Best coral for beginners?

Just wanted to update so I can keep track of the growth in the tank and the new items added.

Today, I believe I ****ed my hammer coral off (which has been doing AWESOME) because I moved it and it definitely stung my hand.

I also moved some rock around and bought three new corals (hairy mushroom, neon green candy cane, and a Kenya tree).

I am still not completely sure on the placement of everything and also bought a new rock to add into the equation, so I will update when that gets put in as well.

Any suggestions on the placement of my hammer and candy cane coral???
 

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Start everything off in the sand, then you can move them to the areas the particular corals prefer.. The hammer will always want the sand, it like med light and low flow. The Kenya tree will eventually like moderate to heavy flow and med to high light, warning on the Kenya tree is they will shed not only their skin so on those days they'll look sick but they will drop branches. You can glue the drops off on pieces of lr rubble or on frag discs.

Green candy cane will be in the middle of the spectrum med light and low to med flow. The mushrooms like pretty much anything.

One thing to remember is NEVER glue a coral where you want it as soon as you put it in your tank. Never glue them in place until you have found a spot they are happiest in.

Hope this helps
 
Thank you....that helps a ton!!!! Will be putting the candy cane in the sand tonight. I don't like the frag things they are all glued on, but I'd much rather leave them on those instead of trying to pry them off. I just don't really like the idea of gluing them for some reason.

I was told at the LFS today that they have some kind of putty type stuff I can use instead, but I will try that after I start them off in the sand and then find a spot good for them.
 
dkuhlmann said:
start everything off in the sand, then you can move them to the areas the particular corals prefer.. The hammer will always want the sand, it like med light and low flow. The kenya tree will eventually like moderate to heavy flow and med to high light, warning on the kenya tree is they will shed not only their skin so on those days they'll look sick but they will drop branches. You can glue the drops off on pieces of lr rubble or on frag discs.

Green candy cane will be in the middle of the spectrum med light and low to med flow. The mushrooms like pretty much anything.

One thing to remember is never glue a coral where you want it as soon as you put it in your tank. Never glue them in place until you have found a spot they are happiest in.

Hope this helps
Click to expand...

+1
 
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Just added more than likely our last fish (yellow watchman goby) today.
And while we were there (LFS) went ahead and picked up some pretty blue mushrooms as well since they were half off.

Just posting to keep track of new things added!
 
That appears to be Cyano between your mushrooms. See if it scratches off easily.

Love the yellow watchman, I have one on my bucketlist
 
This has been a great thread, very helpful. I'm also hoping to start getting corals in a few weeks, just waiting for lights before I can get started.
 
Not sure if you're asking me or Kasra but I plan on ordering the mars aqua LEDs in the next week or two. For my budget that's the best option.
 
Hey Dkuhlmann, I believe you are correct, it comes right off. Also, after examining the rock closer, I noticed this on it:
73f5b1d3b41051726d4a9031ecb324b0.jpg


Please tell me this is not aptasia!! I will so take the whole rock right back to the LFS tomorrow morning if so!!!
 
Thats not aipistasia. It's another type of anenome, can't remember the name but they aren't terrible.. They usually stay in the shady parts of a tank. I'll try and look up what they are called. I have a few in my tank that have been there at least a year and they are still the size of a dime. I say they like shade, as that's what mine do, and you usually won't even know there in your tank cause they tend to grow on the back side of the rock out of the light.
Edit : Pseudocorynactis
 
As to your original questions, you can easily remove most coral from frag plugs. Either with a razor blade, or just breaking them off. Candy cane's and frogspawn you can prolly just snap off no problem. If you ever dabble in SPS you have to be much more delicate with them as the skeleton itself breaks like it was made of paper. If you like kenya trees those are super easy and spread like wildfire. Most polyps, zoa's are easy as well. I really like mushrooms but in my tanks I've never had good luck with them spreading. They don't die, but they don't grow either. I have 1 that I got about 18 months ago that is the exact same size as when I purchased it. Ricordea shrooms are also nice and I have had good luck with them. I have a hammer, frogspawn, and candy cane, with mixed results. They seem to be more tempermental when it comes to flow/lighting. If you like trachyophylia's, those are also nice and relatively easy and you don't gotta worry about gluing them in. As to your putty question, they sell reef glues, but a lot of normal super glues work also. You just put some on the bottom of the coral/frag plug and then place it on the rock and hold it for 30 secs or so.
 
One thing to remember is that your LFS wants your business and to be a happy and repeat customer. If they sell you a coral that dies...you may be hesitant about buying from them again.

My fist trip to the LFS was that th recommended some corals that were a nuisance like a Kenya Tree and plays/zoas. The Kenyas grow like mad, and palys can produce a neurotoxin that can be potentially dangerous. Definitely read the sticky about Palytoxin.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1858696&highlight=palytoxins

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2515630

My first corals were Yumas/Ricordea mushrooms, and my second was a Scolymia. Both are fairly easy to keep, look nice, and hardy.

Also....buy some Revive coral dip. Dip every coral that goes into your tank. Some say mushrooms don't take well to dipping....but I mix Revive at like 1/2 strength for my Yumas, and have never had a problem. Just don't dip for too long....5 minutes is fine.
 
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So, I bought two "peppermint shrimp" from a lfs that I don't typically go to ((I know, silly me)), and after just three short days, my mushroom rock of two beautiful blue mushrooms had been eaten. :-( ((the mushrooms, not the rock of course))

My question now is, do these mushrooms even stand a chance of growing back? This is a picture of just one, the other is on the opposite side. I very quickly got rid of the "peppermint shrimp" and have no interest in getting any more.

View attachment 331356
 
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