Best Beginner LPS Corals

[InvertEnvy]

I will be buying my first corals for my 55 gallon tank in about a month. I'd really like to focus on LPS corals, anemones, and clams. I'm new to corals (I've had saltwater for a while just never tried corals) and was wondering what are some hardy "beginner" LPS corals?

 

[InvertEnvy]

Yes, I know I screwed up the title lol

 

[Litfury]

I'm still new too but thought I'd chime in. I believe of the euphyllias it goes frogspawn-hammer-torch in order of difficulty.
My one Acan frag is growing faster than any of my other corals, tank is approximately 2 months old. The favia I have has barely grown at all in a months time but seems happy otherwise.
Hope this helps some.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Acans, some chalices, and Duncans seem to do pretty well in new tanks. Several brains and Favia do well, also.

 

[InvertEnvy]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm doing some of my own research but getting advice from experienced Reefers is more important to me :)

 

[DeniseAndy]

Hi and glad to see you dive into corals. Better yet, looking for advice and researching other sources. I have had many lps and currently have a nice lps 40g display. Love them. There is so much variety in the HUGE category of lps. Do you want some movement? Do you have higher flow, low flow, lighting? Fish? Just some considerations.

I can recommend some specific if I know more of what you want. They can vary a ton with needs. Also, do not try nems or clams until you have had corals for quite some time. They need a much more mature system (stability being key along with nutrition items like pods, detritus, etc). But when ready, they are really great animals to keep.

 

[Shep]

Yes, I know I screwed up the title lol

Fixed the title and I would say Acans are some of the toughest LPS corals around, plus they are easy to find and great looking

 

[InvertEnvy]

Hi and glad to see you dive into corals. Better yet, looking for advice and researching other sources. I have had many lps and currently have a nice lps 40g display. Love them. There is so much variety in the HUGE category of lps. Do you want some movement? Do you have higher flow, low flow, lighting? Fish? Just some considerations.

I can recommend some specific if I know more of what you want. They can vary a ton with needs. Also, do not try nems or clams until you have had corals for quite some time. They need a much more mature system (stability being key along with nutrition items like pods, detritus, etc). But when ready, they are really great animals to keep.

Thanks for your response. How long would you wait to get nems or clams? My system has been set up for 5 months now. I was going to start with corals. I'm more of a medium flow, medium to high light tank. Right now I have Starry Blenny, Flame Angel, and 2 small clowns for fish. I'd like to add a Mandarin Dragonet once my hob fuge gets over run by pods. That will be it for fish. I have a bunch of inverts. Hermits, snails, coco worm, sea hare, serpent star, sexy shrimp, small urchin, pom pom crab, and 2 tigertail cucumbers (I had 1 but it split into 2 a day or 2 ago [emoji4] ).

 

[InvertEnvy]

Fixed the title and I would say Acans are some of the toughest LPS corals around, plus they are easy to find and great looking

I was looking around online yesterday at Acans. I love those corals. I'll probably get 3 different colors for sure. Thanks for your response [emoji2]

 

[InvertEnvy]

I was looking around online yesterday at Acans. I love those corals. I'll probably get 3 different colors for sure. Thanks for your response [emoji2]

How did you fix the title?

 

[InvertEnvy]

I don't know how to delete posts either. Kinda new to R2R

 

[Acrofiend]

All LPS are easy to care for, IMO. It's when you start getting into SPS is when it starts getting difficult.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Thanks for your response. How long would you wait to get nems or clams? My system has been set up for 5 months now. I was going to start with corals. I'm more of a medium flow, medium to high light tank. Right now I have Starry Blenny, Flame Angel, and 2 small clowns for fish. I'd like to add a Mandarin Dragonet once my hob fuge gets over run by pods. That will be it for fish. I have a bunch of inverts. Hermits, snails, coco worm, sea hare, serpent star, sexy shrimp, small urchin, pom pom crab, and 2 tigertail cucumbers (I had 1 but it split into 2 a day or 2 ago [emoji4] ).

Sounds like a great system so far. Love all the inverts. The only concern is the flame angel. Keep an eye on her when adding corals. She may pick at them. If you are in the medium flow area, you can place most lps accordingly. I would start with hammer (euphyllia) as an easy beginner coral. They are pretty, move a bit, like flow and light and the clowns will love them. They may even make them their home. I like the branching type a bit more than the wall. JMO Note, these guys can have sweepers and like to sting other corals, so beware when placing.

