New (SPS) Corals

[kaybee]

Increased the SPS (small-polyp, stoney) coral representation in my reef tank with four new additions (to join the two SPS corals already in my tank, stylophora and encrusting hydnophora):

Acropora (aqua-green colored)
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/y2kenny19/Saltwater2009/acro.jpg

Seriatopora caliendrum (Birdsnest, green)
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/y2kenny19/Saltwater2009/bird.jpg

Branching Montipora (gray)
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/y2kenny19/Saltwater2009/monti_gray.jpg

Branching Montipora (orange)
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/y2kenny19/Saltwater2009/monti_orange.jpg

Being more of an LPS coral guy, I hope I don't catch the SPS bug!

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

LOL, I hear ya there Kaybee. I'm looking to get my first branching SPS coral in my tank. I too am an LPS guy. Great looking corals. Can't wait to see that Bird's nest fill out.

[jimpierce]

nice looking corals!!

[coachfraley]

VERY nice stuff! I love the monti's!

[kaybee]

UPdate:

The monti's and green birdsnest are doing fine, but about four days after being introduced into the tank, the acropora started undergoing tissue recession (not good). The recession continued for several days but seems to have stablized or at least slowed.

This past weekend, I decided to get two more SPS corals, a pink birdsnest (s. hystrix, differerent species than the green birdsnest above, the pink one having sharp/tapered branches), and another acropora (this time a small neon green frag...my wife selected the larger initial specimen).

Will post pics of the new additions later.

The new acro seems to be doing fine, day 5 in the tank. The pink birdsnest seems to already be showing signs of new growth.

[labnjab]

UPdate:

The monti's and green birdsnest are doing fine, but about four days after being introduced into the tank, the acropora started undergoing tissue recession (not good). The recession continued for several days but seems to have stablized or at least slowed.

This past weekend, I decided to get two more SPS corals, a pink birdsnest (s. hystrix, differerent species than the green birdsnest above, the pink one having sharp/tapered branches), and another acropora (this time a small neon green frag...my wife selected the larger initial specimen).

Will post pics of the new additions later.

The new acro seems to be doing fine, day 5 in the tank. The pink birdsnest seems to already be showing signs of new growth.

They look good. I tried acropora a few months ago and ended up giving it away. It didn't seem to do too good under t-5's. I've been getting the sps bug too and got a few last night

[kaybee]

Here are the aforementioned two new SPS's:

The newer acropora, light-green in color. Seems to be doing quite fine:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/y2kenny19/Saltwater2009/acro2.jpg

Pink birdsnest (seriatopora hystrix):
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/y2kenny19/Saltwater2009/pinkbird.jpg


Along with two new acquistions:

Metallic-orange pavona (p. maldivensis), an encrusting SPS coral. From what I understand this coral is one of the few SPS corals with moderate light requirements, so I've got it at the bottom of the tank:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/y2kenny19/Saltwater2009/pavomaldive.jpg

'Bird of Paradise' birdsnest (seriatopora sp., green base w/purple polyps):
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/y2kenny19/Saltwater2009/bop.jpg

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Metallic-orange pavona (p. maldivensis), an encrusting SPS coral. From what I understand this coral is one of the few SPS corals with moderate light requirements, so I've got it at the bottom of the tank:

Good choice. I love Pavona. I have one in my tank. They are a lower light SPS, the most important specs for these guys is high Ca and Alk levels. Apparently they will use the Calcium very quickly.

[rageybug]

How about some pics of the entire tank now that the new corals are in!?

[coachfraley]

VERY NICE bird of paradise! I looked into getting a frag of that, but it was too much for my wallet.

I agree, we need an FTS!!!!

[kaybee]

Here's the full tank shot:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/y2kenny19/Saltwater2009/65gal08mar2009.jpg


65gal illuminated by five 39w T5HO bulbs. I recently swapped out two actinic bulbs which were due for replacement. They were replaced with an actinic bulb and a 'daylight' bulb (the latter to provide greater PAR). I've placed the SPS's as high as I can get them in the center of the tank (without them risking encroachment from the xeniids (xenia & anthellia) at the left and out of sweeper range of the encrusting hydnophora (also an SPS) at the far right.

The first acropora which experienced tissue recession is positioned closest to the xeniids. To accomodate the new corals I had to relocate my euphyllia cristata's to the bottom left corner of the tank.

Group shot:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/y2kenny19/Saltwater2009/spsgroup.jpg

It's challenging to capture their detail and true colors due to the distance between them and the camera (a little over 14"/35cm) since they're placed near the back pane of the tank, and my camera isn't the best.

I currently use Oceanic salt which has high calcium content (typically 440-460ppm). Since using this salt I almost never have to dose calcium. It will be interesting to see if I will have to resume doing so now that these corals are in the tank. It's a given I'll have to increase the distance between them as they grow.

[HendersE]

Nice tank and corals!

[rageybug]

Thanks for the pictures, looks amazing.

You just cost me a ton of $ with this picture though... my wife saw the picture and said "I want that tank!" Thanks a lot....!

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Tank looks great Kaybee. Got enough Xenia? LOL

[kaybee]

....You just cost me a ton of $ with this picture though... my wife saw the picture and said "I want that tank!" Thanks a lot....!

Hey, you asked for it! :ezpi_wink1:


....Got enough Xenia? LOL


All of it (and then some, since I've had to remove a bunch) all originated from these initial polyps:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/y2kenny19/Saltwater/xenia_nov06.jpg

[Tigerbarb]

Wow, kaybee, your tank looks amazing...How long has it been up for?

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

I know how that goes with removing it. Xenia is almost like a weed in my tank. I have guys in my reef club who can't grow the stuff, but they can grow SPS no problem.

[kaybee]

...How long has it been up for?

Since 2006.

[kaybee]

...Being more of an LPS coral guy, I hope I don't catch the SPS bug!

Yikes, I think I caught it! Purchased a frag of blue branching porites yesterday. No pics at this time (tank lights are still off).

I was inspecting the tank last night with a flash light to check on it and it is extending sweepers! Aside from my hydnophora, I've never seen an SPS do that before. They look to be about 1.5cm to 2cm in length.

[kaybee]

Blue Porites frag:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/y2kenny19/Saltwater2009/blue_porites.jpg

Fragged from a much larger and impressive specimen (14"-18" branched) growing in the LFS for at least 8yrs.

The zoanthids closest to this porites got zapped by the sweepers last night.

One can definately see how small the polyps are on this SPS are when compared with the zoanthid and star polyps adjacent to it.

[Rue]

Gorgeous!:1luvu:

I hope to get a couple more when I redo my tank and things are on a more even keel...