What are good beginner corals

[William Norman]

Also my list of beginner corals are based on growing your coral list later and having places to put them.

Ricordea mushrooms florida not yumas.
Disc mushrooms, if on their own rock at least easy to remove them unlike kenya trees.

Photosynthetic gorgorians.
As long as they have enough flow these are almost unkillable.

I like Gareth's suggestions. you can find cheaper discosoma mushrooms that add great color while you dial in your parms and learn to keep everything stable.

Couple things to consider. Many of the soft corals can be a nuisance later on. So read up on what they are prior to diving in. For example I had to move my leathers away from my LPS due to chemical coral warfare. Even though I run carbon, they were killing all my new lps.

Here is a great video from Tidal Gardens. Than does a great job of explaining it all.



I don't know your budget, but I do think many people spend way too much on lighting initially. Consider buying lights that you can enhance as you go. Maybe buying T5s (softies do very well under them) now and then adding LEDs as you need and you move to more light demanding corals.

Suggest you read the sticky threads on https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/new-to-saltwater-reef-aquariums-post-here.130/ especially on QT. It will save you heartache and expense down the road. - https://humble.fish/quarantine/ - Humble fish is one of the foremost experts on QT.

The Beginner series is great:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/checklist-before-you-start-your-first-saltwater-aquarium.603703/
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/decisions-decisions-decisions-part-1.679/
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/decisions-decisions-decisions-part-2.680/
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/decisions-decisions-decisions-part-3.686/

 

[Stang67]

I started with a frag of 6 green dragon eye zoa's and an unknown mushroom the size of a pencil erasure. that was 60 days ago. the zoa has doubled its head count and the mushroom is the size of a half dollar.
I will agree with the others that the light is key with corals. Most important thing is to GO SLOW.

 

[tupes]

You have had some good responses here. I'm only going to second ditch the marine loop light and go for a SB led light, viparspectra, or MarsAqua. I think you will be happier

 

[Phycodurus]

welcome morgan!

i will respectfully point out that the following hardy corals can get invasive, so definitely read up well on each new type that catches your interest. best advice i've ever gotten is to just go slow with the acquisitions: Anthelia, Briareum (green star polyps), Capnella (kenya tree coral), Clavularia (clove polyps), Knopia (jasmine polyps), Sansibia (blue xenia), Xenia. Discosoma mushrooms too.


most of all, have fun!!



cheers!
rick :)

 

[ChiSox Rabbitfish]

Candy canes
Xenia
Mushrooms
Green star polyps
Zoas
Leathers
Blasmo
Those are my go to start up corals

 

[Morgan Rodgers]

I like Gareth's suggestions. you can find cheaper discosoma mushrooms that add great color while you dial in your parms and learn to keep everything stable.

Couple things to consider. Many of the soft corals can be a nuisance later on. So read up on what they are prior to diving in. For example I had to move my leathers away from my LPS due to chemical coral warfare. Even though I run carbon, they were killing all my new lps.

Here is a great video from Tidal Gardens. Than does a great job of explaining it all.



I don't know your budget, but I do think many people spend way too much on lighting initially. Consider buying lights that you can enhance as you go. Maybe buying T5s (softies do very well under them) now and then adding LEDs as you need and you move to more light demanding corals.

Suggest you read the sticky threads on https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/new-to-saltwater-reef-aquariums-post-here.130/ especially on QT. It will save you heartache and expense down the road. - https://humble.fish/quarantine/ - Humble fish is one of the foremost experts on QT.

The Beginner series is great:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/checklist-before-you-start-your-first-saltwater-aquarium.603703/
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/decisions-decisions-decisions-part-1.679/
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/decisions-decisions-decisions-part-2.680/
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/decisions-decisions-decisions-part-3.686/

Actually I happen to be getting the marine orbit

 

[Morgan Rodgers]

You have had some good responses here. I'm only going to second ditch the marine loop light and go for a SB led light, viparspectra, or MarsAqua. I think you will be happier

Well the only reason I wouldn’t get any of these lights is that I don’t have the money to get multiple sb led lights, I don’t know how to hang the viparspectra and the marsaqua

 

[tupes]

Well the only reason I wouldn’t get any of these lights is that I don’t have the money to get multiple sb led lights, I don’t know how to hang the viparspectra and the marsaqua

Understood.

Would you mind posting a photo of your tank and where is is at? I was able to add a small shelf above mine to add the hanging kit and its very worth the effort. Especially if you think you might want to upgrade in the future. I purchased the viparspectra and am very happy with it. Attached is a photo of mine. PLEASE IGNORE THE OLD TANK. ;)

 

[Morgan Rodgers]

Understood.

Would you mind posting a photo of your tank and where is is at? I was able to add a small shelf above mine to add the hanging kit and its very worth the effort. Especially if you think you might want to upgrade in the future. I purchased the viparspectra and am very happy with it. Attached is a photo of mine. PLEASE IGNORE THE OLD TANK. ;)

Well the tank is not going to be able to be attached to anything because the ceilings are so high up