New to reefing and looking to get beginner corals

[AVVITT]

My tank has been established for 3 months and in the next few weeks I'd like to take the plunge in getting my first corals.

I have a few questions, not because I've not done any research but because I'm a bit overwhelmed/undecided on the best answer as to what corals to start with, what I need to test for (and where those parameters need to be)
Also anything in particular to watch for?

Here where I'm at......

So far I'm a bit put off Zoas because they grow fast, my rockscape is all joined so I'm worried it will go crazy and take over not leaving any room for other corals when I'm ready to go further.

I like the look of a few toadstool leathers my lfs has there so I'm very interested in getting one of those.
Some mushrooms look ok so may go with those too and star polyps look pretty cool.

From what I can gather, the ones I've mentioned are pretty good beginner corals so what advice can you offer me based on what I've said so far and what does my water need to be like (i.e. additives and parameters?)

Thanks!

 

[Jekyl]

Do not let star polyps anywhere near your main structure. Rest all seem like good ideas.

 

[AVVITT]

Do star polyps go crazy growing too?

 

[Jekyl]

Eventually my entire right side will be green

 

[AVVITT]

Anyone else got any good advice?

 

[Jekyl]

Zoas, mushrooms, leathers, xenia are all easy. See how those do for a month and then get into hammers, frogspawn, acan, torches

 

[Rmckoy]

Essentially ..
mushrooms and star polyps will both grow and take over the general area . The first tank I set up I bought all my rocks from a guy closing his tank .
the entire tank was covered in purple mushrooms and gsp

I’d suggest a few lps . Easier such as hammer , acans , favia .

as for test kits .
you will need to test calcium , alkalinity , magnesium and salinity ( specific gravity )
Along with temp

nitrate and phosphates will be the next group of tests needed as they will be used a lot as well .
Do yourself good and grab good quality tests .
such as salifert , Hanna ,

 

[hds4216]

There's also things like duncans and bubble corals. A duncan was my first coral and I love it. Super hardy, look really cool, honestly a perfect coral (as long as you like green).

 

[gentlefish]

Duncan, Stylopora, Birdnest.

 

[Rmckoy]

Duncan, Stylopora, Birdnest.

As a first coral .
I don’t agree with birdsnest or stylo

starting with sps as a first coral isn’t always the best suggestion

 

[gentlefish]

Rmckoy may well have a point. But if you want to try sticks, it would still be my first choice.

 

[Rmckoy]

Rmckoy may well have a point. But if you want to try sticks, it would still be my first choice.

I’d personally recommend trying others such as soft corals or even lps while waiting for the system to mature and stabilize .

 

[AVVITT]

Thanks for all the feedback so far. I'm am only looking at soft corals to start with. Do I need to dose calcium for soft corals? I thought that was only for the skeleton to form on hard corals?

 

[Revnobody]

Pink Nepthea, Sinularia, Blue Cespitularia are good choices. Zoanthids are far less invasive than green star polyps.

 

[Rmckoy]

Thanks for all the feedback so far. I'm am only looking at soft corals to start with. Do I need to dose calcium for soft corals? I thought that was only for the skeleton to form on hard corals?

you shouldn’t need to dose anything for awhile unless you have coralline algae .

 

[Revnobody]

Nitrate​

• Target value: 1-5 ppm (25 ppm Max)
• Levels above 25 ppm can be lethal to fish and coral

Phosphate​

• Target value: 0.02ppm – 0.05ppm
• A value of zero can contribute to dinoflagellates

Calcium​

• Target value: 420-450 ppm
• Low values can affect the health and growth rate of corals

Magnesium​

• Target value: 1200-1400 ppm
• Low values will inhibit coral calcification

pH​

• Target value: 7.8 – 8.6 pH

Alkalinity​

• Target value: 8 – 10 dKH

Salinity​

• Target value: 34 – 36 ppt or 1.024 – 1.026 SG
• Best test: Refractometer

 

[Born2beblack]

Duncans
Zoas are great idk why people are getting this bad idea over them
Favias not all
Acans not all

If you can keep your parameters stable you can start with almost anything but lps and softies will be your best bet

As for zoas taking your rocks over i wouldnt say they all grow like that.
Gsp will take that entire tank if the rocks connect
Theres a branching gsp it is easier ro mantain and pretty cool.

Mushrooms will take your tank
Xenia will take your tank

I saw some one post the parameters above and if you can keeo those stable your gonna work wonders

 

[toadstool_paradise]

Toadstools are amazing and come in different shapes and polyp sizes. Easy to care for. Mushrooms: discosoma can take over a tank quick, I find rhodactis to be slower to split and take over. Some Rhodactis mushrooms can be stunning! Highly recommend. Xenia and GSP can take over, use caution on placement. Zoas dont tend to take over. Palythoas tend to take over faster than zoas.

 

[Born2beblack]

Toadstools are amazing and come in different shapes and polyp sizes. Easy to care for. Mushrooms: discosoma can take over a tank quick, I find rhodactis to be slower to split and take over. Some Rhodactis mushrooms can be stunning! Highly recommend. Xenia and GSP can take over, use caution on placement. Zoas dont tend to take over. Palythoas tend to take over faster than zoas.

I agree gotta read what grows fast and slow
I have a red discosoma but it's in my cave doing great
Zias and palys reside on a small rock totall crowded
Itll work out

 

[AVVITT]

Nitrate​

• Target value: 1-5 ppm (25 ppm Max)
• Levels above 25 ppm can be lethal to fish and coral

Phosphate​

• Target value: 0.02ppm – 0.05ppm
• A value of zero can contribute to dinoflagellates

Calcium​

• Target value: 420-450 ppm
• Low values can affect the health and growth rate of corals

Magnesium​

• Target value: 1200-1400 ppm
• Low values will inhibit coral calcification

pH​

• Target value: 7.8 – 8.6 pH

Alkalinity​

• Target value: 8 – 10 dKH

Salinity​

• Target value: 34 – 36 ppt or 1.024 – 1.026 SG
• Best test: Refractometer

Very useful info there. Many thanks!