Corals for a begginer

[mrbiggs1986]

I’m looking to add some more corals to my 5 month old tank. I’ve had some mushrooms and a leather in my tank for 2 weeks and everything seems to be doing quite well. I started with dry rock and sand but recently I’ve added live rock and sand from Tampa bay saltwater.

My parameters:

ph: 8.2
salinity: 1.025
alkalinity: 9.6dkh
calcium: 400ppm
magnesium: 1320ppm
nitrate 8ppm
phosphate: .02ppm

I’ve been thinking of adding a few Favia, an Acan and a few more mushrooms. Is this a bad idea? My buddy at my lfs is telling me the more coral I have the better. He claims it will outcompete nuisance algae. He’s not trying to sell me more coral as the ones I was going to get are from another shop. I just don’t want to throw money down the drain.

 

[BVF]

I quickly grew tired of mushrooms. Trumpet/candy cane coral are good starters that still look good among more “advanced” corals later. Chalices and zoas are forgiving. Acans and favias may start slow, but seem to do ok. I’d rather have Duncans than leathers, but that’s just me.

 

[MaxTremors]

I’m looking to add some more corals to my 5 month old tank. I’ve had some mushrooms and a leather in my tank for 2 weeks and everything seems to be doing quite well. I started with dry rock and sand but recently I’ve added live rock and sand from Tampa bay saltwater.

My parameters:

ph: 8.2
salinity: 1.025
alkalinity: 9.6dkh
calcium: 400ppm
magnesium: 1320ppm
nitrate 8ppm
phosphate: .02ppm

I’ve been thinking of adding a few Favia, an Acan and a few more mushrooms. Is this a bad idea? My buddy at my lfs is telling me the more coral I have the better. He claims it will outcompete nuisance algae. He’s not trying to sell me more coral as the ones I was going to get are from another shop. I just don’t want to throw money down the drain.

First, there are no Favias in the hobby (there are only two species, both from the Caribbean and there is no stony coral collection in the Caribbean), what are sold as ‘Favias’ come from 6-7 different genera, some are more forgiving than others. Of those, I would recommend a Favites pentagona (war coral), or Dragon Soul ‘Favia’ (Goniastrea sp.), they are both fairly hardy.

I assume by ‘Acans’ you mean Micromussa lordhowensis (used to be Acanthestrea) and not Acanthestrea bowerbanki/pachysepta/echinata, micro lords are fairly hardy, just need to be fed to thrive. Blastomussa wellsi is another great beginner LPS coral.

I would avoid any Euphyllia/Fimbriaphyllia (torches and hammers) until your tank is a little more mature and you’ve gotten the hang of keeping your alkalinity stable, but if you want something in a similar growth form that offers similar movement, Duncanopsammia axifuga (Duncan coral) are a good choice for beginners.

And few a more: bubble corals (Plerogyra sinuosa), Fox corals (Nemenzophyllia turbida), and open brain corals (Trachyphyllia geoffroyi) are all hardy options as well.

 

[mrbiggs1986]

I quickly grew tired of mushrooms. Trumpet/candy cane coral are good starters that still look good among more “advanced” corals later. Chalices and zoas are forgiving. Acans and favias may start slow, but seem to do ok. I’d rather have Duncans than leathers, but that’s just me.

My buddy did recommend candy canes. My leather is my favorite right now as it’s by far the largest at the moment, it’s around the size of my fist.

 

[mrbiggs1986]

First, there are no Favias in the hobby (there are only two species, both from the Caribbean and there is no stony coral collection in the Caribbean), what are sold as ‘Favias’ come from 6-7 different genera, some are more forgiving than others. Of those, I would recommend a Favites pentagona (war coral), or Dragon Soul ‘Favia’ (Goniastrea sp.), they are both fairly hardy.

I assume by ‘Acans’ you mean Micromussa lordhowensis (used to be Acanthestrea) and not Acanthestrea bowerbanki/pachysepta/echinata, micro lords are fairly hardy, just need to be fed to thrive. Blastomussa wellsi is another great beginner LPS coral.

I would avoid any Euphyllia/Fimbriaphyllia (torches and hammers) until your tank is a little more mature and you’ve gotten the hang of keeping your alkalinity stable, but if you want something in a similar growth form that offers similar movement, Duncanopsammia axifuga (Duncan coral) are a good choice for beginners.

And few a more: bubble corals (Plerogyra sinuosa), Fox corals (Nemenzophyllia turbida), and open brain corals (Trachyphyllia geoffroyi) are all hardy options as well.

Thanks for the detailed response. I’ll add a screenshot of my cart and maybe you can help out as they don’t have the scientific names.

 

[MaxTremors]

Thanks for the detailed response. I’ll add a screenshot of my cart and maybe you can help out as they don’t have the scientific names.

