question about corals

[-Galactus-]

so i have established the cycle already and am wondering what the simplest corals i can get. i heard softies are the cheapest and require less attention but regardless help me out and also what is the best wattage for them in terms of light. and lastly how do i go about getting them in my 29 gallon tank , like do i just put them on the rock and let them be or how do i go about that? thanks in advance!

 

[ritter6788]

Green Star Polys, Leather Corals, Mushrooms, kenya trees are good starter corals. Once you get the hang of those you might want to try something else but those are a good place to start.

Some will come attached to rock you can simply place in your tank and some might be frags you will have to attach to keep in place. Different corals have different methods of getting them to attach.

You can often find the corals I listed free or cheap from someone local and they can also help you with placement.

 

[NanaReefer]

Wouldn't start my tank with any of the above mentioned period! Leather corals aside all others can become pretty invasive. Once attached to your rock they are virtually impossible to get rid of.
Start out with the easier kept LPS corals like, Duncan, Candy Cane, Favia and Hammer. They have the same lighting requirements as most softies (low to medium) and are a lot more fun to feed! At least with those if you don't like them or if they get to big, they are easily removed. Without having to remove your rock

 

[tyler1503]

Wouldn't start my tank with any of the above mentioned period! Leather corals aside all others can become pretty invasive. Once attached to your rock they are virtually impossible to get rid of.
Start out with the easier kept LPS corals like, Duncan, Candy Cane, Favia and Hammer. They have the same lighting requirements as most softies (low to medium) and are a lot more fun to feed! At least with those if you don't like them or if they get to big, they are easily removed. Without having to remove your rock

+1.
I suggest candy canes, hammers, cynarinas and zoas
I never had luck with duncans, but they're known to be easy.

 

[ritter6788]

I agree as well. They are very hardy, easy to grow corals. Under the right conditions those corals will grow very quickly and compete for space. OP asked for the easiest coral and those are at the top of the easy coral list IMO.

You start filling a 29 gallon with growing hard corals and you can get into dosing real quick.

Ask many of the members here about melting zoas and how easy they are to keep.

Invasive is all relative. I have invasive sps corals in my tank but also have a colony of 6 year old mushrooms that rarely grow.

 

[fishroomlady]

I have to agree with ritter on his recommendations. There is validity to the LPS being more on the easy side and less invasive but I think softies are the best "starter/beginner" corals.....plus, I happen to like them too

 

[ritter6788]

All of the above corals would be considered good starter choices. Just research each one before you buy and decide what you like the best and what makes you happy. Not everyone likes the same corals as others.

If you see a coral you like and the price is in your range, research it's requirements and decide for yourself.

 

[nazzman]

GSP kenya leathers grow out of control you are stuck dealing with those things that you cant give away later on mushrooms are ok but something cool cuz they also might geT out or control but cool shrooms you can get rid of if you want higher end zoas they are super finicky lps will much more satisfying in the long run if you get into reefing more and more
Good luck and happy shopping

 

[KorD]

The best things I have in my tank that are easy to take care of are leather corals, zoas, mushrooms, and a hammer coral. once you really have that down pat, go for the gold and get a few flower rock anemones. They are mostly fed by light and the occasional stuff you feed the other corals.

 

[WindeyD]

Do plenty of research to be sure you have the correct lighting/flow/conditions for whatever you pick. Be aware that many soft corals can grow quite large/quickly and take a large amount of space up in a smaller system. It's exciting to start stocking your tank but go slow and do your homework so you don't regret your choice down the road.

 

[fishroomlady]

The best things I have in my tank that are easy to take care of are leather corals, zoas, mushrooms, and a hammer coral. once you really have that down pat, go for the gold and get a few flower rock anemones. They are mostly fed by light and the occasional stuff you feed the other corals.

do you know of a good source for rock flower nems? I sure do love them but I've only seen them very expensive

 

[mcarroll]

There are easy corals in every category, so consider first: What do you like?

SPS, LPS are probably the easiest to manage - least likely to "take over" your tank - because they stay in their own skeletons growing in one spot.

Softies and leathers can divide and spread without limits AND move independently around the tank. (Which is the main reason to stay away from anemones too.)

None of these "problems" are a problem if that's the coral you really want, but...

In other word don't start off wanting SPS or stony corals but then start with mushrooms or softies cuz of lack of confidence or whatever. You and your future SPS will regret it. (I do.)

So to reiterate: what do you actually like???

-Matt

 

[juggalogentry]

definitely some zoas, try an acan out theyre fun to feed and watch wave, candy cane and favia frag, just make sure you research the aggressiveness and how far you gotta keep them away from another vs how much room you have