Post by Chris4Reef on Sept 5, 2008 10:58:55 GMT -5
When planning a reef tank it is important to know what corals to start out with, their needs, aggressiveness, and size.
Most aquarist start with mushroom and polyp colonies. Mushrooms are usually very easy. They often come attached to live rock but can be grown on frag mounts which they can be cut off and attached to live rock. They dont tend to be aggressive or need additional supplimental feedings. Being photosythic they will need to be in range of lighting. The standard 50/50 or 10K and blue acitnic will be all that is needed for mushrooms. Mushrooms arent the fastest growers IMO but when planning a tank with more corals it would be a good idea to generally place mushrooms in one area and allow them to grow there as appose to growing them all around the tank. Hairy mushrooms, ricordias, and elephant ears are very good to start with.
Polyps are another beginner favorite. They are apart of the cnidera family so they do have toxins that they can release if threaten. most people arent affected but you can get sick if you have open cuts when dealing with these corals. Polyps depending on the species can be fast growing, yellow polyps are often considered a pest due to their fast growingness but for a beginner they make great corals. They are photo but they will benefit from a marine snow shower or phytoplankton additives. polyps are budders so they can take over a rock very quickly. basically you can remove them with a razor blade or frag them. Star polyps,yellow,zoos,and button polyps are very easy for beginners.
Soft corals are another favorite among beginners and advanced keepers. Soft corals can be placed on any rock with expoy or gel. They dont really have any needs other than access to light. standard reef lighting will be enough for most. Toalstools, colts, leathers are all common easy to care for soft corals.
LPS or large stony polyps are more in the advanced range. These corals have different personalities as some are more aggressive than others and they all have different lighting, placement, and water flow requirements. Candy cane corals are genreally the best for beginners. They arent that agressive and can be kept under standard reef lighting. other aggressive LPS include my favorites such as galexia, bubble corals, torch, frogspawn and hammers. The best thing when stocking these corals is to give them at least 5-6 inches of space per coral. They like like supplemental feeding as well as photo.
SPS small stony polyps. Generally the harder corals to keep you will want MH lighting for them. They are easily fragged by cliping off the polyps and attaching them to frag mounts.
Most aquarist start with mushroom and polyp colonies. Mushrooms are usually very easy. They often come attached to live rock but can be grown on frag mounts which they can be cut off and attached to live rock. They dont tend to be aggressive or need additional supplimental feedings. Being photosythic they will need to be in range of lighting. The standard 50/50 or 10K and blue acitnic will be all that is needed for mushrooms. Mushrooms arent the fastest growers IMO but when planning a tank with more corals it would be a good idea to generally place mushrooms in one area and allow them to grow there as appose to growing them all around the tank. Hairy mushrooms, ricordias, and elephant ears are very good to start with.
Polyps are another beginner favorite. They are apart of the cnidera family so they do have toxins that they can release if threaten. most people arent affected but you can get sick if you have open cuts when dealing with these corals. Polyps depending on the species can be fast growing, yellow polyps are often considered a pest due to their fast growingness but for a beginner they make great corals. They are photo but they will benefit from a marine snow shower or phytoplankton additives. polyps are budders so they can take over a rock very quickly. basically you can remove them with a razor blade or frag them. Star polyps,yellow,zoos,and button polyps are very easy for beginners.
Soft corals are another favorite among beginners and advanced keepers. Soft corals can be placed on any rock with expoy or gel. They dont really have any needs other than access to light. standard reef lighting will be enough for most. Toalstools, colts, leathers are all common easy to care for soft corals.
LPS or large stony polyps are more in the advanced range. These corals have different personalities as some are more aggressive than others and they all have different lighting, placement, and water flow requirements. Candy cane corals are genreally the best for beginners. They arent that agressive and can be kept under standard reef lighting. other aggressive LPS include my favorites such as galexia, bubble corals, torch, frogspawn and hammers. The best thing when stocking these corals is to give them at least 5-6 inches of space per coral. They like like supplemental feeding as well as photo.
SPS small stony polyps. Generally the harder corals to keep you will want MH lighting for them. They are easily fragged by cliping off the polyps and attaching them to frag mounts.