Coral recommendations?

[clownfishmama]

I have a year-old Fluval Flex 15-gallon tank with two clownfish, a few hermit crabs, and a yellow clown goby. As a beginner, what types of corals would you recommend adding to my tank?

 

[TX_REEF]

Here are some to consider, BTA not technically a coral but would do fine in a stable tank your size and likely be appreciated by your clowns. These are all low-medium light and low-moderate flow

(nearly) Impossible to kill
Green Star Polyps
Clove Polyps
Xenia

Easy
Candy Canes
Micromussa
Zoanthids

Intermediate
Torch
Hammer
Montipora
Bubbletip Anemone

 

[clownfishmama]

Here are some to consider, BTA not technically a coral but would do fine in a stable tank your size and likely be appreciated by your clowns. These are all low-medium light and low-moderate flow

(nearly) Impossible to kill
Green Star Polyps
Clove Polyps
Xenia

Easy
Candy Canes
Micromussa
Zoanthids

Intermediate
Torch
Hammer
Montipora
Bubbletip Anemone

Thank you! These choices seem absolutely fascinating! I'd also love to learn more about the pricing for them.

 

[TX_REEF]

Thank you! These choices seem absolutely fascinating! I'd also love to learn more about the pricing for them.

This is what I'd consider fair for a small frag, prices obviously vary by frag/colony size, vendor and geography. You'll get the best deals at local frag swaps/shows

(nearly) Impossible to kill
Green Star Polyps $10-$25
Clove Polyps $20-$35
Xenia $10-$25

Easy
Candy Canes $15-$40 (varies by color with "neon green" generally being the most expensive)
Micromussa $25-$50 varies by color, more vibrant being more expensive
Zoanthids $5-$25 per polyp, again more vibrant = more $

Intermediate
Torch $25-$100, varies by rarity/color
Hammer $25-$75, varies by rarity/color
Montipora $25-$50
Bubbletip Anemone $25-$100+, standard rose is going to be cheapest, followed by rainbow or green, and can go way up from there depending on "breed" (sunburst, black widow, etc... I'd start with a rainbow in case of mistakes/death as you learn)

 

[BryanM]

Thank you! These choices seem absolutely fascinating! I'd also love to learn more about the pricing for them.

It won't take you long to find prices, and for some of these they vary wildly.

Note that TXReef's nearly impossible to kill list can also turn out to be invasive... IE, green star polyps should have its own island rock or something, and people often remove them after they start growing like weeds, and then find out its hard to actually remove it all.

I would add toadstools to the list of bulletproof, easy to care for beginner corals.

If you test your water 1-2x a month and its been quite stable for the last 4-6 months, you can easily try any of the intermediates on the list. Most corals really just crave stability, especially alk and salinity.