Easiest corals for a newbie?

[rickrutland]

Hi

Any thoughts on relatively easy to keep soft corals? (I assume they're the easiest to keep? or others if they're not too difficult)

Also what water parameters should i watch the most?

I have 120 gal w/LR, sand, sump with a pair of clowns, 1 cleaner shrimp, snails right now.... oh yes and a pair of 250W, 20KMH (don't know how old the bulbs are right now)

Thanks!!!

[mabel_photo6]

I'm a newbie too. :) What worked fine for me are mushrooms, zoas, leather corals.
I also have a hammer coral that's growing like crazy.
Finger leather corals and green star polyps are the other coral I have.
So far, they're doing great in my tank.
Oh and a Kenya tree frag is growing beautifully too.

I started adding corals when my tank was 6 months old though.
First fish was added at 5 weeks.
My tank is currently 40 weeks old. :)

[Captain Jack]

i think mabel pretty well covered the beginner's corals.

[Roo&Lis]

Those corals are pretty hard to kill. My fav newbie coral is the frogspawn. Good looking and tough as nails.

[Europhyllia]

If you have leathers do not use phosphate absorbing pads made with aluminum oxide. I think that's about the only thing that could kill a leather coral...

[Kyle46N]

With your lighting you can do anything you want. There are plenty of SPS's that are easy enough. This is all assuming that you are finished with your tank cycle. Easiest...will be any of your softies. Euphyllia are pretty easy too.

[CoryDude]

Colt corals are pretty hardy for softies. Stay away from Scleronephthya aka strawberry corals.

[ErikH]

SPSPSPSPSPSSPSPSPSPSPSSPSPSPSSPSPSPSPSPSSPSPSPSPSP SPs

[Bill S]

SPS really doesn't do all that well in a new tank. I'd take it slowly and move up.

For SPS, green slimer and green cap are my favorites for newbies.

[devonian]

IF you feel the need to try an SPS coral, make it a montipora digitata, or capricornus, as those two species are fast growers that are relatively easy to keep. As for the previously mentioned corals, leathers, mushrooms, colt, finger leathers, kenya tree, green star polyps, anthelia, ... all are very hardy and would make great additions to your reef tank.

[Europhyllia]

yellow polyps are nice and spread really quickly too :)

[rickrutland]

Thanks all

I did forget to mention that I bought and moved an established tank.... so it's not really new.... just to me :) Finished with the cycling, but I am a little concerned with nitrate levels. Everything else looks OK. (I think), although I don't have a calcium test kit yet.


Rick

[Europhyllia]

If I understand it correctly they don't constantly spit out toxic stuff. It's more of a reaction to them feeling stressed or encroached upon, etc. so as long as you don't tick them off perhaps it will be just fine?

[4fun]

your tank is cycled and those light you can do just about anything you want just watch your levels

[rickrutland]

OK... now I'm charged up

What about suggestions of favorite places to get some corals?

Thanks:)

[mabel_photo6]

Hmmm I like Alamo Aquatics because they have a tank with a bunch of coral for a pretty good price.
Gabe's has some nice healthy corals.
EdAquatics has a good bunch of coral too.
Aquarium Design had some impressive coral.
You just have to go see yourself. It's hard to recommend.
Pick a day to go check out different places.
My around is usually Alamo Aquatics, Phenomenal Aquatics, and Gabe's because they are very close together distance wise.

[ErikH]

Reefs2U and Aquarium Designs have great selection as well.

[stoneroller]

New to corals? Trading or buying from the MAAST members is a great way to get started. You can start with smaller pieces and learn a whole lot by visiting member tanks. You will lose corals in the process of learning how to reef... IMO it's better to start with locally grown.

Lighting is only one factor for keeping corals. You have to have appropriate current (flow) and water quality conditions. A multi-parameter test kit or collection of kits is a must!

[ReefCube]

start off with one frag of each (sps,LPS,SPS) buy small frags and give it a month after that you should see what you will be able to keep then buy more of those type of corals. Also make note if corals are growing/not growing.. loosing color etc....but first water conditions need to be in check ..TEST everything OR you can throw a bunch of star polyps and zenia and dont worry about it hehe