Beginner coral suggestions?

~RuSh~ · 01/10/2011, 11:10 PM

I'm not ready for them yet, but I'd like to get some ideas about what good beginner corals are. I know some can be very sensitive so I don't want to get anything that is out of my league so to speak.

Could anyone list some easy beginner corals that are hardy and readily available? I know it will partially depend on the lighting. I was thinking a 150w MH set up, but haven't completely ruled out T5HO's either.

29g tank. 35-40 lbs Fiji LR.

Any feedback is appreciated.

SethTheWineGuy · 01/10/2011, 11:14 PM

GSP. (Not George St Pierre) Green Star Polyps. Candy cane. Xenia

unionredskin22 · 01/10/2011, 11:16 PM

Candy canes are easy and fun to watch grow

~RuSh~ · 01/10/2011, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SethTheWineGuy

GSP. (Not George St Pierre) Green Star Polyps.

I'm glad you spelled that acronym out for me, or I would have assumed the latter.

GSP RULES!!! (that is, george)

~RuSh~ · 01/10/2011, 11:21 PM

Just looked up the candy cane... looks sweet. I like the green variety.

OwenInAZ · 01/10/2011, 11:38 PM

Just my opinion, but I'd stay away from GSP in a tank that small. It takes over very quickly and can be hard to get rid of when you want the real estate back. Same goes with xenia. It is widely considered a weed in tanks and takes over quickly.

However, candy canes are indeed hardy and relatively easy to care for. In a 29 gallon with MH you could keep pretty much whatever you want -- when you tank is a few months old you can experiment with a couple frags of the hardier SPS, like M. digitata (digis) or A. millepora (millis). Of course, if you don't want to go the SPS route (more things to worry about over time but I find it rewarding) you can find lots of differend LPS like favia or the like.

jeff@zina.com · 01/11/2011, 07:53 AM

Most of the mushrooms and any zoanthus is pretty easy for a beginner. Hammer and frogspawn aren't that hard either. There are quite a few acroporas that would be a beginner coral as far as SPS goes.

Jeff

Reef Bass · 01/11/2011, 08:12 AM

Easier soft and lps corals: zoanthids, palythoas, shrooms, Caulastrea (candy canes), Euphyllia (hammer, frogspawn), Acanthastrea (acans).

Easier sps: Montipora digitata, Montipora capricornus.

Keeping coral is easy - "all you have to do is" keep the lighting and water quality perfect all the time!

~RuSh~ · 01/11/2011, 09:11 AM

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I'll keep in mind that GSP and Xenia grow fast...

I think right now I am leaning towards T5HO's. Am I going to be significantly limiting myself by choosing T5's? I looked up the frogspawn, and that is really cool.

joejoe1055 · 01/11/2011, 10:40 AM

leathers are easy to start with

sslak · 01/11/2011, 01:09 PM

Frogspawn, Hammer - both colorful and easy to keep.

Candy cane - amazingly bright color..I have neon yellow and have yet to see a photo truly represent this color

inexpensive zoanthids - there are some great colors that are common...avoid "designer" colors for now mainly due to cost since you are just starting

AVOID AT ALL COST - GSP, Xenia, Kenya tree (all can become very invasive when you decide to move to more advanced corals. They mat over the rock and are nearly impossible to remove)

T5's are a great choice for lighting. With enough bulbs you can keep anything, including the most difficult SPS. It's also great that you can choose different color combinations.

Raggamuffin · 01/11/2011, 01:26 PM

Can't beleive these have not made the list but with MH or T5's blastos are wonderful corals, slow to medium growth speed but the colors are wonderful and give you confidence for the harder stuff, I would rank them at the harder side of beginner but still very doable but a new reefer without alot of heart ache or frustration.

~RuSh~ · 01/11/2011, 01:36 PM

Thank you everyone for your help so far.

Anyone have any pics to share? I'd like to see your versions of these corals... some of the stuff I'm finding via google I think might be a bit misleading.

How would you stop a coral from growing if you didn't want it to?

Sebastian J. · 01/11/2011, 01:51 PM

It's a good idea to keep Zoas, Xenia, GSP, Anthelia, Erythropodium and similiar encrusting fast growers on their own rocks well away from your main reef...

Pavona cactus and especially Pavona decussata are almost impossible to kill. There are nice greenish variants of both.

Galaxea fascicularis is said to be easy to keep, too. Just keep other corals away a bit because they have long sweepers.

Anthelia and Leathers (Sinularia, Sarcophyton and Lobophytum) are generally easy and forgiving, too.

Pinnigorgia is an easy to keep Caribbean Gorgonian with zooxanthellae worth checking out.

I also found Ricordea mushrooms to be surprisingly hardy.

Booeenie · 01/11/2011, 02:18 PM

I think Tree Corals (Capnella) are pretty good for the starter. This is what I started with and it has been through everything and doing great. It even frags and is finding new homes throughout the tank.

unionredskin22 · 01/11/2011, 05:01 PM

Also, birds nests are pretty hardy. Grow quickly and look cool once they grow large

~RuSh~ · 01/12/2011, 09:19 AM

Thanks for all the help everyone.

I'm loving the Metallic Green Galaxy. It looks similar to GSP which I also like so I think I'll go with the Galaxy coral. And also Frogspawn or Hammer, Candy cane, and some Zoas. Is this too much? Too little?

01/10/2011, 11:10 PM	#1
~RuSh~ Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 778	Beginner coral suggestions? I'm not ready for them yet, but I'd like to get some ideas about what good beginner corals are. I know some can be very sensitive so I don't want to get anything that is out of my league so to speak. Could anyone list some easy beginner corals that are hardy and readily available? I know it will partially depend on the lighting. I was thinking a 150w MH set up, but haven't completely ruled out T5HO's either. 29g tank. 35-40 lbs Fiji LR. Any feedback is appreciated.

