first corals??

RickySan · 08/17/2007, 01:35 AM

i want to put some corals in this weekend!! what would be a good first coral. I love frogspawn or do you think that might be for more expirenced reefers?

pikachusalad · 08/17/2007, 01:45 AM

If you read the descriptions at some of the online sellers, it's considered a medium to difficult as far as care level. But...I'm a firm believer in getting what you want rather than trying to get something "easy" you don't really like and then having it take over your tank.

As long as you know what the requirements for keeping it are, what water quality it will tolerate, what it eats (if other than or in addition to light), what kind of lighting it needs, what kind of flow, where to put it in your tank, how far away from other corals it needs to be, how aggressive it is, what it is not compatible with - AND you have an established tank and are confident in your ability to maintain the water quality and tank conditions it needs - get the frogspawn.

der_wille_zur_macht · 08/17/2007, 06:00 AM

Can you explain your tank's setup to us? Listing all equipment, how long it's been running, livestock, water change schedules, critical water parameters, etc.

Otherwise, it's pretty useless for anyone to make suggestions.

Saltwaterstart · 08/17/2007, 10:54 AM

Frogspawn are reccomended to me by my LFS as good beginner LPS corals.

In a 20 Long with lots of light, they will do perfectly fine.

If you have clownfish, you may actually find them hosting it one day...

kiknchikn · 08/17/2007, 10:57 AM

I'd start with some discosoma mushrooms or perhaps a Ricordea florida since they're hardy, grow fast, and can be traded later on for other corals.

Lotus99 · 08/17/2007, 11:16 AM

I think starting with mushrooms is a good idea. They're generally easy, and give you a nice start in the world of corals. You will start to recognize whether your corals are doing well, etc. before you get something that's a little harder, a little pickier, and more expensive.

Also, if you really like frogspawn, it might be better to wait until you find a really nice one, as your tank has limited real estate.

kiknchikn · 08/17/2007, 11:21 AM

I started out with mushrooms and I ended up liking them so much that's mostly what's in my tank.

I haven't lost a single fullgrown mushroom either. I've lost a few babies, but far more have survived than died.

LooseHip · 08/17/2007, 01:42 PM

I started with some zoo's, mushrooms, xenia, and kenya tree... All to my knowledge are fairly hardy and good beginner corals. I have since ditched the mushrooms, and kenya tree. If I were you I would get some cool colored zoo's, but it really comes down to what you like. Oh yeah Green star polyps are kind of cool too! All these corals can thrive off of lower light (power compacts).

Saltwaterstart · 08/17/2007, 04:09 PM

I started with mushrooms and Zoo's, and I find them easier to keep alive than damsels!

If you are looking at a frogspawn, I suggest keeping mushrooms or zoos, because they won't bother it with any toxins like leathers may.

08/17/2007, 01:35 AM	#1
RickySan Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 518	first corals?? i want to put some corals in this weekend!! what would be a good first coral. I love frogspawn or do you think that might be for more expirenced reefers?

08/17/2007, 01:45 AM	#2
pikachusalad Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 402	If you read the descriptions at some of the online sellers, it's considered a medium to difficult as far as care level. But...I'm a firm believer in getting what you want rather than trying to get something "easy" you don't really like and then having it take over your tank. As long as you know what the requirements for keeping it are, what water quality it will tolerate, what it eats (if other than or in addition to light), what kind of lighting it needs, what kind of flow, where to put it in your tank, how far away from other corals it needs to be, how aggressive it is, what it is not compatible with - AND you have an established tank and are confident in your ability to maintain the water quality and tank conditions it needs - get the frogspawn. __________________ -- Mike Current Tank Info: 60G reef

08/17/2007, 06:00 AM	#3
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	Can you explain your tank's setup to us? Listing all equipment, how long it's been running, livestock, water change schedules, critical water parameters, etc. Otherwise, it's pretty useless for anyone to make suggestions. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

08/17/2007, 10:54 AM	#4
Saltwaterstart Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 458	Frogspawn are reccomended to me by my LFS as good beginner LPS corals. In a 20 Long with lots of light, they will do perfectly fine. If you have clownfish, you may actually find them hosting it one day... __________________ -Geoff A hero need not speak. When he is gone, the world will speak for him. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon bio-cube- Planning 135 gallon SPS reef

08/17/2007, 10:57 AM	#5
kiknchikn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bel Air, MD Posts: 1,556	I'd start with some discosoma mushrooms or perhaps a Ricordea florida since they're hardy, grow fast, and can be traded later on for other corals. __________________ I am a proud member of the Chesapeake Marine Aquaria Society (CMAS). If you're in the Maryland area check us out! Current Tank Info: 30g nano reef

08/17/2007, 11:16 AM	#6
Lotus99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,398	I think starting with mushrooms is a good idea. They're generally easy, and give you a nice start in the world of corals. You will start to recognize whether your corals are doing well, etc. before you get something that's a little harder, a little pickier, and more expensive. Also, if you really like frogspawn, it might be better to wait until you find a really nice one, as your tank has limited real estate. __________________ "So long, and thanks for all the fish" Current Tank Info: 125g reef, gobies, cardinals, softies and LPS; 36g Neo Nano tank; 10+ FW tanks

08/17/2007, 11:21 AM	#7
kiknchikn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bel Air, MD Posts: 1,556	I started out with mushrooms and I ended up liking them so much that's mostly what's in my tank. I haven't lost a single fullgrown mushroom either. I've lost a few babies, but far more have survived than died. __________________ I am a proud member of the Chesapeake Marine Aquaria Society (CMAS). If you're in the Maryland area check us out! Current Tank Info: 30g nano reef

08/17/2007, 01:42 PM	#8
LooseHip Foaming Conehead Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: CO Posts: 1,002	I started with some zoo's, mushrooms, xenia, and kenya tree... All to my knowledge are fairly hardy and good beginner corals. I have since ditched the mushrooms, and kenya tree. If I were you I would get some cool colored zoo's, but it really comes down to what you like. Oh yeah Green star polyps are kind of cool too! All these corals can thrive off of lower light (power compacts).

08/17/2007, 04:09 PM	#9
Saltwaterstart Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 458	I started with mushrooms and Zoo's, and I find them easier to keep alive than damsels! If you are looking at a frogspawn, I suggest keeping mushrooms or zoos, because they won't bother it with any toxins like leathers may. __________________ -Geoff A hero need not speak. When he is gone, the world will speak for him. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon bio-cube- Planning 135 gallon SPS reef