Stocking new tank with SPS

[Mikef1]

My new 90 gal finished cycling about a week ago and I did a big water change just after. My params look good. My question is how long should I wait until I start adding sps corals and clams. I have a full clean up crew already. The tank is going to be strictly sps and clams but should I add something like ricordia mushrooms to see how they do or just start with a small frag. I would appreciate any suggestions.

 

[vair]

Do you have lots of live rock?
I would personally not put in the shrooms, I did the same way back now they are like weed that won't go away, bothering the other corals.

dave

 

[Ralphyhp]

Mikef i second vair, the SPS corals are very sensitive to the touch of the mushrooms and other corals. If you have all the keys to keep SPS corals start with a frag and wait another month to see how it do. What i mean with keys are : Strong water currents, good lightning imo M/H, Ro/Di water, good calcium and alkalinity parameters or if you want to go the easy way a Calcium reactor, a chiller if you have heating problems, ect. If you have your mind focus on that direction, go ahead and good luck my friend. If you see on this pic i have this shrooms on my SPS tank and i used to moved them to my prop. tank because they use to harm my SPS. Please let us know your SPS tank setup to see how to help you. Ralphyhp :wink: .

 

[Anonymous]

The most important parameter for SPS corals is *stability*, and that's not a parameter you can measure easily. When you've had your tank for a while and you've gotten a rhythm of Ca addition, topoff, and water changes that you're comfortable with, consider adding a hardy SPS coral. Montipora digitata is, IMO, an ideal beginner's SPS coral.

I think adding a few hardy corals like mushrooms or zoanthids as a "canary" is a good idea, providing you protect your SPS corals from them.

 

[sawcjack00]

I would definitely start with something other than SPS. Get going with a few hardy softies, but no Sinularia or Sarchophyton as they release toxins into the water that can cause problems with SPS. I'd also stay away from things that are dificult to remove like xenia and star polyps. Some mushrooms on an isolated rock would be good, just make sure you can get them out later.

As stated before, Montipora digitada is an excellent first SPS. Another good choice is Porites cylindrica. I had several hitchhiker colonies on my LR in my 450 gallon tank, all of them survived the full cycle without a problem.

As a general rule of thumb most people won't try SPS until at least 6 months, many recomend 1 year...