Newbie

[Big_Mclargehuge]

Finally set up my first saltwater tank. I've wanted to do this since I was a teenager. I'm looking for recommendations on beginner corals. I'm sure this has been asked but figured I would introduce myself and ask as well. The tank is a biocube 32. It is in the process of cycling. I do plan on keeping fish as well. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Arricefe]

Welcome! Start with soft coral, don't worry soon enough you you'll find yourself throwing your money at SPS.

 

[Big_Mclargehuge]

Welcome! Start with soft coral, don't worry soon enough you you'll find yourself throwing your money at SPS.

So any soft coral?

 

[muzikalmatt]

As @Arricefe mentioned, soft corals are the way to go when starting out: mushrooms, green star polyps (GSP), xenia, zoanthids, leathers like toadstools and neon green sinularia are great as well. One thing to keep in mind, is that most of these soft corals (save for the leathers) can and will spread like wildfire. A lot of people say they regret putting GSP, xenia and/or mushrooms in their tanks as later on they're difficult to get rid of. Me personally, I like the way they look and the fact that they grow fast, so it doesn't really bother me.

Here are some pictures of several soft corals in my tank that I think look pretty good.

Yellow/Purple Zoanthids with a Ricordea Yuma Mushroom in the background.

A few "name brand" zoanthids including Sunny D's (front), Utter Chaos (middle) and Gorilla Nipples (back).

Mushroom garden (hairy mushrooms on top and watermelon mushrooms on the bottom).

Here's a side shot of my tank where you can see some GSP in the middle background (behind the clownfish), a toadstool leather up top and a few more mushrooms towards the bottom.

Let me know if you have any questions and I'd be happy to try and answer them. Welcome to the addiction!

 

[Big_Mclargehuge]

As @Arricefe mentioned, soft corals are the way to go when starting out: mushrooms, green star polyps (GSP), xenia, zoanthids, leathers like toadstools and neon green sinularia are great as well. One thing to keep in mind, is that most of these soft corals (save for the leathers) can and will spread like wildfire. A lot of people say they regret putting GSP, xenia and/or mushrooms in their tanks as later on they're difficult to get rid of. Me personally, I like the way they look and the fact that they grow fast, so it doesn't really bother me.

Here are some pictures of several soft corals in my tank that I think look pretty good.

Yellow/Purple Zoanthids with a Ricordea Yuma Mushroom in the background.

A few "name brand" zoanthids including Sunny D's (front), Utter Chaos (middle) and Gorilla Nipples (back).

Mushroom garden (hairy mushrooms on top and watermelon mushrooms on the bottom).

Here's a side shot of my tank where you can see some GSP in the middle background (behind the clownfish), a toadstool leather up top and a few more mushrooms towards the bottom.

Let me know if you have any questions and I'd be happy to try and answer them. Welcome to the addiction!

Thanks! Those yellow/purple zoa's look amazing. I wouldn't mind that growing all over my rock. I definitely want something that is going to wave in the water as well. Are the hairy mushrooms the green and purple that take up most of the second to last pic? Thanks again!

 

[muzikalmatt]

Thanks! Those yellow/purple zoa's look amazing. I wouldn't mind that growing all over my rock. I definitely want something that is going to wave in the water as well. Are the hairy mushrooms the green and purple that take up most of the second to last pic? Thanks again!

Yes, the hairy mushrooms are the green and purple ones. They look a lot like anemones with their "hairy" extensions and actually feed like them too. I'll target feed them with mysis shrimp every once in a while and it's cool to see them close up and eat it. That group started as just one mushroom and has quickly taken over that side of my rockwork. The larger ones are about the size of a coaster.

If you're looking for motion, green star polyps and xenia are great choices. GSP looks a lot like grass and can handle heavy flow so you can get it to look like a field of grass blowing in the wind.

 

[New&no clue]

I have a softy/LPS tank. Here are some of my favorites

 

[Big_Mclargehuge]

Yes, the hairy mushrooms are the green and purple ones. They look a lot like anemones with their "hairy" extensions and actually feed like them too. I'll target feed them with mysis shrimp every once in a while and it's cool to see them close up and eat it. That group started as just one mushroom and has quickly taken over that side of my rockwork. The larger ones are about the size of a coaster.

If you're looking for motion, green star polyps and xenia are great choices. GSP looks a lot like grass and can handle heavy flow so you can get it to look like a field of grass blowing in the wind.

Thanks! As soon as my tank is ready I'm going to look for some of those at my lfs

 

[Big_Mclargehuge]

Yes, the hairy mushrooms are the green and purple ones. They look a lot like anemones with their "hairy" extensions and actually feed like them too. I'll target feed them with mysis shrimp every once in a while and it's cool to see them close up and eat it. That group started as just one mushroom and has quickly taken over that side of my rockwork. The larger ones are about the size of a coaster.

If you're looking for motion, green star polyps and xenia are great choices. GSP looks a lot like grass and can handle heavy flow so you can get it to look like a field of grass blowing in the wind.

Thanks! As soon as my tank is ready I'm going to see if I can find some at my lfs.

 

[Big_Mclargehuge]

I have a softy/LPS tank. Here are some of my favorites

Those all look so nice. What is the last one? The one with the purple tip.

 

[New&no clue]

Those all look so nice. What is the last one? The one with the purple tip.

That is an Elegance coral, it’s actually an LPS, but I has great movement

 

[Big_Mclargehuge]

That is an Elegance coral, it’s actually an LPS, but I has great movement

It looks awesome. How is it as far as care?

 

[New&no clue]

It looks awesome. How is it as far as care?

Medium, I’d say not your first coral but once your tank is a little more mature definitely a good one.

below is one of my favorite softy tanks at AquaCorals.

Another good softy tank to get inspiration from is MikeC.

 

[Big_Mclargehuge]

Medium, I’d say not your first coral but once your tank is a little more mature definitely a good one.

below is one of my favorite softy tanks at AquaCorals.

Another good softy tank to get inspiration from is MikeC.

[/QUOTE

Those are amazing. Thanks! This is probably the friendliest forum I've ever been on.

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[Big_Mclargehuge]

Thanks!