What is the perfect, all around, coral for a saltwater reef aquarium?

[Nanojoe]

I'd say Zoanthids as well. Easy and super colorful nearly anyone can keep them!

 

[Cyphastrea Cocktail]

What is the perfect, all around, coral for a saltwater reef aquarium and why?

image via @TSA Corals and one of these is NOT a coral.

Id have to say cyphastrea. Never had any issues even when i had alkalinity spike which damaged all my montipora.

 

[MnFish1]

OK I think I have something everyone will agree with - "the one you can keep alive in your tank"

 

[i cant think]

OK I think I have something everyone will agree with - "the one you can keep alive in your tank"

Yes!
The one you can keep alive and not have brown out - I’m managing to revive my Montipora spoingodes from browning and it’s going great, the feeling it gives me is so relaxing just watching the green fade into the coral again.

 

[DannoOMG]

I guess I have to vote Zoanthid. All of my zoa's are growing (with the exception of the Illuminati Zoa, won't grow and I have given up trying to get it to grow.)

 

[ReefJuice]

Star Polyps. Very tolerant of water conditions, most lighting conditions, can survive higher flows they grow relatively fast, but not so fast that they'll take over your tank, so you can move them, they've got a great contrast in color. A lot of people are saying zoanthids, but some species can release a potentially lethal palytoxin. While it is rare, it's almost impossible to tell if your zoas have them or not.

 

[Waynerock]

Whatever you like is the perfect coral. Tanks are so different you could never have a best. What’s good for the goose is not Necessarily good for the gander

 

[DiloHunter]

Octospawn (Euphyllia yaeyamaensis) They look fantastic, easy to keep, and it was the first photo in my aquarium that actually looked pretty cool.

 

[velvetelvis]

Koji Wada pink nephthea. Exquisite color and form, and easy to keep in spite of looking so delicate. I have 7 frags from 1" to almost 4" tall.

 

[JayFish4004]

In my year in the hobby so far I’ve fallen in love with torch corals from Vivid Aquariums closely followed by my 2 gorgs from KP Aquatics and the birdsnest.

 

[Wasabiroot]

Despite not currently having one, I'd have to add my vote to Duncan corals.
Hardy, tolerant of many different light levels, movement,big fleshy polyps, very fun to feed (very quick feeding responses and eat like pigs), fine with different nutrient levels. Only thing I wish is there were more color variety...if a wholesaler ever comes across an exotic color strain like yellow or red, they will print money.

 

[Wasabiroot]

Yes!
The one you can keep alive and not have brown out - I’m managing to revive my Montipora spoingodes from browning and it’s going great, the feeling it gives me is so relaxing just watching the green fade into the coral again.

For sure! Nothing beats a victory in this hobby. Similar boat here with a neon green. Dosed iron, lowered phosphates, added nitrates, fed consistently

 

[mattdg]

Have to vote for stylophora. Beautiful, colorful, dense polyp, easy to maintain, SPS coral that nearly anyone can keep in any tank.

 

[MikeyG]

I’d have to vote for shrooms:
Colorful
Many forms and growth patterns
Super easy
Very common

My problem:
I can’t keep them alive lol

Mushrooms all the way

 

[Timfish]

Purple Stylo. Hardy, grows well in a wide range of parameters, lighting conditions and temperatures. Tougher than any soft corals I've kept.

 

[Ponterbuck]

Zoas for me 'cause that's what my daughters like and I (as a newbie) haven't killed any yet,,, doh!

For some reason I’m unable to keep zoa alive to save my life!! I have 15 in my tank now that are brown and shrinking so on the way out. I put high light low light and strong and mild to no flow I have very good water parameters so…………

 

[Jimmyneptune]

Plating montipora. Easy to grow, fairly hardy, will grow in a variety of different light, inexpensive and often very impressive to anyone unfamiliar with reef keeping.
If it dies in your care you should be able to easily replace. If you need to frag just break off a chunk. Easy. Colorful. Inexpensive.

 

[jimbo32]

My vote is yes I started my marine life with a fluval evo and first corals I tried were zoas and mushrooms so far 4 tank upgrades I still have them corals just a lot more of them also leather corals easy too grow and even a tank crash can’t kill them

 

[design.maddie]

Without reading a single comment, Duncans. That is my put in every tank coral.

 

[scardall]

Kinda Yes and mostly no. I do have a coral that I could say yes. The reason for yes is that it's high survival ability stamina when conditions are not good. This coral survived power outages of up to 5 days , dino's and alk swings. While other corals and fish have come and gone this coral survived and recovered. The name is a "starlet coral" similar to sea mat.( 20+ years and counting) Their is one more I have , Grand palys. (16+ years) All others as to be the perfect coral are subjective for me. I do have my Favs.

Starlet Coral

Grand palys
These are almost Newbie proof. well almost ha ha ha