Beginner Coral Suggestions Needed

jmadden93 · 04/12/2011, 06:54 PM

I have had my 125gal FO saltwater tank up for 2 yrs now and would like to start getting into the basic corals. Nothing exotic or hard to care for. I have 2 12k bright white bulbs, and 2 blue atinics (all compact florestcent). What are some good beginer corals/anemonies that you'd suggest with this lighting setup? I only have 1 Foxface, 1 clown, and 1 small wrasse at this point but would like to maybe get some Angels/Butterflys in the future so something they won't eat would be a perk.

Absentmind8868 · 04/12/2011, 07:16 PM

I wouldn't stick an anenome in there yet, but torches, frogspawn, and hammer corals are all fine. Any soft coral pretty much works too. Just don't put too much money into the first ones. You do that later once your hooked.

sepulvd · 04/12/2011, 07:28 PM

I would start with some frogspawn, duncans, candy canes. I find all pretty basic corals. Also you can get some Kenya tress, xenia, rics and mushrooms. They should all do ok with your light

y0ung0ne · 04/13/2011, 05:28 AM

Frogspawn torch adn hammers are nice I am beginning the same and there is not much with them. I currently have a torch which is 8 heads and fully extended is about the size of a softball and a two headed frogspawn which is forming new heads. nice things to have and gives a nice change in the tank with moving in the current.

israel.kendall · 04/13/2011, 06:28 AM

I found frogspawn, hammer, candy cane/trumpet, and acans were all pretty easy. I found torches to be a bit more finicky than frogspawn or hammers. I'd stay away from xenia, kenya tree, or shrooms, unless you're OK with putting weeds in your tank. If you're OK with weeds, then you'll find those quite easy as well.

donkeys4hire · 04/13/2011, 02:46 PM

Don't get whats known as "beginner corals" they will grow out and when you start to keep corals you really like and want to keep long term they'll be in the way. Buy a few frags of something you wanna have for long the term.

Friday Night · 04/14/2011, 11:01 AM

Before dumping corals in id check if the existing fish you have are reef safe.

But yea shrooms, xenia, zoas.. stuff you can run over you car with and will still live.

dvong · 05/14/2011, 07:43 PM

I have a 26gal bow front fish tank with live sand and 20lbs of live rock and 2 clown fish. Somebody is selling bubble coral FS. I also want to add kenya tree, fire and ice zoas and some green lanterns. Is it safe to add all of this at once?

ericauch · 05/14/2011, 09:45 PM

softies would be good. If u want good growth get all 4 white light. but i'm guessing its 4 94w. If you want to go stony. you will need higher intensity light. I have 3 250 Metal halides and 4 94w pcs. ofcourse all 4 pcs are actinic. with your lighting now. try some pallys, shrooms, zoas. put them up higher. flow is a factor too. if you want to try an anem condylactis is good. they have trouble hosting from what ive hurd but mine hosted well with a tomato clown. I wouldn't suggest an anem tho if you have alot of live rock or are planing on putting in alot of corals.

jenneosho · 05/14/2011, 10:01 PM

blastomussas, acans, rics and zoas are favorites of mine! lots of color, easy keepers too! my clown pair loves my frog spawn, and its really hardy as well as adds movement to my scape!

04/12/2011, 06:54 PM	#1
jmadden93 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 28	Beginner Coral Suggestions Needed I have had my 125gal FO saltwater tank up for 2 yrs now and would like to start getting into the basic corals. Nothing exotic or hard to care for. I have 2 12k bright white bulbs, and 2 blue atinics (all compact florestcent). What are some good beginer corals/anemonies that you'd suggest with this lighting setup? I only have 1 Foxface, 1 clown, and 1 small wrasse at this point but would like to maybe get some Angels/Butterflys in the future so something they won't eat would be a perk.

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04/12/2011, 07:16 PM	#2
Absentmind8868 Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 93	I wouldn't stick an anenome in there yet, but torches, frogspawn, and hammer corals are all fine. Any soft coral pretty much works too. Just don't put too much money into the first ones. You do that later once your hooked.

04/12/2011, 07:28 PM	#3
sepulvd Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: oak harbor, wa Posts: 190	I would start with some frogspawn, duncans, candy canes. I find all pretty basic corals. Also you can get some Kenya tress, xenia, rics and mushrooms. They should all do ok with your light

04/13/2011, 05:28 AM	#4
y0ung0ne Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Maryland Posts: 452	Frogspawn torch adn hammers are nice I am beginning the same and there is not much with them. I currently have a torch which is 8 heads and fully extended is about the size of a softball and a two headed frogspawn which is forming new heads. nice things to have and gives a nice change in the tank with moving in the current.

04/13/2011, 06:28 AM	#5
israel.kendall Padawan Reefer Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Land O Lakes Posts: 922	I found frogspawn, hammer, candy cane/trumpet, and acans were all pretty easy. I found torches to be a bit more finicky than frogspawn or hammers. I'd stay away from xenia, kenya tree, or shrooms, unless you're OK with putting weeds in your tank. If you're OK with weeds, then you'll find those quite easy as well.

04/13/2011, 02:46 PM	#6
donkeys4hire Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Port St Lucie Posts: 344	Don't get whats known as "beginner corals" they will grow out and when you start to keep corals you really like and want to keep long term they'll be in the way. Buy a few frags of something you wanna have for long the term.

04/14/2011, 11:01 AM	#7
Friday Night Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Walnut Creek. CA Posts: 2,438	Before dumping corals in id check if the existing fish you have are reef safe. But yea shrooms, xenia, zoas.. stuff you can run over you car with and will still live.

05/14/2011, 07:43 PM	#8
dvong Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1	I have a 26gal bow front fish tank with live sand and 20lbs of live rock and 2 clown fish. Somebody is selling bubble coral FS. I also want to add kenya tree, fire and ice zoas and some green lanterns. Is it safe to add all of this at once?

05/14/2011, 09:45 PM	#9
ericauch Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 65	softies would be good. If u want good growth get all 4 white light. but i'm guessing its 4 94w. If you want to go stony. you will need higher intensity light. I have 3 250 Metal halides and 4 94w pcs. ofcourse all 4 pcs are actinic. with your lighting now. try some pallys, shrooms, zoas. put them up higher. flow is a factor too. if you want to try an anem condylactis is good. they have trouble hosting from what ive hurd but mine hosted well with a tomato clown. I wouldn't suggest an anem tho if you have alot of live rock or are planing on putting in alot of corals.

05/14/2011, 10:01 PM	#10
jenneosho Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 3	blastomussas, acans, rics and zoas are favorites of mine! lots of color, easy keepers too! my clown pair loves my frog spawn, and its really hardy as well as adds movement to my scape!