Are Ricordeas too tough for beginners?

[theclearblue]

I'm currently a little less than three weeks into cycling my 10 gallon nano, and I plan to start putting in a few corals in at the five to six week mark. I'd like to start researching the care of corals I plan to keep, and based on my initial impressions I'd like to be able to keep some ricordea for two reasons:

 

1) The colors are really appealing (I'm not all that enchanted by zoos I can find locally).

2) I can order really nice rics from Palmetto Reefs with ground shipping and save tons of cash.

 

I'm planning to either use the CSL 2x40w or a 70w 20k metal halide setup. (Let me know what you think would be better for ricordea - I'm ordering lighting this week!)

 

I know most people recommend starting with mushrooms and zoos as beginner corals. As a beginner, are ricordea out of my league? I know that I may need to feed them silversides, but I'd like to know what everyone thinks.

[reefsrule]

imo they are easy to keep. I thought ricordea were mushrooms?

[theclearblue]

Well in that case... I'm a moron. Thanks.

[Isaka]

They aren't as hardy as normal mushrooms, but they are still fine for beginner corals. You don't even have to feed them, but it will help promote growth and splitting. I spot feed mine mysis shrimp a few times a month. Also I think general consensus is ric's like more light than normal shrooms. Hope that helps.

[TheEvilbbug]

I just fed my Ricordia 8 silversides!,,,,,, oh wait that was my Lion Fish, lol!

[bones_bones]

Just tagging along. How much light do they require? Would 20 watts 50/50 over my 5 gallon minibow be enough?

[lefou]

Should be fine at that level. They need slightly more light that other mushrooms, but you don't have to be drastic.

 

And do feed them a bit of mysis once in a while. Happiness is a full stomach.

[bones_bones]

Thanks! I've got some other mushrooms as well as some button polyps that all seem to be doing great. I passed up some sweet little ricordea frags the other day....I didn't know enough about them. I'm going to have to go back now and see if it's still there!

[MrKrispy]

rics are great! If they are attached to some rubble just throw it on the substrate. If you have some base rock throw em on it. After a month or so, or if they are already large, give them some mysis once in a while, they love it.