sps?

[Chrissy]

With a "4 bulb t5 2 blue 1 purple 1 white" for light you are not going to be keeping SPS for very long.
SPS corals need intense lighting. You may be able to get away with some cap.

I have to disagree with this. I use only T5 bulbs on all 3 of my reef tanks and successfully keep SPS.

 

[stingythingy45]

I would think that 2 T5s over a 40 shouldn't be all that limiting as long as they are quality bulbs in a quality fixture?

Woops,missed the tank size for some reason.
He has 4 t5s as well. I still wouldn't go out and by $$$ sps right off the bat for a tank.
Nothing wrong with a trial coral.

 

[Ledreef]

Start use seawater. I have my light in 50% about 13" from the surf. And 40" from the sand my coral growing fast and colorful.

 

[SteveDola]

I would think that 2 T5s over a 40 shouldn't be all that limiting as long as they are quality bulbs in a quality fixture?

4 x t5 is fine for a 40g

 

[wrassefan]

stable parameters...alk, salinity, calcium and temps...wild swings will kill sps...

 

[RichardinMA]

I have found that the most important thing with SPS is stability of certain parameters, like several other have said. Alk, Ca and salinity are the main things you need to keep stable. If they fluctuate you will get RTN/STN. Phos and Nitrate will brown them out but not necessarily kill them. They will also give you poor to no growth. SPS are not impossible and some are not too much more difficult that LPS. I don't do water changes nearly as often as I should yet I still have excellent growth and color. I use nutrient export procedures other than WC so it helps. There is no one way to do SPS just like there is no one way to do any other tank. I think they are worth the effort because when they grow well it is awesome.

 

[johntan]

I can say without a doubt keeping orange/red/flower petal caps is easy. Montipora confusa is also very hardy, and aggressive. These will thrive in lot's of light conditions. I would not start with a smooth skin acro though.

 

[mccarthy04]

Thanks for the input/advice helped me out huge is there a light that I should be upgrading to or are will my t5s good enough

 

[Ryan17]

+1 John K I have a 20g with a 4bulb t5 fixture and I keep growing SPS that should be fine I would just keep them towards top

 

[mccarthy04]

Thanks ill keep that in mind

 

[Marshall O]

4 x t5 is fine for a 40g

But...we don't know anything about the fixture itself. With quality individual reflectors and quality bulbs, I would agree. But with a fixture with only a single reflector for all 4 bulbs, than I may be inclined to say no. Can you post up a link to your fixture?

 

[Ryan17]

I would agree with Marshall a fixture with ATI or high quality bulbs and individual reflectors is a must.

 

[SteveDola]

Im one of the biggest proponents for ATI fixtures...their new T5-LED hybrid is amazing and has my wife scared Im gonna whip out the credit card to drop 2k on "fish junk" but theres no reason you need top of the line T5 fixtures to grow sps especially in a 40b. There are people that grow sps with PC and VHO. 4 t5s with any type of reflector is gonna be enough to grow sps as long as you place them correctly. Is it optimal? no but adequate? yes.

 

[RichardinMA]

^+1 I agree completely. I think chemistry is #1 for SPS. All the rest will affect color and growth but may not determine survivability. That said, all SPS have differing requirements and there is even a great deal of variability in the requirements among Acropora alone. Start with some of the "easier" SPS and you just may get hooked.

 

[this is me]

are they even worth buying?

Lmao.