Green Slimer, maybe some sort of Monti for the red but definitely open to suggestions..:neutral:

[Brandon5555]

Red Chili Coral, Sun Coral.

[xtreme]

I've got frags of red monti, purple rim green monti and yellow birdsnest. All are quite easy to keep. Shoot me a PM if interested.

[fishytime]

because its all down hill after your first SPS:lol:

Pink (I dont have a pic for this one but).....a nice pink birdsnest


Green montipora digitata

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o19/fishytime/IMGP3880.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o19/fishytime/IMGP3476.jpg


Red encrusting montipora

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o19/fishytime/IMGP3801.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o19/fishytime/IMGP3803.jpg


Blue stag

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o19/fishytime/IMG_0056-2.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o19/fishytime/IMGP3751.jpg


Purple acropora millipora

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o19/fishytime/IMGP3759.jpg


Yellow ponape birdsnest

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o19/fishytime/IMGP4070.jpg

[Lampshade]

I have a green pocci that only grows in the shade. As with a couple others, my yellow birdsnest is anti-light, and a green flowerpot monti that grows pretty much anywhere.

[ScubaSteve]

I agree with all of the above. Birdsnest and pocci are probably the two easiest. The staghorns are typically very forgiving but tend to not show their nice color unless they're under high light. Monti caps are kind of in the same boat.

You'll have to experiment a bit to find what works for you. Start with the $5 frags and work your way up. Stop when you hit the $50 frag level (I finally popped that cherry recently... Dark, dark times. Feel so dirty... But I got a sweet frag!). Just keep an eye on your parameters and pay attention to the SPS behavior. They will tell you when something is wrong.

[Brandon5555]

Try some non photosynthetics like the ones I mentioned above

[daniella3d]

He was asking for SPS. those are not SPS.

Just wondering why the OP is asking for lower light SPS but will put them on the highest part of the tank under LED? Did I misunderstood something? I thought LED was pretty strong so why the lower light requirement in the highest part of the tank?


Try some non photosynthetics like the ones I mentioned above

[Brandon5555]

LOL whoops thats lps haha sorry, maybe try a small frag of acropora or something. Actually try Montipora, not always colourful but adds a subject of interest and it grows pretty quick too

[Pinchy]

because its all down hill after your first SPS:lol:

Pink (I dont have a pic for this one but).....a nice pink birdsnest


Green montipora digitata


Red encrusting montipora


Blue stag


Purple acropora millipora


Yellow ponape birdsnest



Great response thank you! I love the Blue Stag / Purple Acro and Red Monti.

I've got frags of red monti, purple rim green monti and yellow birdsnest. All are quite easy to keep. Shoot me a PM if interested.

I will send you a PM shortly here :biggrin:

He was asking for SPS. those are not SPS.

Just wondering why the OP is asking for lower light SPS but will put them on the highest part of the tank under LED? Did I misunderstood something? I thought LED was pretty strong so why the lower light requirement in the highest part of the tank?

Great question Daniella. I purchased two of the below LED setups based on my budget of $600 and some individuals on Canreef's advice (they have had success running SPS under these lights).

http://www.eshinesystems.com/60W%20CREE%20LED%20Aquarium%20Light.pdf (http://www.eshinesystems.com/60W%20CREE%20LED%20Aquarium%20Light.pdf)

However although I know they CAN grow SPS (and have seen pictures) im not sure if there will be ENOUGH light to have the SPS grow strong unless they are positioned closer to the top of the tank. That is why i would like to start off with some lower light SPS frags and work my way up.

Thanks again for all of your feedback. Any other pictures / suggestions?

[Madreefer]

Just make sure you run yer LEDs dimmed really low and slowly ramp up the intensity over a few months. I'm sure you did alot of research already. Research yer coral purchases first too. Some recommended to you have to be target fed and not the easiest to keep.

[ScubaSteve]

Ah, the eShines. I've seen those in action. How many do you have over what size and depth tank? If you have two of them over a 55G, you could grown SPS pretty much anywhere in the tank. If you have two over a 90G you'll run into some issues with SPS in the lower half of the tank and really high light species like clams and the super fancy SPS. Other than that, you're golden.

Welcome to the dark side...

[Pinchy]

Just make sure you run yer LEDs dimmed really low and slowly ramp up the intensity over a few months. I'm sure you did alot of research already. Research yer coral purchases first too. Some recommended to you have to be target fed and not the easiest to keep.

Thanks for the tip, the LED's are dimmable so I will do this.

Ah, the eShines. I've seen those in action. How many do you have over what size and depth tank? If you have two of them over a 55G, you could grown SPS pretty much anywhere in the tank. If you have two over a 90G you'll run into some issues with SPS in the lower half of the tank and really high light species like clams and the super fancy SPS. Other than that, you're golden.

Welcome to the dark side...

ScubaSteve I have two units mounted inside the canopy over a 72 Gallon Bowfront. I believe the depth is 22 inches. Will this still be ok?

Thanks for the responses all, im looking forward to more suggestions!