The Pavona is a beginner SPS, but I don’t know that I’d say it’s a beginner coral, if that makes sense. The two ‘Favias’ are difficult to ID, closed brain corals can be hard to ID when they are little frags. The Nuclear Waste looks like a Favites, but it’s hard to tell from such a small frag/photo.

 

[mrbiggs1986]

The Pavona is a beginner SPS, but I don’t know that I’d say it’s a beginner coral, if that makes sense. The two ‘Favias’ are difficult to ID, closed brain corals can be hard to ID when they are little frags. The Nuclear Waste looks like a Favites, but it’s hard to tell from such a small frag/photo.

Thanks, I appreciate your help. I’ve modified my cart and added a few from another lfs.

 

[Obsessed with fish]

If your a begginer I would stick to soft corals for a year or so, then move to sps. The easyest soft corals are mushrooms, pulsing xenia, toadstools and green star polpys. Zoathids are a bit harder but I still recommend them!

 

[mrbiggs1986]

If your a begginer I would stick to soft corals for a year or so, then move to sps. The easyest soft corals are mushrooms, pulsing xenia, toadstools and green star polpys. Zoathids are a bit harder but I still recommend them!

Thanks for the tips. I do have some neon gsp that I’m trying to get to grow up the side of my tank.

 

[Duncan62]

I’m looking to add some more corals to my 5 month old tank. I’ve had some mushrooms and a leather in my tank for 2 weeks and everything seems to be doing quite well. I started with dry rock and sand but recently I’ve added live rock and sand from Tampa bay saltwater.

My parameters:

ph: 8.2
salinity: 1.025
alkalinity: 9.6dkh
calcium: 400ppm
magnesium: 1320ppm
nitrate 8ppm
phosphate: .02ppm

I’ve been thinking of adding a few Favia, an Acan and a few more mushrooms. Is this a bad idea? My buddy at my lfs is telling me the more coral I have the better. He claims it will outcompete nuisance algae. He’s not trying to sell me more coral as the ones I was going to get are from another shop. I just don’t want to throw money down the drain.

To many leathers can keep some hard corals from flourishing.

 

[MaxTremors]

Thanks, I appreciate your help. I’ve modified my cart and added a few from another lfs.

All of those are fairly hardy and should do well. You’ll want to monitor your alkalinity pretty closely for the first several weeks until you determine how much alk your stony corals are consuming. You will eventually need to start dosing a two part or something like AllforReef to keep it stable, but for just a few small frags water changes should be sufficient.

 

[reeftankdude]

To many leathers can keep some hard corals from flourishing.

Why and thanks

 

[mrbiggs1986]

All of those are fairly hardy and should do well. You’ll want to monitor your alkalinity pretty closely for the first several weeks until you determine how much alk your stony corals are consuming. You will eventually need to start dosing a two part or something like AllforReef to keep it stable, but for just a few small frags water changes should be sufficient.

Thanks for your help! I snagged a few from the TSA live sale and the rest from living reef. Pretty excited to go pick them up on Saturday. Th ask for recommending all for reef, I have the powder and dosing bottle already.

 

[HB AL]

Where do you live I'm in SOCAL, if your local come by and I will give you (free) corals you can't even kill if you tried.

 

[Chrisv.]

My vote is add whatever you want, as long as it's aquacultured.

Assuming your tank is set up to keep coral (decent lights, a supplementation plan, etc) there is no reason you need to wait more than 5 months for your tank to cycle. All of this talk about waiting for ages before you add any coral is way overkill. I don't know many reefers who have been in the hobby more than two years who believe you need to wait this long to add corals. It seems to be a thing that new people love to tell slightly newer people.

Acros might be tricky. Maybe hold off on those.

If you're adding stony corals, watch your alk and calcium before and after you add them, and have a plan to keep the levels up as the corals consume it.

The best advice I have is to buy from local hobbyists. You will get better corals for a lower price , and make local reefer friends.

 

[HB AL]

Since I don't know where you live buy a frag of a Monti Spongodes, I give em away by the colony when needed.

 

[Uncle99]

If those numbers are stable, Montipora Digitata, or Monti Caps for mid level / top level sticks or plates, they are quite hardy.

 

[HB AL]

Here's a vid from 7 days ago. My tank is different than the 99% of others just because of the inhabitants. Cool vid only a few minutes long.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

My vote is to buy one or two more coral. If you keep those alive for 6 more months, then start adding others. While the 6 months is going on, you will be learning, practicing, and gaining experience.

 

[mrbiggs1986]

Where do you live I'm in SOCAL, if your local come by and I will give you (free) corals you can't even kill if you tried.

I appreciate the offer but I’m in florida. I ended up picking up some at the tsa live sale and a few from living reef. The wife and kids are dragging me to sea world on Saturday so I’m making them stop at 2 places on the way home. Maybe 3, I can’t afford anything from Wwc but that place has some sick tanks.