Need some ideas for my tank

[ghostmantank]

Looking to get some suggestions for coral in my tank. Here is a picture of the tank the yellow circles is where I would like to add but open to ideas anywhere in the tank. Thank you

 

[Sharkbait19]

Any thoughts for colors, motion, or difficulty?

 

[ghostmantank]

Any thoughts for colors, motion, or difficulty?

Difficulty I would like not to hard but the tank is right next to my work desk so I can handle any coral really and have great stable prams. I want bright colors and in one of the areas I would like some motion I was thinking about a torch at the top but not sure if that would be too much light for them.

 

[Sharkbait19]

I had a torch up high for a while no problems. Frog and hammer would do well there too.
You can look at zoas and favia for some colorful easy guys.

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

That bottom hole is a good spot for an acan. They’re colorful and easy. They’re LPS not softies but they’re great. I like pulsing Xenia for up top. Most people hate it but it doesn’t spread fast on me like most people. Candy cane coral are a good choice for up top as well as a torch. Both my candy cane colonies are right up on the surface and doing fine

 

[ghostmantank]

That bottom hole is a good spot for an acan. They’re colorful and easy. They’re LPS not softies but they’re great. I like pulsing Xenia for up top. Most people hate it but it doesn’t spread fast on me like most people. Candy cane coral are a good choice for up top as well as a torch. Both my candy cane colonies are right up on the surface and doing fine

I like the candy cane ideal I am hoping the local store will have some of those in stock when I head up there after work. The stores here in Phoenix have been having low stock of coral and I am not sure I want to take the risk with ordering online (plus the shipping cost)

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

I like the candy cane ideal I am hoping the local store will have some of those in stock when I head up there after work. The stores here in Phoenix have been having low stock of coral and I am not sure I want to take the risk with ordering online (plus the shipping cost)

They’re a pretty easy coral to find. If you don’t find any at the LFS try your local reefers. There’s a FB group in my area for coral sales ans trades and various regional groups in here

 

[WheatToast]

Not a coral, but what about branching Coralline?

https://addictivereefkeeping.com/product/thick-and-thin-branching-coralline-algae-frag-1-to-2/

I have not found it to require anything special, but elevated calcium would certainly benefit the algae.

 

[MaxTremors]

What kind of lighting do you have? For the top I would do a red or pinkbirdsnest (since you didn’t want anything too difficult) and maybe a green Sinularia or Nepthea, in the lower spot I would do a torch or a hammer (angled out away from the rockwork). On the right side of the structure I would do an Acan or blasto garden on the bottom and some zoas on the middle/top, on the flat part on the bottom left I would various mushrooms/Ricordeas, and then the middle left under where the torch would be I would put some clove polyps and then some encrusting montis/chalices going into the top part. I would move the anthellia on the top left down to the bottom side of the left structure and put a monti cap going out to the left (so as not to shade out the corals underneath it). And then along the top I would fit in some more zoas and encrusting corals around the birdsnest and Sinularia.
That’s what I would do, but it’s your tank, put the corals you like, I wouldn’t worry too much about adhering to some aquascaping philosophy/trend, buy what you like and place them in the most appropriate place in your tank.

 

[ghostmantank]

What kind of lighting do you have? For the top I would do a red or pinkbirdsnest (since you didn’t want anything too difficult) and maybe a green Sinularia or Nepthea, in the lower spot I would do a torch or a hammer (angled out away from the rockwork). On the right side of the structure I would do an Acan or blasto garden on the bottom and some zoas on the middle/top, on the flat part on the bottom left I would various mushrooms/Ricordeas, and then the middle left under where the torch would be I would put some clove polyps and then some encrusting montis/chalices going into the top part. I would move the anthellia on the top left down to the bottom side of the left structure and put a monti cap going out to the left (so as not to shade out the corals underneath it). And then along the top I would fit in some more zoas and encrusting corals around the birdsnest and Sinularia.
That’s what I would do, but it’s your tank, put the corals you like, I wouldn’t worry too much about adhering to some aquascaping philosophy/trend, buy what you like and place them in the most appropriate place in your tank.

I am running the AI prime 16 light and yeah now that the anthellia has blew up so fast I have been thinking about moving it down because it is starting to shade the tank. I didn't expect it to grow so fast. Thanks for the ideas I am going to print this out when I get ready to head to the store

 

[ghostmantank]

Not a coral, but what about branching Coralline?

https://addictivereefkeeping.com/product/thick-and-thin-branching-coralline-algae-frag-1-to-2/

I have not found it to require anything special, but elevated calcium would certainly benefit the algae.

I thought about adding this to an area in the tank but I had a couple worries with adding this,
1. I think my Lawnmower blenny might feed on it
2. I think it will send spurs out and growing in areas of the tank that I don't want it to and also take over areas I would like the corals to grow to.

I am not sure if the above would really be a problem just not easy to find the answer to these so I have avoided it.

 

[WheatToast]

I thought about adding this to an area in the tank but I had a couple worries with adding this,
1. I think my Lawnmower blenny might feed on it
2. I think it will send spurs out and growing in areas of the tank that I don't want it to and also take over areas I would like the corals to grow to.

1. Branching Coralline is so heavily calcified, I doubt any herbivore (besides urchins) would want to eat it.
2. While this Coralline variant can probably release spores, it grows so slowly, I would not consider it invasive. Also, it starts out as generic, encrusting Coralline before it sends up branches and I have read that corals prefer to grow atop Coralline growth as opposed to other surfaces.

I hope this helps .

 

[ying yang]

Sorry couldn't resist add onto your initial picture .I know I know I know im childish ha ha

But your bottom circle maybe a coral that likes medium flow/ light like some kind lobo,blasto,acan or even a nice colourful scolly.
I love torches and want a few in my tank as I add more corals ,I only got 2 torches at present but also I love the movement of them .
Initially I thought some bright coloured sps up in your top 2 circles ( eyes on my picture lol ) I didnt like sps when set up my tank but slowly seeing the beauty in them especially some the shaggier milli's I think they are .
For my taste a nice colourful zoa garden always catches my eye .
Good luck with whatever you decide ,I'm new to saltwater at 8 months but couldnt resist make a face and then felt need to add some suggestions lol