Best beginner softies

[bigsmoke]

So I’m a ways off from adding corals but what are some suggestions for beginners corals to start researching them.

 

[hds4216]

Zoas, green star polyps, xenia, leather corals, mushrooms are the usual beginner soft coral recommendations. If you wanna try LPS, try duncans, candy cane/trumpet corals, hammers and acans.

 

[Billldg]

I have never had soft corals. I started with LPS and moved to SPS, but I kinda don't like the term beginner corals. Truth is, their really is no such thing. I am not saying this to turn you away from other corals, IN FACT, it's the contrary. The fact that you started a salt water tank means that you have the drive to keep ANYTHING, whether its softies or LPS, and even SPS. You can keep anything you want, you have shown that with starting a salt water tank. Their really isn't much of a difference between softies and LPS, they both like a dirty tank. The meaning of a dirty tank means they like a little higher nitrates and phosphates. SPS like lower of each, thus it means a little more testing and maintenance to keep it lower.

 

[drewwCh]

It depends on whay type of tank you want. So for example if you want an SPS dominant tank, don't get a bunch of sodties cause they'll slow down SPS growth and you'll habe to give them away. So I'd say go with a simple and easy to care for coral that you actually like that won't be invasive.

 

[bigsmoke]

I plan on keeping lps and soft corals to start off. Thinking a zoa frag maybe a Xenia to start with. I am putting 2 kessil lights over the tank in case I decide to add more light intensive corals down the road.

 

[mdb_talon]

I think the earlier suggestions from hds make sense, but would also add the most important thing is buying what you want longterm. Too often this type of thread is followed up months later by "help GSP is taking over my tank" (substitute GSP with xenia,etc).

 

[Pistondog]

Xenia are the easiest for me, almost like weeds. They pop up everywhere.
I have a batch growing on coralline on the back glass.

 

[bigsmoke]

Yea I want to plan for long term that’s why I’m researching it now. Probably be end of April or early May before I add my first, tank permitting.

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

I’d suggest going with zoa, candy canes, or Xenia. Mushrooms don’t play well with some stuff that touches them and leather corals can get massive fast. Both of those are bulletproof but so are zoa ans Xenia in most cases. Plus there are some super cool zoa you can get that won’t break the bank.

Green star polyps are cool but grow super fast so you’ll want to isolate them on an island.

candy canes grow fast and can be the focal point of your tank. Mine are 8 months old and have grown from 2 heads to nearly 15.

 

[hds4216]

I’d suggest going with zoa, candy canes, or Xenia. Mushrooms don’t play well with some stuff that touches them and leather corals can get massive fast. Both of those are bulletproof but so are zoa ans Xenia in most cases. Plus there are some super cool zoa you can get that won’t break the bank.

Green star polyps are cool but grow super fast so you’ll want to isolate them on an island.

candy canes grow fast and can be the focal point of your tank. Mine are 8 months old and have grown from 2 heads to nearly 15.

What are these? They're cool.

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

Plus if you shove enough softies into one tank your parameters will basically be 0. I barely do water changes and my Zoa eat up the nitrates like crazy.

 

[bigsmoke]

I do love those colorful zoas. Beautiful

 

[CanuckReefer]

Zoas, green star polyps, xenia, leather corals, mushrooms are the usual beginner soft coral recommendations. If you wanna try LPS, try duncans, candy cane/trumpet corals, hammers and acans.

All good recommendations! Another one that's kinda cool, and imo not overly difficult is a bubble coral. Just need to leave a bit of space for night time feeding sweepers....

 

[Codeblack88]

I’d suggest going with zoa, candy canes, or Xenia. Mushrooms don’t play well with some stuff that touches them and leather corals can get massive fast. Both of those are bulletproof but so are zoa ans Xenia in most cases. Plus there are some super cool zoa you can get that won’t break the bank.

Green star polyps are cool but grow super fast so you’ll want to isolate them on an island.

candy canes grow fast and can be the focal point of your tank. Mine are 8 months old and have grown from 2 heads to nearly 15.

do you mind telling us the names of the ones in those pictures?

 

[reeferZ]

xenia, GSP, trumpet, toadstools, finger leather, zoas, palythoas, frogspawn, hammers, torches, war coral, brains, lobos are all pretty easy.

monti caps, birdsnests, poccilipora, cyphastrias are the next level up

acropora - highest level of care required

 

[Scorpius]

Softies can be just as demanding as any sps. I suggest a leather for a first timer. Zoanthids can be fussy little things.

 

[Revt]

I have all kinds of softies. My favorites have been different forms of nepthea and singularia. Mushrooms are fun, too. If you have a good setup, they'll split and form colonies fast and come in a variety of colors, patterns, and textures.