Coral advice

[MrsPeet15]

Hi guys,

 

So it's got to that time where we are looking at gathering some corals in our tank to really bring it to life we have had stable water parameters, temp, salinity (apart from a few days when I failed to top up with RO and it seemed to spike - bad Rhainnon) and we have successfully kept an emerald, two sexies, two nassarius and a leather. Our new light is on its way (which will take us from 4 LEDs to 24 - has been vetted by our reef friend and deemed perfect) so we have turned our attention to corals for the tank.

I've had a look on liveaquaria to research and find some that might be appropriate for us. Our tank is 15l and as I say we already have a leather which I am aware are prone to chemical warfare so everything will be kept well apart and I don't want to overcrowd it. So far I have whittled down to:

 

Red candy cap

Blue ridge coral

Candy cane

Green polyp Duncan

 

These are all corals I like the look of but feel we are capable of keeping in our current set up.

 

I just wanted some advice on the above and any other corals that might be suitable I.e easy to keep for a beginner, not too sweepy on a night time etc. I expect Clown79 will be along with some well received knowledge

 

It breaks my heart to see these incredible animals depleting so drastically in the wild. I'd feel so terrible if I contributed to the death of a coral through poor knowledge and lack of research.

 

Thanks all!

[fishfreak0114]

Some others are Zoanthids, hammer, GSP (but it can grow out of control), mushrooms, and other leathers. That's what comes to mind as of right now. The Duncan and candy cane are great! I have both and love them.

[DocReef]

Duncans are super hardy and grow nicely with minimal care.

[Nano sapiens]

In these small tanks of limited water volume, the soft corals are generally the ones to be careful of since many species can produce toxins at quite a distance away that are typically very toxic to stony corals. Ways that aquarists use to mitigate this are to use some activated carbon (replaced every few months, at least), protein skimmers and frequent water changes (some or all of these choices)

 

Most other corals do have other offensive strategies, but they can be managed with proper placement, barriers, aquarist physical intervention, etc.. Slow growing corals without sweeper tentacles are the most nano reef friendly. You'll want to be cautious with those that have longer sweeper tentacles (i.e.: 'Chalices', 'Scolys', some 'Acan' types, etc.) and it's often best to keep these and any other fast growing/invasive species in their own separate areas.

 

As for your choices, any can be fine when placed in appropriate (for the species) locations. Red Caps are fast growing, plating and will rapidly shade whatever is underneath it, so placement is crucial. Good thing is that you can easily break off the edges to trim, when necessary, usually without issues. The rest are good starter corals, with the 'Blue Ridge Coral' being perhaps a little bit more challenging than the rest.

 

Mushroom (aka 'false corals') are the great for beginning reef aquarist and they are still one of my favorites. Discosomma sp. are the easiest, but once established can be difficult to manage (best on their own rock, really). Rhodactis are great and typically not quite as invasive. Ricordia florida are perhaps a bit more challenging, but still not 'difficult' (usually) and they are even less invasive than either of the former two. Ricordia yuma can be relatively easy if captive raised, but often very challenging if freshly imported from the wild.

 

Zoanthids and Palythoa can be great starter corals and can be very fast gowing, sometimes to the point of overtaking/shading other encrusting corals like Montipora and the semi-encrusting Blue Ridge. They can also suffer from being eaten by large adult amphipods, but this typically doesn't occur in tanks with fish that keep their numbers in check.

[MrsPeet15]

Yay! Such brilliant advice once again from everyone. Ok so Duncan's are definitely looking like a good choice. I love love love mushrooms and my friend has some lovely neon green ones she said she'd frag for me if I want. I have a skimmer on this set up but it is pretty small so I will start reading up on carbon, thanks for the advice Nano sapiens! I do love the candy canes too so I think those and Duncan's will be my starting post! I love the red caps but if it's a rapid grower I think I'd soon lose control of it in such a small tank? Thanks so much for the advice once again guys.

[fishfreak0114]

I'm not sure you'd lose control because it an e fragged, but with rapid growth it would probably take up its fair share of calcium.

[Clown79]

Lol. I agree, I hate seeing what is happening to our oceans.

 

I personally feel that our hobby will aid in the survival of reefs.

 

 

I love leathers. Great choice. I have never had issues with chemical warfare. Run good carbon in your filter and it will help remove anything it may secrete. Don't keep them too close to each other.

 

The only thing about leathers is- they are moody.lol. when touched or peeved they close up, shrink, and look like death itself- don't get worried if this happens.

