first time looking for coral fragges

[bandit1994]

what is the best corals for the first time reefer as I know this is opinion vs facts I like the zoas but was thinking is there more and better corals out there for the first time reefer I have a little money to spend here I want something that is ez to care for

 

[tankstudy]

I would start with some cheap softies. They aren't as awesome looking but they are pretty hardy and cheap. This way, as your learning about this hobby, if you make mistakes, your softies are a littler more tolerable of them or if they don't survive, your not out too much money. At the same time, don't get me wrong, softies can be gorgeous as well but the cheaper ones usually aren't as rainbowy like other corals you see around the forums.

Once you get the general basics of reef care, you could step up from there and move in to some of the more expensive or demanding corals. I wouldn't recommend starting with anything expensive because a lot of times, people who quit this hobby are the ones who bomb a big digit in to beautiful corals to fry everything shortly later because they haven't really understood the care required for corals.

Get a good grasp of how things work and once your comfortable about whats going on then move on to corals that demand a little more attention.

I'm 5 years in and I'm still learning.

 

[bandit1994]

like a $10 zoa and I have the stock lights that came with my marineland setup is this a good light or should I get the reef lights as this is my baby

 

[Bryce Peterson]

I would start with some cheap softies. They aren't as awesome looking but they are pretty hardy and cheap. This way, as your learning about this hobby, if you make mistakes, your softies are a littler more tolerable of them or if they don't survive, your not out too much money. At the same time, don't get me wrong, softies can be gorgeous as well but the cheaper ones usually aren't as rainbowy like other corals you see around the forums.

Once you get the general basics of reef care, you could step up from there and move in to some of the more expensive or demanding corals. I wouldn't recommend starting with anything expensive because a lot of times, people who quit this hobby are the ones who bomb a big digit in to beautiful corals to fry everything shortly later because they haven't really understood the care required for corals.

Get a good grasp of how things work and once your comfortable about whats going on then move on to corals that demand a little more attention.

I'm 5 years in and I'm still learning.

+1. Good advice. I would look for local people to trade with. The frags are usually in good shape and they are alot cheaper than retail. It is dissapionting to lose a $10 frag, but it is even more dissapionting to watch a $40 frag die.

 

[Davileet]

I love my frogspawn corals, and they seem to be more forgiving of the water parameters. Marineland does not make a sufficient lighting set up for corals to my knowledge. I would look into T5s if I were you.

 

[Bensadork]

Zoas are a good choice. I am still very new to the hobby and am having great luck with my zoas and I also just love the way they look. As difficult as a lot of people make it seem to raise some of the crazier SPS corals, I'm just gonna stick with my easy softies until I feel comfortable enough to take the next step. For now I have a Orbit LED strip 36" long in my 46 bowfront and I am not having any problems with lighting with my zoas. I have gotten 3 nice little zoa frags in my tank throughtout the past few months and they are all looking spectacular. The first frag I got has already at least doubled in size from when I first got it and the others are well on their way there too. I am with Davileet up there in saying that you should probably bump up your lighting if you are just using the same setup that came with the tank and hood. You could probably get away with some stuff at the very top of the tank, but the lighting spectrum that is required for corals to thrive just wont be there. A nice LED setup will do you wonders if you can get a decent one in your budget. Some people are still reluctant to jump on the LED bandwagon, but honestly like everything else, you get what you pay for. This holds true for all aspects of reef keeping. SO to end my rambling, zoas are a good choice, and if you like watching something that will sway with the flow, go for some green star polyps. GSP are cheap, readily available, fast growers, and super hardy. Some people do not like how fast they grow as a gsp mat can engulf so much of your live rock.

 

[Davileet]

I currently have LEDs and I am iffy to recommend them. If you are going to look into an LED setup, make sure that the whites in the fixture are in the 10k spectrum and not the 5500 or 6500k range. The Cree LEDs are not the correct color, and they have not made one yet to my knowledge. I would be able to recommend having an LED/T5 hybrid setup however.

 

[steve&mari]

Mushroom,zoas,palys,neon toadstool,are all great starting corals. I'd also recommend upgrading the lighting I've had good luck with leds but also have had t5 on previous reef that was growing great. Led as stated watch the spectrum of them or they'll grow excellent algae lol. Don't think all zoas will be easy also they can get finicky at times some down right difficult to keep from melting. So they can be challenging as well. Go slowly and learn stability n a maintenance schedule that works for you and your reef.

 

[bandit1994]

I have leds on my tank and it only a foot deep

 

[Bensadork]

Did you purchase the LED light separate from the tank or did it come in the kit? Almost all of the time, unless otherwise stated, the lighting that comes with an aquarium kit is set up for a freshwater tank. Freshwater tanks really don't need any light at all unless you are planning a planted tank. The lights in a freshwater fish only tank are basically just designed to light up the tank to be able to see the fish better. I had freshwater tanks for years using nothing more than the stock light hoods that came with the tank. Only when I ventured into the saltwater and reefing aspect of aquarium keeping did I realize how important proper lighting is. If you bought the LED light separate from the tank, do you remember what kind it was? If it is a Marineland brand, then the single bright or the double bright LED fixtures aren't going to be enough. The lights need to state on the box plainly that it is designed for a reef. Like I said, the one that I am using was very budget friendly. Of course, it's not going to support super light-sensitive SPS corals or more advanced corals but for what I am using it for, it works perfectly. With your tank being 30" wide and 12" deep and you mainly wanting a softy tank you might want to look in to the Current USA Orbit Marine LED in a 30". I bet you could find one online for less than 100 dollars and it comes with a controller that is customizable that will give you nice bright daytime lights and a beautiful deep blue in the evenings.

 

[cheek_biz]

I have leds on my tank and it only a foot deep

I have question for u, what LED light are u using?? And at what intensity?? I have a full spectrum 120watt led unit on a shallow 40 breeder.. Idk if I'm giving too much or not enough light.. Ur help would be appreciated since u have a shallow tank.. Thanks

 

[Dtackett]

my advice may differ from others.

while I agree for you to upgrade your lights I suggest either a SB Reef Lights nano/basic or in your case (shallow tank) a Current USA Orbit marine.
for starter corals I suggest

• zoas
• palys
• mushrooms
• acans
• frogspawn/hammers
• Duncans

Once you learn to keep good stable levels and you've got your maintenance down I suggest adding some of these.

• Chalice
• MontiCap
• Montipora Digitata
• Short tentacle plate corals
• Scoly
• Trachyphyllia

None of these corals are difficult to care for and all are absolutely beautiful. the reason I say to wait on the others is they are not as forgiving to swings. the first set of coral I listed could probably survive a nuclear explosion. the second set want pretty stable parameters. they will tolerate moderate swings as you learn but not large or rapid changes.

 

[twilliard]

I would put "pro" after the orbit marine fixture

 

[Dtackett]

I would put "pro" after the orbit marine fixture

in all honesty in shallow basic mixed reefs the regular orbits work. I mean you wont get crazy growth out of them but they will grow about anything up to moderate to moderate-high light in a shallow tank (less than 18 inches) I would prefer to see him get the SB Reef Lights as theyre an all around better light but new people tend to like the plug and play with built in controller. although for the price of the orbit pro he could get the ramping 165 watt sb reef lights which means its controllable or save a few bucks and get the one with the built in timers.

 

[bandit1994]

I want to get a led light fixture as I like the leds