Coral decision paralysis

[logibear]

I am struggling a lot with decision paralysis. I have so much space for coral on my rock work but every time I go to my LFS I come away with nothing because I just cannot make a decision.

Anyone have suggestions for what they might get and where they would put it?

 

[logibear]

I am struggling a lot with decision paralysis. I have so much space for coral on my rock work but every time I go to my LFS I come away with nothing because I just cannot make a decision.

Anyone have suggestions for what they might get and where they would put it?

 

[Tatted Reefer]

let's find out more about the tank. Lighting, flow etc. I have no suggestions just yet but having too much space sounds like a good problem!

 

[Kodski]

If the placement is what's holding you up, placement will change as the corals grow and you find spots that the coral likes or doesn't like. Coral placement is rarely something that doesn't get changed around. Just worry about finding a coral that will do well in your tank that you think looks nice or cool!

 

[Amstar]

couple of questions so that we can help you out
1) what size tank
2) how old is the tank
3) Lighting
4) parameters (helps determine if ready for SPS, etc)
5) what filtration/water movement do you have (wave makers etc)
6) do you have a "theme". softie tank? Zoa tank? LPS? or looking for an overall "Mixed" easy reef

 

[MoshJosh]

Personally I like to set up my tank with groups of corals, so I pick something I know I like then shop for morphs (different colors). So pick a group of corals you like, say hammers, pick a good spot for them in your tank and then shop for morphs. Hammers and frogspawn can touch so throw all those in the "hammer section of your tank". Find several groups of corals you like and go nuts.

Also, go to the store with a plan, "if they have a hammer coral in a color I don't already have it will buy it, if not I won't buy corals."

Just some ideas amd how I try to do it. . . ?

 

[logibear]

Tank is about a year old started with TBS rock and sand. It is waterbox 190.5. Two Jebao dmp 40 pumps set at 60 and 45% currently. Three radion xr15 g6 blue lights.

I hesitate to tell my parameters because people will freak out about my phosphate/nitrate but it has been stable for at least 9 months and everything in there has been fairly happy and growing well except for the exception of a few things that accidentally fell over and were damaged because I did not secure the rock well enough.

 

[Damage12]

Tank is about a year old started with TBS rock and sand. It is waterbox 190.5. Two Jebao dmp 40 pumps set at 60 and 45% currently. Three radion xr15 g6 blue lights.

I hesitate to tell my parameters because people will freak out about my phosphate/nitrate but it has been stable for at least 9 months and everything in there has been fairly happy and growing well except for the exception of a few things that accidentally fell over and were damaged because I did not secure the rock well enough.

What kind of coral do you currently have in your tank? Soft corals can tolerate higher nitrate and phosphate. Acropora/SPS and many LPS coral will not. Your nutrient levels may dictate what you should put in there, unless you don’t care about paying a lot of money for coral and it dying.

 

[logibear]

Tank is about a year old started with TBS rock and sand. It is waterbox 190.5. Two Jebao dmp 40 pumps set at 60 and 45% currently. Three radion xr15 g6 blue lights.

I hesitate to tell my parameters because people will freak out about my phosphate/nitrate but it has been stable for at least 9 months and everything in there has been fairly happy and growing well except for the exception of a few things that accidentally fell over and were damaged because I did not secure the rock well enough.

What kind of coral do you currently have in your tank? Soft corals can tolerate higher nitrate and phosphate. Acropora/SPS and many LPS coral will not. Your nutrient levels may dictate what you should put in there, unless you don’t care about paying a lot of money for coral and it dying.

Have mostly lps actually. Duncan, trumpets, hammers, alveopora, blastomussa, Micromussa, some easy sps like green slimer, plating and crusting montipora, a few zoas, green birds nest, pocillipora, and RBTA. I think that’s all haha

 

[Jamie9]

It helped me a lot to do PAR readings and draw them out on a photo of my tank. Then I sort of circled areas where different types of things “could” go. Then that sort of narrowed down my options for a given area, making it a little easier to think about color choices. That said, I’ve still got a long way to go!

 

[Damage12]

Have mostly lps actually. Duncan, trumpets, hammers, alveopora, blastomussa, Micromussa, some easy sps like green slimer, plating and crusting montipora, a few zoas, green birds nest, pocillipora, and RBTA. I think that’s all haha

Sounds like you have a nice mixed reef. To round it off, maybe add some colorful mushrooms like a Yuma, or some jawbreakers. Maybe a weeping willow toadstool or a neon green cabbage coral.

 

[logibear]

Have mostly lps actually. Duncan, trumpets, hammers, alveopora, blastomussa, Micromussa, some easy sps like green slimer, plating and crusting montipora, a few zoas, green birds nest, pocillipora, and RBTA. I think that’s all haha

Sounds like you have a nice mixed reef. To round it off, maybe add some colorful mushrooms like a Yuma, or some jawbreakers. Maybe a weeping willow toadstool or a neon green cabbage coral.

My problem with mushrooms is I can’t find a place with low enough flow for them. I had one discosoma that ended up wandering around until it disappeared. Any suggestions to make it with I’ll take, I really love the look of them

 

[logibear]

Sorry I think the app is having some issues. I attached several pictures of my tank for reference and it also posted this identical post 3 times

 

[dvgyfresh]

Torches, elegance, weeping willow, bubble coral, firework cloves , and zoas would be my adds

 

[logibear]

Torches, elegance, weeping willow, bubble coral, firework cloves , and zoas would be my adds

I would love an elegance. One of the two coral I lost was a torch as the rock it was on tipped over and landed on another rock. Super bummed that it didn’t make it. Would love to get another but they aren’t cheap. Now that my zoas seem to be really taking off more down on the bottom left, I would love to get more to make that rock a zoa garden. Thanks for the ideas!

 

[dvgyfresh]

No problem! Not a stick guy myself lol

 

[logibear]

No problem! Not a stick guy myself lol

I can’t say I am either. I REALLY have found I’m very much an LPS guy

 

[dvgyfresh]

I can’t say I am either. I REALLY have found I’m very much an LPS guy

Then I have more lol , pink anthelia, red Xenia , space invader

 

[Damage12]

How about a colorful open brain coral (trachyphyllia geoffroyi), symphyllia or a bright orange plate coral?

 

[logibear]

How about a colorful open brain coral (trachyphyllia geoffroyi), symphyllia or a bright orange plate coral?

Ooh I do like those. Sounds like mid-light and flow too?