SPS: Level of Difficulty

[olezontie]

Hi,

I understand that there are different kinds of sps. Are there any species that are particularly hard or easy?

[weileong]

Difficult: A. Hyanchitus, A. gemmifera

Easy: Staghorn, monti etc.

[olezontie]

Thanks.

Can elaborate on the reason why they are difficult?

Do they die off for no apparent reason, like yumas?

[weileong]

Now I understand why you're asking

SPS requires stable water parameters, good diffuse water current and water that is poor in nutrients.

Our aim in keeping SPS is to make them grow and maintain their colors.

It is not good enuff to keep the SPS barely alive with whole tank full of brown sticks.

In general, sps from Fiji are more difficult compared to those from Indonesia as the water in fiji are much cleaner.

You can read this sticky thread for more details.

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1629

[blueheaven]

Basically the most common reason for the hyacinthus being the most difficult SPS is that reefers do not get enough flow through all the branches, especially the internal branches and they slowly receed away.

[weileong]

BH, that is not the main reason. If what you said is true then those table millepora would be at the same difficulty as the hyanchitus too.

The hyanchitus requires very stable water to do well, that is why I always stress on stability.

[blueheaven]

Yes water stability is also prime but from what I've read, a widespread problem with those keeping table acros is that they cannot get multidirectional flow through the polyps in the centre and the acro just dies off.

I have taken extra precaution when you told be about the mille in which flow to the base would not be enough

[weileong]

A. gemmifera is even worst, you think it is doing well... then you use your bare hands to touch it and almost immediately you see your "fingerprints" on the corals, the nutrients from your fingers contaminated the A. gemmifera tissue.

Move it around a bit it'll brown up and it might not recover it's original color.

[blueheaven]

Wah it's that bad?

Sounds scary enough

A. gemmifera is the one that looks like a humilis right?

[weileong]

yes and some of them have blue tips.

[blueheaven]

To aid some who don't know what a A. gemmifera is, here's a pic

[hamannbmw]

I had the same experience....

[andysho]

for me, i dun dare to try A. gemmifera

[weileong]

Besides the color to worry about, you've the flow too. The A. gemmifera obviously requires strong current. Too bad with my 3x6100 and red dragon still seems insufficient to keep the thick branches so they are getting thinner.

I guess next time just skip these type of ultra difficult acros, less headaches.

[olezontie]

That is in the range of 5 figure flow rate! Still not enough?

Guess I will stick to the easier ones first.

[damienkee]

wow! great share.....

learn new thing...