Coral suggestions

[timmyus]

Hi guys I would like your opinions on which soft coral I should try and get a hold of. Your imput is much appreciated.
Its for my 1.2 tank

 

[Warr7207]

leathers and star polyps

 

[jacquesb]

Hi timmyus - OK - here's a few suggestions, BUT this depends on your lighting...

At first, I would suggest some of the following - BUT, only add your corals a few weeks later (you can "book" corals so long if you want to at various LFS's - by perhaps paying a deposit for you). Don't get too hasty with actually adding the corals to your tank.

Let the tank's cycle complete first..... The reason for this is that you will get all sorts of algae during this time - and every time that you add something to the tank (live rock, sand, fish, corals, etc) you could most likely have a mini-spike and your cycle basically starts all over again......

BUT, here's the list of corals:
- any leather soft-coral (mushroom/toadstool leather, finger-leather, etc)
- zoanthids
- corralimorphs mushrooms
- star-polyps
- xenia (not the pulsing one, they need more stable and aged aquaria)
- pin-cushion leathers (nice ones these)
- kenya or cauliflower tree (the brownish ones)

Any of these should be hard enough and should / could make your tank look stunning!

 

[timmyus]

Thanks for the advice guys I will have a look at what these look like and dont worry I will not be adding anything yet until I fill my tank with more live rock.

 

[Warr7207]

Thanks for the advice guys I will have a look at what these look like and dont worry I will not be adding anything yet until I fill my tank with more live rock.

Nice, be patient, it is well worth it and less crying :006:

 

[Matt]

Here's quite a nice writeup on some common corals, includes lots of info:
For example:

Bubble Coral

Photo by: Valetta Clements
Scientific Name
Plerogyra (PLEH-ro-JAI-ruh)
Common Names
Bubble, Grape, Octobubble
Region
Red Sea, Indian to central Pacific Ocean Regions
Lighting
Moderate to High, maintains in lower light conditions but the same amount of growth will not be observed.
Aggressiveness
Very aggressive, needs adequate room in the aquarium for growth. P. sinuosa (pictured at left) extends only 1" to 2" sweeper tentacles at night or when feeding whereas P. simplex can extend sweepers up to 6" or more.
Current
Low to Moderate. Under high current conditions this coral will not extend to it's full capacity. High currents can tear the tissue away from the skeleton causing necropsy and many times death. Will expand dramatically in low current conditions.
Hardiness
Excellent. Good for beginners with large enough aquariums to house this very fast growing species. They have been known to double or even triple in size (with good water conditions) in only a few months time. The coral pictured here was the size of a fifty cent piece when fully expanded when it was purchased a little over a year ago. It is now approx. 6" in diameter when expanded.
Placement
Low to Middle regions, not directly under halides.
Valetta Clements

 

[Warr7207]

Here's quite a nice writeup on some common corals, includes lots of info:
For example:

Bubble Coral

Photo by: Valetta Clements
Scientific Name
Plerogyra (PLEH-ro-JAI-ruh)
Common Names
Bubble, Grape, Octobubble
Region
Red Sea, Indian to central Pacific Ocean Regions
Lighting
Moderate to High, maintains in lower light conditions but the same amount of growth will not be observed.
Aggressiveness
Very aggressive, needs adequate room in the aquarium for growth. P. sinuosa (pictured at left) extends only 1" to 2" sweeper tentacles at night or when feeding whereas P. simplex can extend sweepers up to 6" or more.
Current
Low to Moderate. Under high current conditions this coral will not extend to it's full capacity. High currents can tear the tissue away from the skeleton causing necropsy and many times death. Will expand dramatically in low current conditions.
Hardiness
Excellent. Good for beginners with large enough aquariums to house this very fast growing species. They have been known to double or even triple in size (with good water conditions) in only a few months time. The coral pictured here was the size of a fifty cent piece when fully expanded when it was purchased a little over a year ago. It is now approx. 6" in diameter when expanded.
Placement
Low to Middle regions, not directly under halides.
Valetta Clements

Nice link, but stay away from the sps (Small Polyped Stoney) Corals for the moment.

I am finding out they are not easy the like the LPS and softies

 

[timmyus]

Thanks guys forgive my ignorance but I am still new to the different sorts of coral and stuff eg sps, lps and softies. Is it keep these types in the same tank?

 

[timmyus]

Thanks guys forgive my ignorance but I am still new to the different sorts of coral and stuff eg sps, lps and softies. Is it keep these types in the same tank?

... possible I mean

 

[Warr7207]

... possible I mean

Yes it possible. Do research on the different corals and how they effect neighbors if any.

All species have different characteristics with flow, lighting, tank placement and aggression to other types and species of corals.

Check out what you like and ask the forum before purchasing or you willget into trouble like me with my bird's nest.

 

[timmyus]

thanks I will firstly do the research. Tell me all corals with the same characeristics could be held together right. what about temprament? if I go for aggressive should all of them be aggressive type?

 

[Warr7207]

Go with softies first. Hardly, easy to keep don't need loads of lighting and are generally non-aggressive.

Star polyps and leather are a good start and not too expensive