Leathers wax over and stay closed for days to shed detritus and then when they open up- its bigger.

 

Leathers like flow and they like light. I have never owned a leather that did well in low light.

When happy they grow quickly but easy to frag when they outgrow the tank.

My fav is yellow fiji leather but its the harder one to keep- meaning it really likes light.

 

You will be fine with most corals. I find most very tolerable of various conditions. There are a few that are finicky and best either in the ocean or with experts.

 

Hammers and frogspawn are great corals. I love the movement and colours. Frogspawn come in various forms. I have an octopus frogspawn in my 10g- it has no sweepers but my golden frogspawn in my 15g could compete with a torch- its stung my gsp, the sweepers are very long.

 

I love torches but I hesitate adding it in a small tank because their sweepers are 6-7".

 

Brains- fantastic coral with so many options in form and colours. These like lower/moderate light so they are great for the bottom/substrate. Be careful if you have peppermint shrimp- mine decemated 3 brains in a week.

 

Chalice is a nice coral, it encrusts what it grows on. Its delicate when touched or moved but definitely a nice addition thats not hard to keep.

 

Duncans are great. They have a really nice look and not finicky at all. The green looks different in every tank.

 

Zoas- one of my favs. Very quick spreading when happy. Easy to keep, some like a lot of light while others like moderate to low. If they are stretching and long- they need more light.

 

Mushromms- i luv them, especially yumas and ricordia...these two cannot be next to each other. Very easy to keep these two and slow growers. I love the bubble look of them

 

Gsp- i love it. I love the colour and movement. Mine took 7 mnths to start to spread and it hasn't taken over yet.

To avoid take over- this coral should be on its own rock or glued on the back wall.

 

Xenia- this can be fast growing but well worth it in my opinion. They are so pretty and the pumping action is hypnotic. These are easily fragged so it can be controlled. Keep on seperate rock or even the back wall.

 

Trumpets are easy and add nice colours.

 

Lobo's - great coral. They have some really cool colours. These need to be in the substrate as the rock can tear the flesh, they like moderate light.

 

Blastos- absolutely one of my favs. They have so many colours its hard to choose only 1. They prefer rockwork, moderate light and moderate flow.

 

I would avoid the following

 

Carnation leather- very difficult to keep which sucks because its gorgeous!

Gorgonians- need pristine conditions, more difficult than sps

Sun corals- need feeding for each head which creates a lot of waste

Exellence- very difficult to maintain, very delicate coral

 

 

Dendrophyllia- beautiful, fairly easy but needs feeding as its non photosynthetic. If you don't mind feeding it 1-2x a week its a good choice. Very pretty- comes in pink, yellows, or orange.

 

Anemones- definitely wait for the tank to mature. I love them but personally don't want to deal with the negatives of keeping them.

 

Sps- wait for the tank to mature/stabilize before adding these. Birdnest is fairly hardy and some Montiporas.

 

If you have any specific questions don't hesitate

[Hammerstone]

Clown,

 

This is a great post you made about corals. There are so many and iam still so new with them I don't really know what's out there or there personalities. You should make a coral thread and someone should pin it.

 

Thanks!!! ???

[Nano sapiens]

Mushromms- i luv them, especially yumas and ricordia...these two cannot be next to each other. Very easy to keep these two and slow growers. I love the bubble look of them

 

 

Ricordia florida and Ricordia yuma are fine together. Some Rhodactis and Rics, not so much...

[Clown79]

Everything i've read say yumas and rics aren't but there are ppl who have success.

Same thing with euphyllia's, some have no issues with them and others report torches stinging other euphyllia's.

 

I'm certain we all have different experiences with various species.

 

My gsp aren't taking over but growing amongst zoas, others have the total opposite experirnce- i often wonder why?

[Nano sapiens]

Everything i've read say yumas and rics aren't but there are ppl who have success.

Same thing with euphyllia's, some have no issues with them and others report torches stinging other euphyllia's.

 

I'm certain we all have different experiences with various species.

 

My gsp aren't taking over but growing amongst zoas, others have the total opposite experirnce- i often wonder why?

 

To be clear, 'Yumas' are a Ricordia species from the Pacific. 'Floridas' are a Ricordia species from the Atlantic.

 

They are both 'Rics' and so similar in their genetics and had a direct common ancestor before the oceans were separated many millions of years ago.

