Beginner Soft Corals

[saltwaterfish.com Verified Sponsor]

These are some of my favorite beginner soft corals, they are usually fairly hardy but can have a penchant for overtaking a tank so keep this in mind if you plan to add these to your aquarium.

Zoanthids/Palythoas
Mushrooms, particulary Discosoma and Actinodiscus species
Kenya Trees
Sinularias
Green Star Polyp
Toadstool Leathers
Cabbage Leathers

I've always had good luck with these, some people consider them pests with how well they grow in their tank so take caution adding them in.

 

[StartingATank]

Xenia are also very beginner friendly and I personally like the way it pulses

 

[Kimberley Powell]

These are some of my favorite beginner soft corals, they are usually fairly hardy but can have a penchant for overtaking a tank so keep this in mind if you plan to add these to your aquarium.

Zoanthids/Palythoas
Mushrooms, particulary Discosoma and Actinodiscus species
Kenya Trees
Sinularias
Green Star Polyp
Toadstool Leathers
Cabbage Leathers

I've always had good luck with these, some people consider them pests with how well they grow in their tank so take caution adding them in.

Which of these do you think is the easiest to manage? I’m concerned about having my first coral dying

 

[StartingATank]

These are some of my favorite beginner soft corals, they are usually fairly hardy but can have a penchant for overtaking a tank so keep this in mind if you plan to add these to your aquarium.

Zoanthids/Palythoas
Mushrooms, particulary Discosoma and Actinodiscus species
Kenya Trees
Sinularias
Green Star Polyp
Toadstool Leathers
Cabbage Leathers

I've always had good luck with these, some people consider them pests with how well they grow in their tank so take caution adding them in.

Which of these do you think is the easiest to manage? I’m concerned about having my first coral dying

I would say get GSP. It is almost indestructible.

 

[Baldyreef]

I would say get GSP. It is almost indestructible.

yup palythoa aswell but i reccomend the paly having its on small island because once it grows in its a royal pain to get out

 

[NYCBOB]

GSP, mushrooms and Polys are big no no. They spread like nuts.

 

[Mike.]

birthday bozo zoa, they grow like a weed and grow anywhere

 

[Andamaite]

Kenya tree, Mushrooms, Xenia and/or Anthelia. Tons of movement, decent price point, a good range of color, practically bulletproof and they don't NEED outrageous lighting to look great. To me, a very easy recipe for success and sets up a love of the hobby.

Leathers will help people understand that your coral is a "little guy" and will sometimes throw a tantrum, but he's still okay.
Mushroom corals are visual feeders without being a real risk to livestock. Diet anemones, if you will.
Xenia and Anthelia gives easy wins with fast growth, and helps get a new reefer over the hurdle of "sometimes you have to cut stuff up and that's okay".

TBH I am beginning to reconsider Zoas and Palys as "beginner". Yes, they're undemanding for the most part but the push toward named strains has really elevated the price. You sort of NEED higher light (and especially blue/violet light) to get the most out of the color morphs. There's also toxicity to worry about, and frankly some are really hit or miss even from reputable retailers.

Asking a newby to pay "tank of gas" money for a nickel-sized frag plug that likely won't look the same under their lights, may close up one by one over the next few weeks and bleach (or melt) because it's got some unspecified ailment that no dip will cure, and can potentially poison them/everything in their tank is asking way too much, IMO. They need a few solid wins and some 'guaranteed' success first.

 

[Raamish14]

So I am planning my 15 gallon hello reef tank to be fowlr with 2 clowns and a goby or blenny. If I add a gsp, how does that change the chemistry? It would eat nitrates right? With just 3 fish I have a low bioload to begin with and I have a fleece roller too so my nitrates on paper should be low. Im contemplating if I want a gsp to see how it goes or just stick to the fowlr easy setup. With the fowlr I can do (and have done in the past) monthly 3-4 gallon water changes with no issues.