01/10/2011, 11:38 PM	#6
OwenInAZ Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 2,409	Just my opinion, but I'd stay away from GSP in a tank that small. It takes over very quickly and can be hard to get rid of when you want the real estate back. Same goes with xenia. It is widely considered a weed in tanks and takes over quickly. However, candy canes are indeed hardy and relatively easy to care for. In a 29 gallon with MH you could keep pretty much whatever you want -- when you tank is a few months old you can experiment with a couple frags of the hardier SPS, like M. digitata (digis) or A. millepora (millis). Of course, if you don't want to go the SPS route (more things to worry about over time but I find it rewarding) you can find lots of differend LPS like favia or the like. __________________ Owen Professional Bacteria Geek "Ree... cy... cling?" "One day it's a bowl full of cherries, one night I'm suckin' on lemons and spittin' out the seeds" Current Tank Info: 90 gallon tall reef

01/11/2011, 08:12 AM	#8
Reef Bass colors and textures Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Petaluma CA Posts: 6,301	Easier soft and lps corals: zoanthids, palythoas, shrooms, Caulastrea (candy canes), Euphyllia (hammer, frogspawn), Acanthastrea (acans). Easier sps: Montipora digitata, Montipora capricornus. Keeping coral is easy - "all you have to do is" keep the lighting and water quality perfect all the time! __________________ The human desires for instant gratification and immediate problem resolution cannot be satisfied with this hobby. Former president and co-president of the Wine Country Reefers. Current Tank Info: 60 gallons of Scleractinia and Zoanthidae lit w/ LEDs

01/11/2011, 10:40 AM	#10
joejoe1055 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: cullman,Alabama Posts: 739	leathers are easy to start with __________________ grrrrr Current Tank Info: 180 reef in progress

01/11/2011, 01:09 PM	#11
sslak Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,705	Frogspawn, Hammer - both colorful and easy to keep. Candy cane - amazingly bright color..I have neon yellow and have yet to see a photo truly represent this color inexpensive zoanthids - there are some great colors that are common...avoid "designer" colors for now mainly due to cost since you are just starting AVOID AT ALL COST - GSP, Xenia, Kenya tree (all can become very invasive when you decide to move to more advanced corals. They mat over the rock and are nearly impossible to remove) T5's are a great choice for lighting. With enough bulbs you can keep anything, including the most difficult SPS. It's also great that you can choose different color combinations. __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 58 Oceanic/20g Sump/250w XM 20k/2x39w T5 True Actinic 03/2010 Reef Octopus NW Cone Skimmer

01/10/2011, 11:14 PM	#2
SethTheWineGuy Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Cumming, Ga Posts: 90	GSP. (Not George St Pierre) Green Star Polyps. Candy cane. Xenia

01/10/2011, 11:16 PM	#3
unionredskin22 Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tulsa Posts: 57	Candy canes are easy and fun to watch grow

01/10/2011, 11:21 PM	#5
~RuSh~ Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 778	Just looked up the candy cane... looks sweet. I like the green variety.

01/11/2011, 07:53 AM	#7
jeff@zina.com Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 3,345	Most of the mushrooms and any zoanthus is pretty easy for a beginner. Hammer and frogspawn aren't that hard either. There are quite a few acroporas that would be a beginner coral as far as SPS goes. Jeff

01/11/2011, 09:11 AM	#9
~RuSh~ Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 778	Thanks for all the great suggestions. I'll keep in mind that GSP and Xenia grow fast... I think right now I am leaning towards T5HO's. Am I going to be significantly limiting myself by choosing T5's? I looked up the frogspawn, and that is really cool.

01/11/2011, 01:26 PM	#12
Raggamuffin Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brandon SD. Posts: 541	Can't beleive these have not made the list but with MH or T5's blastos are wonderful corals, slow to medium growth speed but the colors are wonderful and give you confidence for the harder stuff, I would rank them at the harder side of beginner but still very doable but a new reefer without alot of heart ache or frustration.

01/11/2011, 01:36 PM	#13
~RuSh~ Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 778	Thank you everyone for your help so far. Anyone have any pics to share? I'd like to see your versions of these corals... some of the stuff I'm finding via google I think might be a bit misleading. How would you stop a coral from growing if you didn't want it to?

01/11/2011, 01:51 PM	#14
Sebastian J. Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Germany Posts: 74	It's a good idea to keep Zoas, Xenia, GSP, Anthelia, Erythropodium and similiar encrusting fast growers on their own rocks well away from your main reef... Pavona cactus and especially Pavona decussata are almost impossible to kill. There are nice greenish variants of both. Galaxea fascicularis is said to be easy to keep, too. Just keep other corals away a bit because they have long sweepers. Anthelia and Leathers (Sinularia, Sarcophyton and Lobophytum) are generally easy and forgiving, too. Pinnigorgia is an easy to keep Caribbean Gorgonian with zooxanthellae worth checking out. I also found Ricordea mushrooms to be surprisingly hardy.

01/11/2011, 02:18 PM	#15
Booeenie Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pocatello, ID Posts: 67	I think Tree Corals (Capnella) are pretty good for the starter. This is what I started with and it has been through everything and doing great. It even frags and is finding new homes throughout the tank.

01/11/2011, 05:01 PM	#16
unionredskin22 Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tulsa Posts: 57	Also, birds nests are pretty hardy. Grow quickly and look cool once they grow large

01/12/2011, 09:19 AM	#17
~RuSh~ Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 778	Thanks for all the help everyone. I'm loving the Metallic Green Galaxy. It looks similar to GSP which I also like so I think I'll go with the Galaxy coral. And also Frogspawn or Hammer, Candy cane, and some Zoas. Is this too much? Too little?

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