im done with sps !

[Chris L]

i have had enough. i will be getting rid of the few things that i actually have left and i am going back to lps and softies. i have never had such a hard time trying to keep corals alive. it has been issue after issue since i started to convert over and my tank does not look anywhere near as good as idid when i had it full of lps and softies ( which do great in my tank ) so i am going back. i will post whats left in a couple of days or so, possibly for meeting pickup

 

[smcnally]

Wuss

 

[smcnally]

LOL...I'm only keeping a few myself in my new tank.

 

[Chris L]

Wuss

I really just dont have the time it needs so i will be happy with a full flowing lps/softie tank instead of a half dead, half empty sps tank

 

[Kevin McG]

I really just dont have the time it needs so i will be happy with a full flowing lps/softie tank instead of a half dead, half empty sps tank

That's exactly what I started doing a few months back. I am letting the sps that are thriving in my system but am not picking up any new sps corals. There are some people out there with beautiful LPS and softee tanks

 

[RayD]

Seems to be the trend lately. LPS and softies are way easier and there's movement in the tank form the flow. I've always had LPS and softies. A few SPS in there just to try them.

Plus there are some kick a$$ LPS's out there. Have you seen some of the Acan Lords and Blastos hitting the LFS's lately? SWEET!

Good luck Chris. Here's to wishing you reef peace of mind.

 

[JayM]

LPS and softies were my plan from day 1. I think it's a less 'extreme' time commitment.

 

[smcnally]

LPS and softies were my plan from day 1. I think it's a less 'extreme' time commitment.

By far. I've actually been trying to decide whether or not to go all LPS/Softies. Especially since my acro got smashed up.

 

[pvh]

I only have Caps and a couple of acros in my tank...other than that I have mostly LPS and Softies. IMO SPS are just too boring except for Caps which I really like.

 

[smcnally]

I only have Caps and a couple of acros in my tank...other than that I have mostly LPS and Softies. IMO SPS are just too boring except for Caps which I really like.

Everyone that's pretty new to the hobby says that. Then next thing you know, you will have a tank full of acros. It's a bug that bites after awhile...I think it has everything to do with the challenge.

 

[pvh]

So I guess I'll be a newbie forever then.

 

[Yaktop]

SPS is definately more time and money. Biggest problem I see is people try to reduce the money which eventually leads to more time. Others dont make the time and things get ahead of them. LPS do like a higher nutrients than sps and there lies the another advantage since its easier to care for a higher nutrient tank. The amount of time the lights are on are alot of time skimped upon to save money, which leads to a lower water clarity so the lights arent as effective. there's more.......your right. SPS is a PIA and more frustrating at times.

There are some awesome LPS tanks out there. But, most arent as stunning as a tank with SPS.

 

[MarkO]

my dream tank would be sps, lps and softies that can be managed properly.
I would like to know what it is that makes sps difficult? Maybe I've been lucky, maybe it's b/c my tank is mature (>5 yrs) or maybe it's my "keeping it simple" philosophy as I've never had problems keeping any coral (sps included). Fish, crabs, shrimp on the otherhand is a much different story

 

[RayD]

my dream tank would be sps, lps and softies that can be managed properly.
I would like to know what it is that makes sps difficult? Maybe I've been lucky, maybe it's b/c my tank is mature (>5 yrs) or maybe it's my "keeping it simple" philosophy as I've never had problems keeping any coral (sps included). Fish, crabs, shrimp on the otherhand is a much different story

Mark that's an interesting commentary. I have the damnest time keeping the so called "bullet proof" SPS corals. Digi, Cap, etc ... You can drop a Cap in my tank and within 7-10 days it will be bleached out. Some SPS's do ok for me and those are the ones I keep.

Now fish and shrimp on the other hand. I have the same fish and shrimp I started out with 3 and a half years ago. The Blood shrimps are huge now.

Sometimes I think it's just a roll of the dice as to how our waters settle in and develop their own natural chemistry.

Funny how we're all in the same hobby and no two tanks are alike. What works for one fails miserably for the other. I guess that's the allure of the hobby.

http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=50345

Most recent shot I have of my LPS/Softie reef. Whatever SPS survives stays and the ones that don't make it I just don't try them again. I do ocassionally try a Cap or Digi frag but I'm still batting 0.00

..

 

[MarkO]

Hmmm, maybe it's the salt we use? I use I/O and always have. I also have a calcium reactor, so I don't dose (although I'll bump my magnesium up every once in a while).
The only time I lose sps is when they break off, fall to the bottom and get beaten up by 'shrooms and even when this happens, usually the sps continue to grow when out of the reach of the shrooms sting as you might be able to see in this photo:
http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=50083

My shrimp on the otherhand last a year, 2 max. They just seem to disappear. I've also lost fish over the years. I started out with about 7 green chromis, only 2 remain. Lost a mandarin, but even in a 150 he may have starved. Lost 3 wrasses in 2 years. I think they may have jumped. There have been a few other fish that have just disappeared over the years. That being said, I've got a couple fish that hve been with me since day 1.
But other than one occasion about 5 years ago when my tank temp hit 91+ and I lost an acro, I've never lost a coral, be it sps, lps or softie. And the funny thing about my experience is I find softies to be the most work as they tend to require the most maintenance as they often need to be pruned.
I wonder if my tank is high nutrient? I only occasionally run a relatively inefficient protein skimmer (Berlin turbo).

Ray, excellent looking tank!

 

[vinny]

Marko and Ray by looking at your tank I think I found the problem they both need to be cut back and be fraged. Also further study will need to be done so have them ready for pickup i'll be right over .:

 

[Greg Hiller]

>I would like to know what it is that makes sps difficult?<

IMO you just need to be more consistent with SPS. They really do not like it when calcium, alkalinity, or magnesium levels drop too low, even for a very short period of time. FWIW, over the years, I've found that usually if the three factors I just mentioned are kept in bounds, I actually have fewer problems with SPS than I do with LPS.

 

[TomD]

I have had an all mixed SPS/LPS since day one and I think I have lost 1-2 acros the entire time. Had a tank full of thriving SPS and never had an issue for some reason. Kept is simple I think.