Will this lighting work?
- Thread starter deniki
- Start date
scsinet
Active Member
no... in fact as a newbie, SPS is an entire class of coral you should stay away from due to other reasons.
SPS stands for Small Polyp Stony. These are corals that have tiny tiny polyps. A candy cane coral, for example, is called an LPS (Large.... ) because their polyps can be an inch or more across. Small Polyp Stony corals have polyps that are millimeters across. Another common name is "hard coral," though the term hard coral encompasses corals that you can keep, such as the Candy cane I mentioned.
Most SPS corals have a name ending in "pora" AcroPORA, MontiPORA, GonioPORA, are all good examples. All are the more difficult corals that require tons of light, flow, and nearly zero nitrates.
SPS stands for Small Polyp Stony. These are corals that have tiny tiny polyps. A candy cane coral, for example, is called an LPS (Large.... ) because their polyps can be an inch or more across. Small Polyp Stony corals have polyps that are millimeters across. Another common name is "hard coral," though the term hard coral encompasses corals that you can keep, such as the Candy cane I mentioned.
Most SPS corals have a name ending in "pora" AcroPORA, MontiPORA, GonioPORA, are all good examples. All are the more difficult corals that require tons of light, flow, and nearly zero nitrates.
scsinet
Active Member
Just for reference, corals usually fall into 3 main categories:
Soft - These corals have no solid skeleton of any kind. They are more or less just flesh. Corals of this type are generally pretty easy to care for. They include Leathers, Polyps (though these are not technically corals but for all intents and purposes...), mushrooms, Xenia, Zoos, etc...
LPS - Large Polyp Stony - These have a skeleton and exist in two main forms. First, as a single solitary polyp, such as brains, tongues, fungia, Elegance, etc. Second, as a colony of smaller (but still comparatively large) polyps, such as Hammer, Frogspawn, Candy Cane, Torch. Generally the multiple polyp varieties are easy enough for newbies to keep. The large single polyp can be more difficult.
SPS - Small Polyp Stony - As described above.
Other things, like feather dusters, anemones, clams, etc are sometimes confused as corals, but they are technically invertebrates of different types. Dusters are worms, anemones are anemones, clams (along with sponges) are bivalves, but none are corals.
Hope this helps.
Consider picking up a book called "The Conciencious Marine Aquarist" by Bob Fenner. It's an awesome book for a beginner. Read it cover to cover (also read the Fair tax book, but that's another topic).
Soft - These corals have no solid skeleton of any kind. They are more or less just flesh. Corals of this type are generally pretty easy to care for. They include Leathers, Polyps (though these are not technically corals but for all intents and purposes...), mushrooms, Xenia, Zoos, etc...
LPS - Large Polyp Stony - These have a skeleton and exist in two main forms. First, as a single solitary polyp, such as brains, tongues, fungia, Elegance, etc. Second, as a colony of smaller (but still comparatively large) polyps, such as Hammer, Frogspawn, Candy Cane, Torch. Generally the multiple polyp varieties are easy enough for newbies to keep. The large single polyp can be more difficult.
SPS - Small Polyp Stony - As described above.
Other things, like feather dusters, anemones, clams, etc are sometimes confused as corals, but they are technically invertebrates of different types. Dusters are worms, anemones are anemones, clams (along with sponges) are bivalves, but none are corals.
Hope this helps.
Consider picking up a book called "The Conciencious Marine Aquarist" by Bob Fenner. It's an awesome book for a beginner. Read it cover to cover (also read the Fair tax book, but that's another topic).
earlybird
Active Member
Originally Posted by SCSInet
If you ran all 10K-20K lamps and not any actinic lamps, you may just barely be able to keep anemones if your tank is small, like a 55g.
Other stuff should be okay, just not clams or SPS.
I'd like to throw in that although this may work as the minimum I couldn't imagine my tank without my actinics. I love the actinics and wish I could run only those half the time.
Also, do a lot of research on anenomes and requirements. It's generally best to wait until your tank is established before introducing one.
If you ran all 10K-20K lamps and not any actinic lamps, you may just barely be able to keep anemones if your tank is small, like a 55g.
Other stuff should be okay, just not clams or SPS.
I'd like to throw in that although this may work as the minimum I couldn't imagine my tank without my actinics. I love the actinics and wish I could run only those half the time.
Also, do a lot of research on anenomes and requirements. It's generally best to wait until your tank is established before introducing one.
deniki
New Member
Thanks for the info. I'll definitely get my hands on that book.
Trust me, Earlybird, I'm doing my research. It's going to be a long time before I even start setting up. It stinks because I'm soooo anxious to get started and to have a beautiful tank, but I realize this isn't something I just want to go out and regret what I've done. That's why I'm asking all of these questions. Dumb questions or not, I need to learn about this hobby before making the giant leap.
Trust me, Earlybird, I'm doing my research. It's going to be a long time before I even start setting up. It stinks because I'm soooo anxious to get started and to have a beautiful tank, but I realize this isn't something I just want to go out and regret what I've done. That's why I'm asking all of these questions. Dumb questions or not, I need to learn about this hobby before making the giant leap.
earlybird
Active Member
Originally Posted by Deniki
Thanks for the info. I'll definitely get my hands on that book.
Trust me, Earlybird, I'm doing my research. It's going to be a long time before I even start setting up. It stinks because I'm soooo anxious to get started and to have a beautiful tank, but I realize this isn't something I just want to go out and regret what I've done. That's why I'm asking all of these questions. Dumb questions or not, I need to learn about this hobby before making the giant leap.
Oh I know how ya feel. Take your time. I had about 1000 posts before I even filled my tank up with water. Even with my patience I still wish I did something different.
Not many do research until it's too late. If I had a dollar for every post ..."I just got a ______ can someone tell me about it."
Good luck. That's an awesome book.
Thanks for the info. I'll definitely get my hands on that book.
Trust me, Earlybird, I'm doing my research. It's going to be a long time before I even start setting up. It stinks because I'm soooo anxious to get started and to have a beautiful tank, but I realize this isn't something I just want to go out and regret what I've done. That's why I'm asking all of these questions. Dumb questions or not, I need to learn about this hobby before making the giant leap.
Oh I know how ya feel. Take your time. I had about 1000 posts before I even filled my tank up with water. Even with my patience I still wish I did something different.
Good luck. That's an awesome book.