Good starter corals?

DalPal25 · Jun 17, 2016

I need some good starter corals, starting my first reef tank. I love colors, hardiness and ones that are wavy with my water flow. Any suggestions? Also, if anyone has any pics of their corals feel free to brag, I love it

rock_lobster · Jun 17, 2016

any soft corals... mushrooms, toadstools, kenyas, zoanthids.

killingseed2000 · Jun 17, 2016

good leather, or some mushrooms.

morpheas · Jun 17, 2016

All the euphyllia's are my favorites (torches, hammers, frogspawns). Easy to keep, amazing colors, amazing movement!

BoneXriffic · Jun 17, 2016

Euphillia and zoas imo

bobman · Jun 17, 2016

If I can offer advise dont go for a "starter coral" because it is a "starter coral" as most of the time you will quickly regret it. Make sure your tank is up to par (pun intended) and parameters are in check and stable. At that point get a coral you really want do your homework on that coral and go slow. Yes the coral might die but it probably will not if everything is in check. Besides anyone thats been in the hobby for a wile will tell you sometimes even in the most pristine tanks corals just wither away and die. So go for what you really want not just a "starter coral" because that term is so misleading IMO. Just do your homework on the corals you like and want and select the more hardier ones to start with. All to often I see people get some mushroom or paly or zenia only to wish they never introduced it to there tank a couple months later. Most starter corals the will be recommended can take over a tank if the aquarist is not careful. So IMO they are not starter corals at all but either a pest or better left to someone more adapt to keeping them at bay.

BoneXriffic · Jun 17, 2016

bobman said:
If I can offer advise dont go for a "starter coral" because it is a "starter coral" as most of the time you will quickly regret it. Make sure your tank is up to par (pun intended) and parameters are in check and stable. At that point get a coral you really want do your homework on that coral and go slow. Yes the coral might die but it probably will not if everything is in check. Besides anyone thats been in the hobby for a wile will tell you sometimes even in the most pristine tanks corals just wither away and die. So go for what you really want not just a "starter coral" because that term is so misleading IMO. Just do your homework on the corals you like and want and select the more hardier ones to start with. All to often I see people get some mushroom or paly or zenia only to wish they never introduced it to there tank a couple months later. Most starter corals the will be recommended can take over a tank if the aquarist is not careful. So IMO they are not starter corals at all but either a pest or better left to someone more adapt to keeping them at bay.

This is why i said zoos and euphillia lol....the real starter corals are kenyans leathers and xenia....may as well.burn your tank down

saltyfilmfolks · Jun 17, 2016

bobman said:
If I can offer advise dont go for a "starter coral" because it is a "starter coral" as most of the time you will quickly regret it. Make sure your tank is up to par (pun intended) and parameters are in check and stable. At that point get a coral you really want do your homework on that coral and go slow. Yes the coral might die but it probably will not if everything is in check. Besides anyone thats been in the hobby for a wile will tell you sometimes even in the most pristine tanks corals just wither away and die. So go for what you really want not just a "starter coral" because that term is so misleading IMO. Just do your homework on the corals you like and want and select the more hardier ones to start with. All to often I see people get some mushroom or paly or zenia only to wish they never introduced it to there tank a couple months later. Most starter corals the will be recommended can take over a tank if the aquarist is not careful. So IMO they are not starter corals at all but either a pest or better left to someone more adapt to keeping them at bay.

+1

The best ones are the in expensive ones. Get what you like. See how they do. Learn what it takes to take care of them.

Naiad · Jun 17, 2016

While it is true you shouldn't buy a coral just because it is hardy. If you like the look of these corals though don't let these guys scare you. The truth is corals act different in everyone's tank. I know people that can't grow xenia at all.

AllSignsPointToFish · Jun 17, 2016

Assuming tank parameters are stable, I've found that Monti caps are extremely hardy, tolerate swings in chemistry fairly well, and grow quickly. I've also found the same to be true for some chalices as well as pagoda cup corals. This, of course, also assumes you're looking for stony corals.

bobman · Jun 17, 2016

Naiad said:
While it is true you shouldn't buy a coral just because it is hardy. If you like the look of these corals though don't let these guys scare you. The truth is corals act different in everyone's tank. I know people that can't grow xenia at all.

Yes I cant grow Xenia at all. Well a few seem to be coming back now I moved them to the sump. And Naiad is correct if you like the coral and have done your homework do let me or anyone else scare you. I am sure you know what you want your tank to look like. Do the homework on whatever you buy and put in the tank. By doing so you will learn there proper care and for some of the more invasive species you will learn tactic to keep them under control.

Kungpaoshizi · Jun 18, 2016

I think this is one reason with the reduction of euphyllia. Don't think it's appropriate for starter corals.

If you can keep a kenya tree for 4 months, you're on the right track. If in that 4 months it pops off parts of itself to propagate around the tank, you're doing much better.

To get a taste of what it takes to do reefing at home, you get to clean up the random growths of kenya tree. Then you're ready to advance.

Diesel · Jun 18, 2016

^^^^^^+1 ^^^^^^^^All good advice from these awesome members mentioned above here.
Starting corals is such a big word in this hobby but can be on the same time really narrow.
A tank that is cycled perfect can handle most of the above corals.
One thing I have to mention is that you need to read up on dipping or quarantine your corals.
I know that ain't the fun part but breaking your tank down in a few weeks or months because a pest got in on the corals is the worst fun you can have.
This hobby isn't without out pest but we can control most of it due to a simple dip.
Many ppl use the Bayer, not really made for this hobby but it out competes any other dip on the market.
Working from my phone here so I don't have access to my data base to copy the thread in here how to use the bayer but maybe one of the other members can or the [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG] can do it for sure.
Good luck my friend and ask us any questions regarding your new corals.
Please show us some picture from your awesome tank or start a build thread, hallways fun to do and you can look back months from now on the progress.

dbl · Jun 18, 2016

I too use nothing but Bayer and have never had an issue. Here are a few links to get you started.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/bayer-insecticidal-coral-dip.244803/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/bayer-insecticide-as-a-coral-dip.100496/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/bayer-dip-which-kind-and-how-much.201633/

lostndessence · Jun 18, 2016

My first starter coral was some green star polyps. They can survive anything and grow like a weed but are really pretty. If you get them I recommend putting them on a rock separate from other rocks and not touching glass. They grow really fast on rocks but i love em! Also id take a fresh picture for you but my lights are off already.