What are the fastest spreading attractive soft corals?

Mxx · 08/07/2012, 03:28 PM

I'm starting my first reef tank now (34g) , and don't want to spend more than I have to, being that I'm an amateur at this and can't yet guarantee the survival of anything. So I'd like to find some nice corals that would relatively quickly and easily fill out the tank to cover all the rocks while looking quite nice. (I do realize results may vary). I'd also like to stick mainly to a simple palette of iridescent greens and purples. This is the list I've compiled from research, with my own categorizations

Corals I like in order of speed of growth (supposedly)
Xenia (Interesting and lively looking, but spread very aggressively and I realize I may need to prune them back before long and would want to replace them all eventually)
Green Star Polyps - I love the colour and would be thrilled if it were the predominant cover in the tank
Mushrooms - A nice spred of both blue-green line and purple would be a nice complementary combo
(And once I've achieved success with those I'd like to also add) -
Duncans
Ricordea
Hammer and Elegans - I'd like to do as well eventually, but I realize they are a little more delicate and don't necessarily grow quite as fast.
Zoas
Palm Tree Polyps

Fast growing corals which I'm not as crazy about the appearance of-
Kenya tree
Colt coral
Leather
Anthelia
Blue Daisy Polyps

Any comments, advice, recommendations? Should I go low nutrient and carbon dose or not?

neptunestender · 08/07/2012, 06:09 PM

Looks like you did your research mxx. I cant help much but I also like the xenia and star polyps, but I am a little scared that they might become more of a pest but if you dont mind trimming frequently they def. have a nice motion to them.

Good luck,
Ed

reeefchief · 08/07/2012, 07:28 PM

Pulsing xenia and gsp are 2 of my favorates. Better watch out though gsp will take over

chrisfont23 · 08/07/2012, 07:43 PM

The fastest growing in my tanks have been colts and my hammer.

Colt coral

March 2011:

Now:

Hammer

March 2011:

Now:

MarkGP · 08/07/2012, 07:53 PM

Xenia and GSP are probably the two fastest growing corals out of all. Both can be controlled somewhat by placing on rocks separated from the rest.

philosophile · 08/07/2012, 07:58 PM

Definitely consider rock islands for your Xenia and GSP. Other easy softies to consider... Zoanthids and palythoas... Don't spend the money on the expensive ones at first. Singularia too.

RyanSweatt2004 · 08/07/2012, 08:24 PM

It depends on what types of other corals you plan to have in your reef. many of us myself included love the flowing look of green star polyps, xenia, anthelia and cloves spreading over the rocks in between our larger corals. Green star polyps do have a pretty nast sting towards other corals though. The others shouldn't sting much though.

08/07/2012, 03:28 PM	#1
Mxx Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: London Posts: 127	What are the fastest spreading attractive soft corals? I'm starting my first reef tank now (34g) , and don't want to spend more than I have to, being that I'm an amateur at this and can't yet guarantee the survival of anything. So I'd like to find some nice corals that would relatively quickly and easily fill out the tank to cover all the rocks while looking quite nice. (I do realize results may vary). I'd also like to stick mainly to a simple palette of iridescent greens and purples. This is the list I've compiled from research, with my own categorizations Corals I like in order of speed of growth (supposedly) Xenia (Interesting and lively looking, but spread very aggressively and I realize I may need to prune them back before long and would want to replace them all eventually) Green Star Polyps - I love the colour and would be thrilled if it were the predominant cover in the tank Mushrooms - A nice spred of both blue-green line and purple would be a nice complementary combo (And once I've achieved success with those I'd like to also add) - Duncans Ricordea Hammer and Elegans - I'd like to do as well eventually, but I realize they are a little more delicate and don't necessarily grow quite as fast. Zoas Palm Tree Polyps Fast growing corals which I'm not as crazy about the appearance of- Kenya tree Colt coral Leather Anthelia Blue Daisy Polyps Any comments, advice, recommendations? Should I go low nutrient and carbon dose or not?

08/07/2012, 06:09 PM	#2
neptunestender Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Lake City, FL Posts: 159	Looks like you did your research mxx. I cant help much but I also like the xenia and star polyps, but I am a little scared that they might become more of a pest but if you dont mind trimming frequently they def. have a nice motion to them. Good luck, Ed __________________ I know I cant spell! 75 gal inwall w/3 sided foam RW, ATS filtered, 2x 5 gal dump bucketes, DIY led, MR. 40 gal sump with macro and wormrock for pod production. ATO w/kalk. Over 100lbs dry rock. 3 20 gal QT tanks everything gets QT. All in the works!

08/07/2012, 07:58 PM	#6
philosophile Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,149	Definitely consider rock islands for your Xenia and GSP. Other easy softies to consider... Zoanthids and palythoas... Don't spend the money on the expensive ones at first. Singularia too. __________________ 90 gallon mixed reef XPS1000SSS skimmer, 2 radions gen 1, tunze osmolator w/ kalk dispenser, 70 lbs pukani, mp40w x2; 1 tomini, 1 clown 2 mandarins. Vinegar dosing, and micro bubble scrubbing.

08/07/2012, 07:28 PM	#3
reeefchief Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 63	Pulsing xenia and gsp are 2 of my favorates. Better watch out though gsp will take over

08/07/2012, 07:43 PM	#4
chrisfont23 Reef Monster Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Long Island Posts: 1,343	The fastest growing in my tanks have been colts and my hammer. Colt coral March 2011: Now: Hammer March 2011: Now:

08/07/2012, 07:53 PM	#5
MarkGP Why do I do this? Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bristol, RI Posts: 1,015	Xenia and GSP are probably the two fastest growing corals out of all. Both can be controlled somewhat by placing on rocks separated from the rest.

08/07/2012, 08:24 PM	#7
RyanSweatt2004 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: maine Posts: 590	It depends on what types of other corals you plan to have in your reef. many of us myself included love the flowing look of green star polyps, xenia, anthelia and cloves spreading over the rocks in between our larger corals. Green star polyps do have a pretty nast sting towards other corals though. The others shouldn't sting much though.