Beginner soft coral that is NOT A PEST

[KingTideCorals]

I am a softie fanatic... there are so many to choose from it really is hard.. and honestly some softies are not for beginners. They get a bad rep and half the time these people who claim they are beginner corals cannot even get them to take off in their systems.. That being said a nice toadstool would be good or a some finger leather as well!

 

[Acroporaguy]

Nepthea.

 

[Bnutz]

Devils hand corals or finger leathers are nice low light non pest corals. I find gsp easy to deal with by isolation on sand bed. Xenia I have no idea, because I have managed to kill 3 frags. If you want more flashy corals get a duncan.

 

[coralfishreef]

Grubes gorgonian would look nice in a nano once you’re past the ugly algae’s.

 

[MaxTremors]

Devils hand corals or finger leathers are nice low light non pest corals. I find gsp easy to deal with by isolation on sand bed. Xenia I have no idea, because I have managed to kill 3 frags. If you want more flashy corals get a duncan.

Duncan’s are fairly hardy, but they aren’t soft corals, so they do require you to pay closer attention to calc, alk, and mag (and nutrient export is more important).

 

[Visuals]

I am a softie fanatic... there are so many to choose from it really is hard.. and honestly some softies are not for beginners. They get a bad rep and half the time these people who claim they are beginner corals cannot even get them to take off in their systems.. That being said a nice toadstool would be good or a some finger leather as well!

Goals hahaha, I never could achieve a full softy tank. I wanted something in the easy realm like that.

 

[LifeOfAquatics]

I am a softie fanatic... there are so many to choose from it really is hard.. and honestly some softies are not for beginners. They get a bad rep and half the time these people who claim they are beginner corals cannot even get them to take off in their systems.. That being said a nice toadstool would be good or a some finger leather as well!

Your tank is stunning? If you don't mind, could you tell me how many gallons it is and what light your using? Also, what par would you suggest for a toadstool or finger leather? I am asking because I have a 5 gallon nano and am currently using the tank's given light. It is like 1.5 watts but I still want to keep coral. Would you suggest any coral or should i just wait for an upgrade?

 

[MaxTremors]

Your tank is stunning? If you don't mind, could you tell me how many gallons it is and what light your using? Also, what par would you suggest for a toadstool or finger leather? I am asking because I have a 5 gallon nano and am currently using the tank's given light. It is like 1.5 watts but I still want to keep coral. Would you suggest any coral or should i just wait for an upgrade?

I would think 1.5 watts wouldn’t be enough to really grow anything, it might be enough to keep some low light soft corals alive, but they would thrive. You can find a light for a five gallon tank that would easily be good enough for softies and some lps for under $50. I would recommend at least 20watts of LEDs for a five gallon tank (though wattage per gallon and wattage in relation to PAR with LEDs really varies depending on the type of LED, the angle of the lens, etc), though you could definitely go higher or get away with less. I don’t know if there is any species I would recommend for a 1.5 watt light, but if you do choose to keep anything under that light, make sure the light is just an inch or two above the water and keep the coral directly under the light just an inch or two below the water.

 

[Spkarim]

I agree with ricordia being a great coral to start with

 

[BostonReefer300]

I agree with those that say Xenia is a pest. I had a few types in my very first tank and tried to get rid of it, but it kept popping up in later tanks even when I thought I'd scrubbed it clean. You don't even have to mess with it and it'll still break off and land somewhere to start a new colony. GSP is also a pest in my opinion. Anyway, if you want a softie that isn't a pest, I'd recommend the blue sympodium. Very beautiful blue and green coloration, grows in a tight bunch, grows moderately fast but doesn't bud off like xenia. Just make sure you put it on its own rock that you can isolate or move. It encrusts so it's hard to get rid of by scrapping. Very hardy coral as well

 

[SamMule]

Ricordea are very easy, beautiful, and won't become a nuisance.
GSP is easy to keep isolated. The mat pulls right off of the rock or whatever it is attached to.
Xenia is a nightmare to contain. Yes, it's cool, hardy, etc... But it will eventually spread everywhere in your tank.
Another hardy item to consider... Not technically corals, but inverts... Rock flower anemones!

 

[Its only Money]

Where would one find some sort of online guide or identification chart of corals. SPS LPS ect.

 

[LifeOfAquatics]

Where would one find some sort of online guide or identification chart of corals. SPS LPS ect.

I remember getting this list from someone on R2R. Hope it helps!

 

[sp1187]

dont really want zoas due to the toxin stuff

the "toxin stuff" is nonsense.
there will be bacteria in your tank that could make you sick.
use common sense.
embrace the zoas. (not literally)

gsp looks great. just put it off on its own.
all the leathers can grow quite large.
some people consider shrooms a pest as the can spread.
I love them.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Agreed about the loveliness of Xenia— don’t be hatin’! Lol. That said, there are many beautiful and hardy leathers that don’t ‘drop’ anything, and couldn’t be considered a pest Coral in any way. Best wishes, and have fun!

 

[Its only Money]

I remember getting this list from someone on R2R. Hope it helps!

Didn’t open for me, appreciate the effort!

 

[elorablue]

Grubes gorgonian would look nice in a nano once you’re past the ugly algae’s.

+1
I have a Grubes and a purple candelabra in my 20g , in high light and high flow and they're taking off. Very satisfying and beautiful corals..

 

[elorablue]

I remember getting this list from someone on R2R. Hope it helps!

Not online but YouTube Tidal Gardens. He does a great breakdown on every type of coral you could think of.

edit. I'm also trying to wrap my head around a 1.5 watt light

 

[Uncle99]

I like to grow mats of GSP on the back glass.
I like the look, it’s easy to remove (for frags) and mops up a ton of nutrients.