Coral choices

[Reeflover2000]

Hi, I am going to be getting a Bio-cube 29 and will be making it a living reef tank. This will be my first saltwater tank and I want to get it right and make the least amount of mistakes possible. I was wondering what some of the best types of corals are and a couple specific coral names that are good for a Bio-cube 29 and a beginner like me.

P.S. Also, I would like it if they were a bit more on the affordable side (I understand that that can be hard sometimes with corals but I would appreciate it)
Thanks

[CoralReeferGal]

I could be wrong, (maybe were just lucky lol) but from my experience, we have had the most luck with mushrooms. They add tons of color to the tank and seem to be very easy to maintain. Sorry, I don't have any specific names, we just got an assorted mushroom rock at the LFS. In just 3 months or so, they have already spread! We just noticed a big healthy looking fluorescent one happily growing in the back of the tank... would have been nice if he had picked the front where hes more noticeable, but at least theyre spreading already! We've also had good luck with dragon eyes; ours are green to be more specific, but they've done excellent without much extra maintenance. The mushroom rock was about $70 or so at our LFS, and the dragon eyes were $2 per head; I found someone on craigslist by accident (LOL i was looking for a bigger tank) and we regularly buy frags off him now. Not sure what price range you mean when saying "affordable" lol so not sure how much help I was.

[MatteZ]

The only thing you have to worry About with mushrooms is that they will take over then ENTIRE tank. I have. 24g nano cube and started with 2 blue stripped mushrooms and they quickly spread over the tank. It was too much!!! I hated it. I would cut them out and they would one back. I finally took the 2 pieces of live rock out and power washed them. The other day I was doing a water change and I saw one on the rock. I'm going to cut it off and cover it with epoxy before it takes over again. What kind of lighting are you using will make a decision on the kids of corals.

[MaxxedMan]

Stuff like mushrooms, zoas are best for you. Anything else you have to worry about lights.

If you are beginning, NO SPS, stick to LPS, Softies. The easier a coral is to take care of, the faster it spreads... makes it hard to mix easy and harder corals in a small tank.

[robs.mark]

I agree, mushrooms are a great beginner coral. They hold some amazing colours, are easy to keep and growlike crazy. My lfs shop has the most amazing 5x2.5x2.5 mushroom tank. It was very established, ultra low maintenance, and even though im a self proclaimed sps junkie remains one of the most colourfull tanks ive ever seen. As the guys have warned you though, if you evolve away from mushrooms (or morphs) be prepered to swap out your liverock as they are very difficult to remove.

[Michigan Mike]

Hairy mushroom! Looks kinda like an anemone, something easy and cool and cheap!
Giant feather duster or coco worm oops them are inverts...
I take it you have the stock pc lights in the cube?

[TimeConsumer]

Any kind of euphyllia: hammers, frogspawns, torches. Nepthea leathers are always fun. Zoanthids of all kinds.

[PAnanoguy]

IMO Colt Coral, Finger Leather, Toadstool Leather, Mushrooms, Palys, Yellow Polyps, Green Star Polyps, all very good starter corals.

[Donkeykong]

I think everybody is giving you solid advice, but before you can apply any of it you need to answer a very important question, what light will you be running over the tank?

[Ambition]

Originally Posted by TimeConsumer

Any kind of euphyllia: hammers, frogspawns, torches. Nepthea leathers are always fun. Zoanthids of all kinds.

I agree with this, but I suggest skipping the torch until you get the hang of maintaining alkalinity and calcium levels in the tank. My alk swung and my torch died back (about half and a new forming head). The frogspawns did fine, just didn't grow until alk and calcium levels were back in line. Zoanthids and mushrooms are a great place to start.

[PAnanoguy]

Donkey, he mentioned a Biocube 29 so Im assuming its at least the dual PC unit if not the HQI. Either way he should be fine with the above suggestions. and I agree with Ambition, Torch probably not an ideal coral to get right out of the gate.

[Reeflover2000]

I will be running 2 strips of LED's and, 2 T5 bulbs as well. The people I have Talked to over the phone have told me that both do well for corals. I think the first coral i know i was planning on was a long tentacle anemone but I just didn't know what else was good to start with. Thank you soooooo much! i really didn't know what to do other than anemones.

[Ambition]

Originally Posted by Reeflover2000

I will be running 2 strips of LED's and, 2 T5 bulbs as well. The people I have Talked to over the phone have told me that both do well for corals. I think the first coral i know i was planning on was a long tentacle anemone but I just didn't know what else was good to start with. Thank you soooooo much! i really didn't know what to do other than anemones.

An anemone is not a good thing to start off with. You are going to want to make sure you can keep soft and LPS corals alive at least. Anemones require experienced care, so you are going to want to work your way there. Also, an LTA is going to practically fill up your whole tank after it grows. It may not be the best option long term.

[shades_of_blue]

watch out for anenomies in a small tank they can grow fast and sting other corals.. if you plan on keeping sps dont stat with one.

[Reeflover2000]

good info I am happy ambition told me about that because I was going to make a $30 investment on what could be a dud. you all sound like you have good info and are very experienced and I am very happy you guys are humoring me as a beginner.