Why Not Fake Corals To Bridge the Newbie Gap?

NS Mike D · 03/27/2016, 02:32 PM

If patience is a virtue with reef tank then why not using fake corals to satisfy our want of a great looking tank while taking our time establishing a mature tank.

I estimate I have a 60% survival rate on with my corals even though I try to take my time. But in retrospect, I have rushed it and now I have decided to hold of any more purchases until I can understand with confidence my water chemistry and lighting.

The long term goal would be a 100% natural tank, but in the sort term, I think using artificials along with the real corals will give the tank the appearance i desire, help reduce the urge to run adding coral, and save me money in the long run in predicting what corals will do well in my tank. Not only that, by spacing out my purchase I can buy larger specimens which would have a better chance of survival than small frags.

Anyone have a mix tank? Pictures?

Jeff4777 · 03/27/2016, 04:25 PM

Fake coral are horrendous to look at. Especially to fellow reefers.. its so disappointing to see this huge tank made on tv shows just to be filled with fakes. Why waste money on that when theres nothing wrong with FOWLR tanks? Maybe start picking soft corals until you get some more expereince or other easy to keep coral.

CStrickland · 03/27/2016, 10:22 PM

If you want to try it start with a few and see how you like it. It's just about what looks good to you. But something to keep in mind is that just like your new rock doesn't stay clean looking for long, neither will plastic coral; algae and biofilm and diatoms will leave it kind of dull looking after a few weeks

Laredotx1987 · 03/29/2016, 09:59 AM

i would say be patience and not put fake corals you are going to waste money on things you really dont want

Therinx · 03/29/2016, 10:37 AM

I used a fake coral in my first tank many moons ago. Was pretty expensive and within a few months, the color was replaced by brown/green algae and nothing in my tank wanted to clean it. In retrospect i'd have been better off aesthetically by just leaving the space open until it was a good time to add natural stuff in.

Sk8r · 03/29/2016, 10:48 AM

It will turn brown and ugly with algae, besides possibly leaching substances such as phosphate, paint components, and other things that might be detrimental to corals. My advice to improve the look of the tank in the interim is to start with some corals such as hammer, which is relatively inexpensive, fast-growing once params are good, and which can dress up a tank and focus visitor attention. It's one coral I do recommend getting in a multi-head clump of, oh, 10 or so heads, because (my own observation, nothing scientific) it seems to grow faster when there's more of it. It's tough, it doesn't shed new corals off into your rockwork, it grows fast once it starts growing, and it'll teach you a lot. Plus if you decide to go to sps, it's easy to remove and trade off. I had a 50 head clump that used to reproduce itself about every 3 months, which can really fill up space in a hurry.

Laredotx1987 · 03/29/2016, 10:49 AM

yeah better wait and spend your money on real corals

Greybeard · 03/29/2016, 10:58 AM

I had fake corals, real bad copies, and dead coral skeletons in my first marine aquarium... circa 1982. Took 'em out and bleached them every once in a while. That was just what everyone was doing back then.

I'd like to think that things have improved dramatically since then. Commercial aquariums that have to be put in place in a day, with a professional maintenance company taking care of them? Not really an enthusiasts kind of tank. Nothing I'd want, anyway. This is a hobby... take your time, learn, and enjoy the process.

How 'bout easy corals? You don't have to start with super bright colored SPS... A new reefer should probably look at leathers, colt coral, xenia, mushrooms... Lots of nice looking soft coral tanks out there, and they're _much_ easier to establish.

mmittlesteadt · 03/29/2016, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greybeard

How 'bout easy corals? You don't have to start with super bright colored SPS... A new reefer should probably look at leathers, colt coral, xenia, mushrooms... Lots of nice looking soft coral tanks out there, and they're _much_ easier to establish.

I agree, why bridge the gap with something that is just going to get covered in algae anyway? I went all softies...easy to keep and provide color and movement. This pic shows my zoanthids, mushrooms, kenya tree, GSP and I plan getting some xenia as well. But I like all softies anyway because I like the movement of them. They are also usually quite inexpensive because most reefers wants LPS and SPS.

MichelleMas · 03/29/2016, 11:59 AM

Yes, I would pass on the fake corals.

Chibils · 03/29/2016, 12:07 PM

I think there's some misplaced anger toward fake corals in this thread, but it's true that decent looking ones are expensive and all of them get algae. I think soft corals are a good option if your temp, pH, and salinity are in line. They are very un-demanding, and usually cheaper than the fake pieces.

