Why do you keep SPS?

[Reefghoul]

There is a thread on another section on this forum, where SPS is being discussed...It has been said that our #1 reason for keeping SPS has to do with the challenge and liking the look of SPS takes a secondary position. I disagree with this statement, so I will start a poll to see why people keep SPS and maybe I will be proved wrong.

So please answer the poll honestly and just answer.

[Reefghoul]

I think my last sentence, is very confusing...What I meant by just answer, was at least answer the poll...if you want to say something of course, by all means say it, I would love to hear everyone's thoughts.

[luke.varga]

They are the most representative creatures of coral reef ecosystems.

[vidrine7322]

sps are definately the brightest corals out there

[blmeier7]

I am pretty new to keeping SPS corals. I have had a couple for the past year or so but it hasn't been until recently that I am moving out all of my soft corals and bumping up my flow for a SPS only tank. Neither of the above options is my primary reason for keeping SPS. I like the structure or overall look of SPS more than anything. I also like watching it grow and get satisfaction out of fragging and the growth rates that can be achieved. I like the fact that you can use more flow in a SPS tank than what you can get by with in a softy tank, it just makes more sense for a reef tank. I also like that SPS can be easily pruned and controlled where soft corals just spread on surrounding rocks. I do like the fact that they are challenging to keep and that they can have incredible colors but those aren't my main reasons for keeping them.

[chica83]

i'm semi new to the sps world ... but to me it's more the look than anything else, before i used to think ..... ohhh why do people like those sticks ... but after i saw an sps tank i just fell in love with them ... it was like love at first sight

[Serioussnaps]

dominant growth, so much variation in colors etc..... and some weird erotic feeling i get when an Acro starts to touch the surface of the water in a tank! (now you think i am crazy)...the challenge is fun too but this is a stupid poll with all due respect...who cares what anyones reasons are for doing it, so long as they do it!

[Reefghoul]

Originally posted by Serioussnaps
dominant growth, so much variation in colors etc..... and some weird erotic feeling i get when an Acro starts to touch the surface of the water in a tank! (now you think i am crazy)...the challenge is fun too but this is a stupid poll with all due respect...who cares what anyones reasons are for doing it, so long as they do it!

I did this poll, due to the fact that I hate it when people make gross generalizations...I find it hard to believe that most people spend the money and time and effort to keep SPS for the challenge, not because they enjoy the aesthetics.

I wanted to prove a point... With all due respect, if it is so stupid, why did you waste the time to post? You do not have to like it, that totally cool, I just know with stupid things I tend not to spend my time being involved with it...but I am glad you responded, that was my whole point to creating the post.

[Amphiprion]

Unfortunately, I don't fit into any one of those categories. I like them for many reasons. I enjoy the fast growth; I do enjoy the challenge somewhat; I think they are amongst the most beautiful corals; tanks that are sps predominant look more natural (and as luke said, more representative of major coral reef ecosystems). I am sure there are more, but it is for a combination of reasons.

[msn711]

Personally, I'm not crazy about the "stick" appearance, hence the reason I also keep LPS corals, but I LOVE the colors. Too many softy tanks are full of brown and tan corals.

As for the challenge, I think that's a love/hate relationship. But there is a great deal of satisfaction when you're successful, more so than with other corals IMO, and even when the success is only slight.

[Denadai]

I keep for the challenge and colors

Regards

[wcpeixoto]

I also vote for both options. I like SPS colors and shapes. But LPS also has amazing colours, formats, textures... Challenge really push me a bit for SPS.

I have a 38" tall tank, so I can enjoy SPS at top and LPS on bottom in perfect harmony.

[chessmanmark]

Everything about this hobby is challenging. This is relatively new technology. You would never have seen tanks like we have today in my father's day.

I was excited when I started this hobby keeping green star polyps and xenia. Soft corals grow fast compared to SPS. If you're successful you start looking for new challenges, it's only natural IMO.

At first many hobbyists start with some "easy" SPS like digitata or a monti cap. From there you start looking for something more interesting looking and challenging. For myself, I started with some frags from friends, then progressed to some frag packs from Reefermadness, and from there started buying high end SPS for their beauty and the challenge of keeping them. It becomes an obsession. It could be worse. People get obsessed on addictions that hurt them. This only hurts your time and money.

[Horace]

Both....but more the look of the corals. There is nothing like the color of SPS when kept correctly.

[abark]

Where is the option for both?

See, the challenge is keeping the colors.

[Reefghoul]

Originally posted by abark
Where is the option for both?

See, the challenge is keeping the colors.

There is no option, I was taking the point that people's number #1 reason on their list for keeping SPS was they liked it more then anything else...and the other persons point was that people keep SPS (and I am quoting) for all other reasons besides asthetics, because he thinks that SPS are not that nice. He also thinks the biggest reason for keeping SPS is the challenge, thus why these are the only two options...

[reefersnob]

ADDICTION!

[kev apsley]

the shear beauty of them!

[kev apsley]

Originally posted by reefersnob
ADDICTION!

yeah ever since I gave up opiates and crack this has become my fix...LOL

[teen]

honestly, i dont feel keeping sps corals is that difficult. does anyone else feel its THAT difficult?

i voted for looks.

[wcpeixoto]

Originally posted by teen
honestly, i dont feel keeping sps corals is that difficult. does anyone else feel its THAT difficult?

i voted for looks.

Keep SPS is pretty easy. Keep really awsome colors not so much...

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Originally posted by teen
honestly, i dont feel keeping sps corals is that difficult. does anyone else feel its THAT difficult?

i voted for looks.

Not wildly colorized acro's sure some digi's and monti's are fairly easy...but could you leave for a week long vacation without anyone caring for an sps tank? But can you leave without help on an LPS or softie tank, yes.

I love the colors and challenge of my acros.

[Flint&Eric]

looks and challenge. its always great to try and manipulate the colors of the coral. brown-out to knock-out is always a great feeling.

[Marcio]

It's kinda difficult to explain but IMHO although some LPSs can be more beautifull than any SPS, the SPS tanks can be more harmonic. The most beautifull tank i've ever seen is a SPS tank.

[IMPERATORFAN]

Originally posted by teen
honestly, i dont feel keeping sps corals is that difficult. does anyone else feel its THAT difficult?

i voted for looks.

Everyone has that opinion when all is going well. Sooner or later we all experience problems. Sometimes diagnosing problems can be difficult. Other times it's easy to diagnose, but it turns out that one little failure, one little mistake turns a long run of stability and expertise into coral loss. Sometimes it turns into a total disaster.

It's not difficult to comprehend the technical aspects of keeping a few sps alive.

It is difficult to carry it out over time.