If you like acans, start with one and see how they handle the light and system. Also, I would worry a bit about the angel with them. Maybe keep a cover over them till she gets used to them being in there. Clear net or clear plastic cup (holes for flow and light). Only like a week or less. I love them, but only one of my system can handle them. They usually like lower light and flow. Keep on the sand/bottom for that.

Frogpawn is similar to hammer. Torches are a bit more picky and delicate. They like more food.

A clam or nem, I would hold off a while. Nem would be fine as soon as you are comfortable with stability and lots of pods. They will like the medium flow and need lots of light (bta would be best option). Also the clowns may love it! If you are looking at rock nems or maxi mini carpets, clowns will not be hosted by them, but they do like a dirtier system. I would personally do the bta first in your system. Get a healthy nice size one. I would wait another few months on that. Maybe even a full 6 months.

The clam is a different animal. You need appropriate lighting for these guys. Some can get really large fast. What size tank? What lights? Babies are tough to keep, larger ones are a bit easier, but depends on the clam. Do you have a favorite species?

 

[Shep]

How did you fix the title?

I'm a wizard......OK not a wizard but I am a mod

 

[InvertEnvy]

Sounds like a great system so far. Love all the inverts. The only concern is the flame angel. Keep an eye on her when adding corals. She may pick at them. If you are in the medium flow area, you can place most lps accordingly. I would start with hammer (euphyllia) as an easy beginner coral. They are pretty, move a bit, like flow and light and the clowns will love them. They may even make them their home. I like the branching type a bit more than the wall. JMO Note, these guys can have sweepers and like to sting other corals, so beware when placing.

If you like acans, start with one and see how they handle the light and system. Also, I would worry a bit about the angel with them. Maybe keep a cover over them till she gets used to them being in there. Clear net or clear plastic cup (holes for flow and light). Only like a week or less. I love them, but only one of my system can handle them. They usually like lower light and flow. Keep on the sand/bottom for that.

Frogpawn is similar to hammer. Torches are a bit more picky and delicate. They like more food.

A clam or nem, I would hold off a while. Nem would be fine as soon as you are comfortable with stability and lots of pods. They will like the medium flow and need lots of light (bta would be best option). Also the clowns may love it! If you are looking at rock nems or maxi mini carpets, clowns will not be hosted by them, but they do like a dirtier system. I would personally do the bta first in your system. Get a healthy nice size one. I would wait another few months on that. Maybe even a full 6 months.

The clam is a different animal. You need appropriate lighting for these guys. Some can get really large fast. What size tank? What lights? Babies are tough to keep, larger ones are a bit easier, but depends on the clam. Do you have a favorite species?

I have a 55 gallon tank. I'll be buying 2 of the Chinese black boxes next week for lights. Right now my LED light is only strong enough for softies (I'm not a fan of most soft corals). I'm getting black boxes because my LFS uses them and those guys REALLY know what their doing. I'll be buying most of my corals from them.

I'll be getting 1 BTA nem and probably 1 maybe 2 rock nems. When I feel my tank is ready. I already know not to try nems too soon.

 

[DeniseAndy]

A 55g will sustain a crocea, maxima at full size, but unfortunately I do not run LEDs on my clams, so no idea on how well they will do with them. Derasa and squamosa will get too large for that system. Now, croceas will need lots of light and are best if purchased at 4" or so. Maximas need a tad less light than crocea, but I usually recommend the clams be from aquaculture or cook island and at least 4" for newbies and better chance of survival.

Clams use a lot of calcium/Magnesium to build their shells. Therefore, unless you are dosing or have a calcium reactor, I would not try clams till you are at that stage.

 

[csn4]

Duncan's were the first LPS I put in. They are so easy to care for. Feed once or twice a week and they grow like crazy. I love Duncan's and they tend to be a fan favorite when ever anyone visits my house.

 

[Rarend99]

I agree with everyone else. I'd start with acans and a frogspawn and see how it goes

 

[Grizz717]

Kenya Tree are reasonably easy also.

 

[Spanky05]

Duncans, hammer/frogspawn, acans, favia are good LPS to consider.

Personally, I started with zoanthids and ricordea as my first corals. Once I felt confident with them, I moved on to LPS and then eventually BTA/RFA/Maxi mini's.