SPS question

Oilers · #1 11-04-2011, 02:38 AM

I just bought these 2 SPS and I've heard that they like lots of light and high flow so I assume I would need to place them at the top of my tank. I have torches, frogspawn, hammer (branch and wall), long tentacle anenome, bubble tip anenome, candy cane and zoas in my tank. Which one is considered safe if I place the SPS close to it? Which one is not?
Also, I am using a 4 bulbs T5 as lighting for my tank. Would that be sufficient or do I have to upgrade to 6 or 8 bulbs?
Thank you all for your input.
http://s217.photobucket.com/albums/c...rrent=SPS1.jpg
http://s217.photobucket.com/albums/c...rrent=SPS2.jpg

christyf5 · #2 11-04-2011, 02:44 AM

The zoas would be least likely to sting it, however they can encroach on it as they grow and proliferate. The rest of them may produce sweeper tentacles and sting it from quite a distance (sometimes 6-8"). For the most part the zoas shouldn't bother SPS at all though, they'll just grow around it. Both of those need quite a bit of light, you could just try it for awhile at the top of your tank and see how it goes, then upgrade later if you don't find they're the colors you like or they've faded. Nice pieces! I hope they hold their color for you

spawn · #3 11-04-2011, 02:53 AM

You should move the one up off the sandbed

Oilers · #4 11-04-2011, 02:57 AM

Thanks Christy. I was "fighting" with my friend in the store to see who gets what. I guess when it comes to corals, there are no such thing called friendship

Thanks spawn, it has been moved to the top.

christyf5 · #5 11-04-2011, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oilers

Thanks Christy. I was "fighting" with my friend in the store to see who gets what. I guess when it comes to corals, there are no such thing called friendship

Thanks spawn, it has been moved to the top.

LOL, nope! Its every man for himself!!

You'll need to keep that blue one up high too to retain that vibrant color.

fishytime · #6 11-04-2011, 03:17 AM

a 4 bulb t5 may be ok, but if your gonna start getting into sps then I would want more light.....both of those will need to be up high.....and the second coral (acropora abrotanoides) can be quite a challenging coral (at least it was for me)

Aquattro · #7 11-04-2011, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishytime

.and the second coral (acropora abrotanoides) can be quite a challenging coral (at least it was for me)

I'll second Doug's comments on that, mine just doesn't want to color up. I'm hoping for more out of mine, time will tell.

fishytime · #8 11-04-2011, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I'll second Doug's comments on that, mine just doesn't want to color up. I'm hoping for more out of mine, time will tell.

well your a better man than I

........I would have been happy to have mine just not color up....Ive tried two colonies and Ive lost two colonies.....I just didnt seem to have what it needed

Oilers · #9 11-04-2011, 03:42 AM

Doug, I had metal halide before but decided to switch over to T5 since I only had LPS and soft corals in my tank before. I was only interested in things that move, hence all the anenomes, torches, etc in my tank. I guess I'll see how these two guinea pigs go then I'll see if I need to upgrade or just switch back to MH. It could be another expensive addiction on its way

Hopefully, by that time, LED would come down in price enough as well.

Aquattro · #10 11-04-2011, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishytime

well your a better man than I

........I would have been happy to have mine just not color up....Ive tried two colonies and Ive lost two colonies.....I just didnt seem to have what it needed

Mine's still pretty new. I may join you in the loss department soon enough