 

I've actually never read of any issues directly attributed to aggression between these two species from a trustworthy source.

 

From personal experience, in over 30 years of reef keeping I've never seen any aggression between the two species when kept together in my tanks.

 

Could it happen that two particular specimens don't like each other? Anythings possible in nature

[Hammerstone]

How about Acans? How are they?

[Bcb577]

Yay! Such brilliant advice once again from everyone. Ok so Duncan's are definitely looking like a good choice. I love love love mushrooms and my friend has some lovely neon green ones she said she'd frag for me if I want. I have a skimmer on this set up but it is pretty small so I will start reading up on carbon, thanks for the advice Nano sapiens! I do love the candy canes too so I think those and Duncan's will be my starting post! I love the red caps but if it's a rapid grower I think I'd soon lose control of it in such a small tank? Thanks so much for the advice once again guys.

I just bought some candy cane corals a col days ago,they are gorgeous,and are a neon green,especially when the night light goes on,I've had them for about 24 hours now and I fed them some brine shrimp tonight which they quickly ate,you'll love them if you get them!!

[Clown79]

Well I wish I had known that! I seperated my rics and yumas due to all i read.

 

Either way- awesome mushrooms

[MrsPeet15]

Wow this is fabulous, so much advice again! So were visiting wharfe aquatics at the end of the month which is practically a saltwater superstore, I'm going to take the lists you guys have been so kind to take the time to write for me so I can keep an eye out whilst I'm there and see what I like visually - it's a good opportunity to see what these corals look like in real life as my friend only has a few of the ones listed. I thought I'd post, our new light came today. It's pretty much facing the room right now as its so bright we're going to have to move it into a horizontal position very gradually! Anyway here are some pics, as you can see on the right the light quality is already tonnes better, and we have full blue mode now too!

 

Bcb577 glad to hear you like them, I do hope I'll be able to get them I think they are great corals! Id love to see pics?

Clown,

 

This is a great post you made about corals. There are so many and iam still so new with them I don't really know what's out there or there personalities. You should make a coral thread and someone should pin it.

 

Thanks!!! ???

Agreed!

Please excuse the messy substrate I'm due to water change and pick some bits out!

[Bcb577]

Here's the pic you wanted!I only bought two heads but I'm directly feeding them,hopefully will get some quick growth!

[MrsPeet15]

Yeah! They look great, love the colour! I love the neon greens. Can't wait to see how they get on!

[Clown79]

Your tank looks good. Nice rock, theres good colour on it.

 

I don't think your sand looks messy at all.

 

Have fun at the store- you'll be there for hrs!

[MrsPeet15]

Thanks Clown79 we're all changed up and had a good session picking up all the waste ends from the fan worms so it's looking a little tidier now! We got our first (and only for this tank) fish on Friday, I posted a pic of him here:

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/374092-hi-from-a-newbie/page-2#entry5360934

Visit to the LFS is nearing, really excited to get some little frags. This visit I hope to get a candy cane and a Duncan. BF is fragging a mushroom for us

[Clown79]

I love the clown goby. Really cute fish- nice colours too.

 

I bet you come home with more than candy canes and duncans!

[HarryPotter]

What light is that?

[MrsPeet15]

What light is that?

It's not a branded light, just a cheap thing we got off eBay to keep us going for the time being. Don't want to buy anything really spectacular just yet as we will be upgrading our tank when we get back from Malaysia next year.

[AVReefer]

Just wanted to jump in to say thanks for some really solid suggestions and advice from Clown79 and Nano Sapeins in this thread. I am also just starting out my tank and this is very pertinent info.

 

Also, of course good luck to MrsPeet15! Setup looks good so far.

[Nano sapiens]

How about Acans? How are they?

 

Didn't see this (helps to use the 'Quote' option to alert the person to your post).

 

There are many species in the 'Acan' (Acanthastrea) genus with currently 21 species in this genus per the 'Corals of the World' online database). The most popular in the hobby is Acanthastrea lordhowensis (aka 'Acan Lords'). I've had no dificulty keeping Lords together, but can't vouch for any of the other species. Acanthastrea echinata is also commonly available, but is known to be particulary aggressive and caution is advised.

[Nano sapiens]

Just wanted to jump in to say thanks for some really solid suggestions and advice from Clown79 and Nano Sapeins in this thread. I am also just starting out my tank and this is very pertinent info.

 

Also, of course good luck to MrsPeet15! Setup looks good so far.

 

No problem and hope all goes well.