sps high in the tank but under pc's?

[sir_dudeguy]

ok...if you dont know i got a 40 breeder w/4x96 pc. If i were to place some sps up high in the tank (tho the 40 breeder is shallow to begin with) would they grow good? There's a guy selling frags for only 5 bucks locally for some stag i think it was...so if they'd be ok...then i'll take him up on that offer.

thanks

[sir_dudeguy]

Anyone? I know theres a bunch of you online! ;)

[sir_dudeguy]

ok so the one i'm mostly interested from the guy selling them is a poci...

A couple smaller ~ 1" frags of neon green poci


Google search showed nothing. I'm sure poci is short for some long scientific name so i cant find anything. Anyone know anything about them or how they'd do under the 4x96?

[theatrus]

I'll go out and say Poci is pocillopora.

I would assume they would survive, but you're not going to get stellar growth or color out of them. They would also need to be in a high flow zone, but not blasted by a powerhead.

[UprightJoe]

I just broke out Borneman's book...

I'm assuming Poci is short for Pocillopora though I'm not sure. I have no experience with these so I can't say how they'd do under PC's. They're supposed to be pretty demanding though - requiring high light and high flow.

If you're just looking for easy SPS corals, Montipora sp. and Pavona sp. tend to be adaptable to a wide variety of lighting and flow conditions according to the book. You could give one of those a shot...

I'm trying out a montipora colony towards the top of my 30 gallon 2x96 watt tank. It seems to be doing great but it's still too early to say for sure.

[theatrus]

Older picture of my green pocillopora:

http://www.stackworks.net/aq082006/10112006/IMG_2095.jpg

[theatrus]

Yup, I'd strongly suggest starting with a monitpora digitata or montipora capricornus (monti cap). Both are excellent candidates for lower light systems, are relatively hardy, and are quick growers.

[sir_dudeguy]

ok thanks :) I've definately got the flow part down (freakin zoas keep fallin off the rock actually lol) I've got somewhere in between 27 and 35 times turnover.

Again, they'd be at the top of the rock, so hopefully lighting wont be a problem but idk..

I think i will start w/a monti cap tho. Never done sps so i'd like to break into it as easily as possible. Montis are cool too so ya..i'll get those :)

thanks

[sir_dudeguy]

any idea on what a small monti might run me? I'm thinkin about 3 inches or so...i've seen some six or 8 inchers about 70 i think...cant remember tho, and i just saw them yesterday....tho i was more looking at a new 90 dollar hammer coral that the lfs just got in (and barely walked away from it....this thing was very large for "only" 90 bucks and looked absolutely amazing)

[theatrus]

I've picked up 3" for about $30 before, green coloration. Then again the same LFS has a 10" dark red plating cap for $40.... but alas I have no space :) Digitatas are usually cheaper (especially brown :)). There are some really rare caps around which can cost a lot though. Caps aren't as popular to frag since it looks like things are missing and you loose out the cool whorling look they have.

There are some encrusting montiporas (such as the "superman") which have $100 frags easily.

[UprightJoe]

The monti frag I have in my tank is bright purple around the edges and brown in the center. I'm hoping the whole thing turns purple. I'm starting to see purple splotches in the middle so I might be in luck.

It's about 3-4" across and I believe I paid $20 though I it may have been $30.

[sir_dudeguy]

oh, so they're not really that much then? (compaired to other stuff at the same size anyways).

[theatrus]

The more common varieties should be fairly cheap due to their prolific growth :)

[sir_dudeguy]

cool thanks again :)

In the future (prolly around chrismas time...as thats when i tend to get most of my gifts lol ;) ) i will be starting at least a 125g reef. Now i will want to keep everything from softies all the way up to stags and other sps's. (and lps's of course...my fav. coral as of now is the hammer).

But what light (or better put...how much MH light) should i be looking to add over that tank? I cant think right now, but off the top of my head i think the standard 125's are either 5 or 6 ft long..Would 3x250 mh's work? (along w/all my pc's for actinics of course...i'm never gonna go w/out actinics).

I plan on doing retro inside the canopy as always. I love retros and their ease of use. Just set them how you want and fire away :)

[kass03]

I think for $5 you could try the pocillopora.
I have a green one in my 55 under T5's doing well so I took a frag of it and put it in my 12 gal aquapod under 54 watts of pc's.
It's doing fine in the aquapod so far.

kass

[theatrus]

A 72' 125g? 3x250s would be perfect. The 120g can get by with just two (48" tank).

[theatrus]

I second the opinion on the pocillopora. Mine has been a great grower and always looks nice and fuzzy :)

[cham]

I tried the same under T5's and VHO's and didnt get good results. See sig for my T5 and VHO set up. I have since added MH and its starting to color back up and getting the good polyp extension back. I got tired of trying to win without using MH. So I gave in.

Before.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h187/cham_01/100_0511.jpg

After
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h187/cham_01/Picture042.jpg

Note: The after pic is with MH and getting great polyp extension. Its slowly starting to color back up.

[kau_cinta_ku]

i got great polyp and color from my T5's and my pocillopora
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a296/kau_cinta_ku/CIMG0758.jpg