Which corals to get.

[frankin09]

Hello, I am new too corals and I want to get Zoas but I don’t know where exactly to place them. Also if you could recommended any kinds of coral. That is my current tank.

 

[MaxTremors]

What kind of lighting and flow do you have? And are you maintaining stable alkalinity and calcium (stony corals require this).

 

[Sharkbait19]

Zoas aren’t really picky about location, but do best in moderate flow and moderate light. Different types grow at different rates.
Good beginner corals are leathers (very durable and grow into nice, large corals), Xenia (very hardy and spreads like a weed), and gsp (attractive colors and spreads fast). Xenia and gsp are best kept off the main rockwork to avoid spreading too much and overtaking the tank.

 

[frankin09]

The lighting I have a fluval sea 3.0. The power head I have has 660 GPhH.

 

[frankin09]

Zoas aren’t really picky about location, but do best in moderate flow and moderate light. Different types grow at different rates.
Good beginner corals are leathers (very durable and grow into nice, large corals), Xenia (very hardy and spreads like a weed), and gsp (attractive colors and spreads fast). Xenia and gsp are best kept off the main rockwork to avoid spreading too much and overtaking the tank.

I am interested in corals that have movement such as hammers. If I were to get Zoas would I isolate them on their own island?

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Get lots of zoos. Put them on the sand bed on some crushed coral or calcium reactor media. Let them spread. Then take individual polyps or a few that spead and glue the crushed coral/calcium reactor media where you want them. Just realize if on rockwork--they will spread anywher corals are not already..

I like to keep them on islands then add them to fill in gaps between already eastablished coral on rock work. This keeps them at bay and looks nice.

 

[Sharkbait19]

I am interested in corals that have movement such as hammers. If I were to get Zoas would I isolate them on their own island?

For some types that spread fast you may want to, but others can be left on the main rocks. If you don’t want them to eventually take over, best to isolate any of them.
Hammers (branching) and frogspawn are rather easy lps, but still difficult in their own right. I’d start with softies (leathers wave in the current, and Xenia has a pulsing motion), and once you get them figured out move on to the harder guys. It isn’t impossible to start with harder corals, just overwhelming at times. I also wouldn’t put any lps in a tank under 3-4 months to ensure proper stability.

 

[frankin09]

Get lots of zoos. Put them on the sand bed on some crushed coral or calcium reactor media. Let them spread. Then take individual polyps or a few that spead and glue the crushed coral/calcium reactor media where you want them. Just realize if on rockwork--they will spread anywher corals are not already..

I like to keep them on islands then add them to fill in gaps between already eastablished coral on rock work. This keeps them at bay and looks nice.

I only have live sand. How many Zoas could I get in a day. Looking to get some today.

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Put a few frags in the sand. As many as you want. Sprinkle crushed coral or calcium reactor media arpund and touching the frag. They'll grow onto it in a few weeks/months. Then is easy to separate polyps attached to the media/crushed coral...put where you want,trade, or sell

 

[frankin09]

Put a few frags in the sand. As many as you want. Sprinkle crushed coral or calcium reactor media arpund and touching the frag. They'll grow onto it in a few weeks/months. Then is easy to separate polyps attached to the media/crushed coral...put where you want,trade, or sell

Where could I buy that?

 

[MaxTremors]

I only have live sand. How many Zoas could I get in a day. Looking to get some today.

You could get 20 zoas if you wanted. I wouldn’t recommend it, but corals don’t add to your bioload (they actually help offset it). I would start with 1-3 softie frags (zoas, mushrooms, gsp, Xenia, leathers, etc). Once you’ve kept them alive and thriving for a couple weeks, try some more softies, once you’ve kept softies alive and thriving for a few months, try some LPS, and once you’ve kept them alive and thriving for some months, around the 8-10 month mark, try some SPS, around a year try an anemone.

 

[frankin09]

You could get 20 zoas if you wanted. I wouldn’t recommend it, but corals don’t add to your bioload (they actually help offset it). I would start with 1-3 softie frags (zoas, mushrooms, gsp, Xenia, leathers, etc). Once you’ve kept them alive and thriving for a couple weeks, try some more softies, once you’ve kept softies alive and thriving for a few months, try some LPS, and once you’ve kept them alive and thriving for some months, around the 8-10 month mark, try some SPS, around a year try an anemone.

Do I place the Zoas in the sand? Or on their own rock?

 

[MaxTremors]

Do I place the Zoas in the sand? Or on their own rock?

Either. Zoas will okay pretty much anywhere. I would start them on the sand to acclimate them to your lighting, and then slowly move them up the rockwork (if that’s where you want them, you can also leave them in the sand if you want). If you notice them stretching out towards the light (they’ll get really tall and skinny), either turn up your lights or move them closer to the light.

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Where could I buy that?

Online or where u buy corals. I tend to let my rock work develop other corals before adding zoas to it. Much easier long run.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Do I place the Zoas in the sand? Or on their own rock?

Mine have been irritated by sand, so I glue them to rocks. But each coral is different.

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Do I place the Zoas in the sand? Or on their own rock?

They can be some of most weed like corals and will grow on anything hard

 

[TCoach]

I have a long polyped leather that gives me amazing movement. You light really enjoy adding one. Easy to keep.

 

[maleks.reef]

I am interested in corals that have movement such as hammers. If I were to get Zoas would I isolate them on their own island?

In MY experience, no zoa spreads fast enough so that it is annoying or a "pest". I have about 10 different types of zoas, the rate of growth varies greatly even though they are all very close to each other. For GSP, you could try growing it on ur back wall, which is something im doing rn. All soft corals are very easy and very forgiving. I suggest you start with some zoas, kenya tree, toadstool, or neptheas. All of these corals are not invasive and I have them all in my tank. The toadstool will give you the wavy effect you're looking for. You can also look at mushrooms, hairy mushrooms specifically; they are very beautiful IMO. Lastly, if you decide to keep softies (specifically leathers) then i suggest you get some activated carbon as leathers tend to release toxins that may be harmful to other corals.

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

I agree with the post above, even the fastest growing zoas don't grow fast enough to become a nuisance. Zoas and a kenya tree are great starters, and the kenya tree will give you some nice movement

 

[Sharkbait19]

Kenya is good. If you want a similar looking coral that doesn’t spread fast, get sinularia. It’s basically a better looking (imo), non spreading Kenya tree. Of course this also makes it more expensive and rarer.