03/27/2016, 02:32 PM	#1
NS Mike D Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Huntington, NY Posts: 391	Why Not Fake Corals To Bridge the Newbie Gap? If patience is a virtue with reef tank then why not using fake corals to satisfy our want of a great looking tank while taking our time establishing a mature tank. I estimate I have a 60% survival rate on with my corals even though I try to take my time. But in retrospect, I have rushed it and now I have decided to hold of any more purchases until I can understand with confidence my water chemistry and lighting. The long term goal would be a 100% natural tank, but in the sort term, I think using artificials along with the real corals will give the tank the appearance i desire, help reduce the urge to run adding coral, and save me money in the long run in predicting what corals will do well in my tank. Not only that, by spacing out my purchase I can buy larger specimens which would have a better chance of survival than small frags. Anyone have a mix tank? Pictures?

03/27/2016, 10:22 PM	#3
CStrickland Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New England, U.S. Posts: 4,595	If you want to try it start with a few and see how you like it. It's just about what looks good to you. But something to keep in mind is that just like your new rock doesn't stay clean looking for long, neither will plastic coral; algae and biofilm and diatoms will leave it kind of dull looking after a few weeks __________________ If you're havin tank problems I feel bad for you, son. I got 99 problems but a fish ain't one Current Tank Info: 3/2016 upgrade to 120g. Chalk bass, melanurus, firefish, starry blenny, canary blenny, lyretail anthias, engineer gobys, kole tang. Softies / LPS / NPS. <3 noob4life <3

03/29/2016, 10:48 AM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	It will turn brown and ugly with algae, besides possibly leaching substances such as phosphate, paint components, and other things that might be detrimental to corals. My advice to improve the look of the tank in the interim is to start with some corals such as hammer, which is relatively inexpensive, fast-growing once params are good, and which can dress up a tank and focus visitor attention. It's one coral I do recommend getting in a multi-head clump of, oh, 10 or so heads, because (my own observation, nothing scientific) it seems to grow faster when there's more of it. It's tough, it doesn't shed new corals off into your rockwork, it grows fast once it starts growing, and it'll teach you a lot. Plus if you decide to go to sps, it's easy to remove and trade off. I had a 50 head clump that used to reproduce itself about every 3 months, which can really fill up space in a hurry. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/29/2016, 12:07 PM	#11
Chibils halide loyalist Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sugar Hill, GA Posts: 2,213	I think there's some misplaced anger toward fake corals in this thread, but it's true that decent looking ones are expensive and all of them get algae. I think soft corals are a good option if your temp, pH, and salinity are in line. They are very un-demanding, and usually cheaper than the fake pieces. __________________ always learning Current Tank Info: 75G new world cichlid, 25G reef in planning Last edited by Chibils; 03/29/2016 at 12:47 PM.

03/27/2016, 04:25 PM	#2
Jeff4777 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 518	Fake coral are horrendous to look at. Especially to fellow reefers.. its so disappointing to see this huge tank made on tv shows just to be filled with fakes. Why waste money on that when theres nothing wrong with FOWLR tanks? Maybe start picking soft corals until you get some more expereince or other easy to keep coral.

03/29/2016, 09:59 AM	#4
Laredotx1987 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Laredo Tx Posts: 54	i would say be patience and not put fake corals you are going to waste money on things you really dont want

03/29/2016, 10:37 AM	#5
Therinx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: NYC Posts: 55	I used a fake coral in my first tank many moons ago. Was pretty expensive and within a few months, the color was replaced by brown/green algae and nothing in my tank wanted to clean it. In retrospect i'd have been better off aesthetically by just leaving the space open until it was a good time to add natural stuff in.

03/29/2016, 10:49 AM	#7
Laredotx1987 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Laredo Tx Posts: 54	yeah better wait and spend your money on real corals

03/29/2016, 10:58 AM	#8
Greybeard Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Buffalo, MO Posts: 651	I had fake corals, real bad copies, and dead coral skeletons in my first marine aquarium... circa 1982. Took 'em out and bleached them every once in a while. That was just what everyone was doing back then. I'd like to think that things have improved dramatically since then. Commercial aquariums that have to be put in place in a day, with a professional maintenance company taking care of them? Not really an enthusiasts kind of tank. Nothing I'd want, anyway. This is a hobby... take your time, learn, and enjoy the process. How 'bout easy corals? You don't have to start with super bright colored SPS... A new reefer should probably look at leathers, colt coral, xenia, mushrooms... Lots of nice looking soft coral tanks out there, and they're _much_ easier to establish.

03/29/2016, 11:59 AM	#10
MichelleMas Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 76	Yes, I would pass on the fake corals.