Green Birdnest

Green Birdsnest (Seriatopora guttatus or similar variants) is a fast-growing, bright green SPS with thin, delicate branches that form a dense thicket. It’s one of the more beginner-friendly SPS but still benefits from stability and strong flow.

Lighting

Moderate to high light, around 150 to 250 PAR. Too little light gives a dull, brownish green. Too much can bleach the tips if the coral isn’t acclimated. Birdsnest tends to show its best bright neon green under clean, stable mid-high levels.

Flow

Strong, random flow is essential. Thin branches trap detritus easily, and stagnant water leads to dead spots inside the colony. Aim for intersecting currents that keep polyps in constant gentle motion. Avoid laminar jets pointed straight at the skeleton because the delicate branches snap easily.

Placement

Mid to high in the rockwork. Leave room around it because Birdsnest grows quickly into a dense ball. If placed too close to other SPS or LPS, it often wins by simple overgrowth and shading. Also don’t put it where large snails or hermits bulldoze; branches break on contact.

Water parameters

A bit more forgiving than Acropora, but still wants SPS stability.

Calcium around 420.
Alkalinity around 8 to 8.6.
Magnesium near 1350.
Nitrate 5 to 15.
Phosphate 0.03 to 0.1.

It colors best in systems with consistent nutrients and gentle, not drastic, export.

Feeding

Relies mostly on light and dissolved organics. Occasional amino acids help color but aren’t mandatory. It doesn’t need target feeding.

Growth behavior

Very fast. It encrusts quickly, then sends out dozens of thin branches that fork repeatedly. Because the branches are fragile, accidental frags are common. Many aquaculture farms grow Birdsnest for this reason: endless, easy frags.

Sensitivities

Prone to RTN or STN if alkalinity swings hard. The thin skeleton makes it vulnerable to breakage if handled roughly. Red bugs and AEFW don’t usually target it, but bacterial infections can spread quickly inside dense colonies if damaged.

Compatibility

Peaceful stinger-wise, but aggressive in real estate. Its growth speed lets it overtake slower neighbors. Keep a buffer zone and watch shading.