need help with coral choices

[Codfather_az]

Looking for help on what corals to put where. Tanks has been running about 6 months total now, lights on for 5-6 weeks, going in the ugly stage now but levels seems table. Right now I have one mushroom as test to make sure everything was good and I just picked up 3 zoas. Wondering what are good choices for some EASY to keep corals. Looking for lower maintenance and easy to keep, probably accepting moderate to high flow considering my setup. Also I'm aware my rock work isn't necessarily conducive but it is what it is so if I can work with it that would be great.

 

[blaxsun]

Nice rockscaping! I'd put any green star polyps in the substrate and zoas and mushrooms on rock "islands" to let them grow out. I'd probably fill the rocks up with larger corals (euphyllia, etc.) first, then figure out if you want to transfer some of the softer stuff there.

 

[Dbichler]

Candy canes or Duncan’s are easy and can be pretty

 

[Codfather_az]

Candy canes or Duncan’s are easy and can be pretty

Duncans tend to be fairly aggressive right? where would you suggest I place them? and placement for canes?

 

[Codfather_az]

Nice rockscaping! I'd put any green star polyps in the substrate and zoas and mushrooms on rock "islands" to let them grow out. I'd probably fill the rocks up with larger corals (euphyllia, etc.) first, then figure out if you want to transfer some of the softer stuff there.

I'm planning on trying to keep the zoas on small rocks in corners to try to help control them. gsp I've been on the fence because I'm worried about it also getting out of control, I was considering putting it on a magnet on putting it on the back or side glass. Other than hammers what do you suggest I place on one of the three stacks?

 

[Codfather_az]

what about ricordia?

 

[blaxsun]

what about ricordia?

Mushrooms, but yes.

 

[Codfather_az]

Mushrooms, but yes.

my bad! I wrote it down on my phone as one of the frags I was shown to check out.

 

[CocoReef]

Acan or hammer coral are pretty easy to take care of and can add a lot of color

 

[rhostam]

Duncans tend to be fairly aggressive right? where would you suggest I place them? and placement for canes?

Duncans are not aggressive. I’ve placed mine low to mid scape. Low/moderate flow seems to make them happy. Mine are sitting at about 90-100 PAR and they seem fine with that. They are hardy, but also good barometers for water quality. They shut when they ticked. Take it as a sign.

 

[davidcalgary29]

Your aquascape is architectural and reminds me of mid-century sculpture. Why obscure it with coral?

You could try a few frags of Grube's gorgonian in the substrate. Fabulously easy to keep and it seems to tolerate -- even thrive -- in a wide variety of flow and lighting conditions.

 

[Wasabiroot]

Don't discount soft corals or gorgonians, IMHO. Sinularia, Sarcophyton, etc... As well as Plexaurella/Antillogorgia, stuff like that. Nearly indestructible, loves flow, does fine with some nutrients and periodic broadcast feeding.

 

[old salt reefer]

First off LOVE your rock work.
I have a rock with GSP on it in a bare bottom tank, every couple of months I have to lift the rock out and scrape the new growth off the bottom glass--it's contained.
For your first SPS I say purple stylopora- grows like a weed and quick. easy to frag,has great polyp extention and great "movement in the current. as well as being cheap to buy.