Need some soft coral suggestions :)

[Mike1995]

I already have a bunch of zoas. So can I get some suggestions for other easier soft corals? My lighting is considered low to moderate by saltwater standards. So anything that would be okay under that :) also with any suggestions, please mention what placement in the tank would be best . (I have a 75g)

I don't intend to actually buy any right away but I just wanna have some ideas :)

 

[Oscaror]

I already have a bunch of zoas. So can I get some suggestions for other easier soft corals? My lighting is considered low to moderate by saltwater standards. So anything that would be okay under that :) also with any suggestions, please mention what placement in the tank would be best . (I have a 75g)

I don't intend to actually buy any right away but I just wanna have some ideas :)

Rhodactis mushrooms are very cool looking and easy to keep

 

[Mike1995]

Do you have any pictures by chance? :)

 

[Chrysus]

Kenya Trees are a nice easy one. Green Star polyps are another basic, although they have been know to grow out of control haha. I’ve never had that issue with mine, even when they are in contact with other rocks, but some people have them growing everywhere.

You could also look at some NPS like dendrophyllia or a duncan. They’re nice and add a different look than softies, you just need to feed them.

Any of the above could be placed pretty much anywhere in the tank, but I’d probably put a Kenya Tree on the ground and star polyps up on a rock.

 

[Mike1995]

Kenya Trees are a nice easy one. Green Star polyps are another basic, although they have been know to grow out of control haha. I’ve never had that issue with mine, even when they are in contact with other rocks, but some people have them growing everywhere.

You could also look at some NPS like dendrophyllia or a duncan. They’re nice and add a different look than softies, you just need to feed them.

Any of the above could be placed pretty much anywhere in the tank, but I’d probably put a Kenya Tree on the ground and star polyps up on a rock.

Hmm. I'll look at those! :)
Are hammer corals (is that what they're called?) easy to keep?

 

[Oscaror]

Do you have any pictures by chance? :)

Basic green (p much lowest tier):

Superman (mid tier):

High tier:

Some rhodactis develop bubbles from the fuzzy areas (usually under high intensity blue lighting) and are regarded as bounce mushrooms, this is when they start getting very desirable, expensive, and cool looking:

And the WWC OG Bounce mushroom is pretty much the highest tier rhodactis there is, and also the mushroom which started the bounce craze:

I hope this gives you an idea of the variety of color and texture that rhodactis mushrooms can exhibit. Being one of the easiest corals to keep in a reef tank I highly recommend picking up some nice color morphs to add some pop and texture to your tank ;)

 

[Chrysus]

Are hammer corals (is that what they're called?) easy to keep?

I’ve had very good experiences with them. Ours very slowly grew a new head in a 5gal tank with a flourescent desk light that was plagued with brittle stars and Cyanobacteria. It only died when a brittle star eventually grew up through the middle of it. :( Oh, water changes were almost never done and nitrates were well over 200ppm by the end as well.... It did very well considering the conditions.

 

[NB Reefer]

Mushrooms of any kind should be inexpensive and easy. Duncan corals are great. I would stay away from NPS or non-photo-synthetic corals they require specialized feeding. Toadstool and leather corals are also a great place to start. Green star polyps like mentioned above are easy but can slowly take over. Keyna trees can be worse than GSP, green star polyps in regards to invading a tank since they send saplings out that can take root all over the tank vs GSP which just grow from where they are placed.

 

[Coastie Reefer]

Sinulara. Nepthea. Leathers. All good soft corals.

 

[Mike1995]

I’ve had very good experiences with them. Ours very slowly grew a new head in a 5gal tank with a flourescent desk light that was plagued with brittle stars and Cyanobacteria. It only died when a brittle star eventually grew up through the middle of it. :( Oh, water changes were almost never done and nitrates were well over 200ppm by the end as well.... It did very well considering the conditions.

Mushrooms of any kind should be inexpensive and easy. Duncan corals are great. I would stay away from NPS or non-photo-synthetic corals they require specialized feeding. Toadstool and leather corals are also a great place to start. Green star polyps like mentioned above are easy but can slowly take over. Keyna trees can be worse than GSP, green star polyps in regards to invading a tank since they send saplings out that can take root all over the tank vs GSP which just grow from where they are placed.

Sinulara. Nepthea. Leathers. All good soft corals.

Thanks everyone :)
I saw one online called a toadstool leather. Would that fall under the leather coral category?

 

[Mike1995]

Basic green (p much lowest tier):

Superman (mid tier):

High tier:

Some rhodactis develop bubbles from the fuzzy areas (usually under high intensity blue lighting) and are regarded as bounce mushrooms, this is when they start getting very desirable, expensive, and cool looking:

And the WWC OG Bounce mushroom is pretty much the highest tier rhodactis there is, and also the mushroom which started the bounce craze:

I hope this gives you an idea of the variety of color and texture that rhodactis mushrooms can exhibit. Being one of the easiest corals to keep in a reef tank I highly recommend picking up some nice color morphs to add some pop and texture to your tank ;)

Oh wow! I love those colors! What might the low to mid tier cost?

 

[Coastie Reefer]

Thanks everyone :)
I saw one online called a toadstool leather. Would that fall under the leather coral category?

Yep leathers are leathers but have different shapes and growth patterns and called by various names. Toadstool. Finger. Devils hand. Etc

 

[Reefbuds]

I have always loved Kenya tree coral and mushrooms. Super easy. I also have a Duncan that survived being buried under the sand for 2 months. It came back from a thread of yellow color deep within the skeleton to colored up green and growing 2 new heads. Absolutely incredible.

 

[Oscaror]

Oh wow! I love those colors! What might the low to mid tier cost?

The low such as green is cheap probably just a few dollars. Superman rhodactis I've seen around 40 bucks. Similar tier shrooms should be similar prices.

 

[Mike1995]

I have always loved Kenya tree coral and mushrooms. Super easy. I also have a Duncan that survived being buried under the sand for 2 months. It came back from a thread of yellow color deep within the skeleton to colored up green and growing 2 new heads. Absolutely incredible.

Oh wow :D

 

[Reefbuds]

Oh wow :D

It was crazy dude. I was cleaning hair algae from the sand bed and found it under the sand. I had assumed its death. I noticed a tiny spec of Zooanthelle inside the skeleton and decided to give it a chance. A couple weeks later its polyps completely grew back and it is now growing new heads and flourishing. Incredible how life survives man. It is awsome looking at this thing everyday and knowing how it "hibernated" and fought to survive until the chance to recover and flourish. Amazing man!!

 

[Mike1995]

It was crazy dude. I was cleaning hair algae from the sand bed and found it under the sand. I had assumed its death. I noticed a tiny spec of Zooanthelle inside the skeleton and decided to give it a chance. A couple weeks later its polyps completely grew back and it is now growing new heads and flourishing. Incredible how life survives man. It is awsome looking at this thing everyday and knowing how it "hibernated" and fought to survive until the chance to recover and flourish. Amazing man!!

That is really amazing! You said that's a Kenya tree??

 

[Reefbuds]

That is really amazing! You said that's a Kenya tree??

No no, the Duncan LPS

 

[Katrina71]

Where are you located? A lot of reefers would probably give you mushrooms.

 

[Mike1995]

Where are you located? A lot of reefers would probably give you mushrooms.

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