Can't decide on corals? Ideas please

[c_wags9]

I bought a 55 gallon tank from someone else about 6 months ago. When I bought it the skimmer wasn't working too well.. He had a frogspawn that never looks really happy, a leather coral and a kenyi tree and mushrooms which I have slowly been taking out. I fixed the skimmer about a few months ago and my water quality has been better than it's ever been. I want to get a new lighting fixture but I only have about 260 watt total in mine now. I wanted to look into getting a few more lps corals. I want to get some that are on the easier side to grow. Any idea? Please!!

 

[reefsponge]

Think long term. Are you going to be in this hobby for a while? Are you a quality or quantity guy? Do what you can afford and what you'll really enjoy looking at. There are some amazing favias, acans, leptos. You dictate what takes up that real estate.

 

[Art13]

260 watts sounds like plenty for an lps tank, just make sure they are the right setup, if its t5's, the right bulb combination, if they are halides might need to be raised a bit. make sure the bulbs have been replaced in the last 6 months, after that, browse around and find stuff you like. I know my wife loves anything that waves at her, dun cans, frogspawn, torches, things like that, all i've found easy to take care of, and the duncan will be a fast grower. When i say fast, it won't overtake your tank in a few months, but i'm averaging a new head a month or so. mushrooms, ricorea are also easy to take care of, some have some nice colors. If your looking for more random colors, next would probably be favia and acans. Also, open and maze brains are an option, all fairly easy to take care of, but start slow and slowly build your coral, make sure they are happy before you move on to the next piece.

 

[Pife]

When you start stocking your tank with LPS make sure to be on top of testing your water so that you can replenish what they are using up.

 

[c_wags9]

thanks for the replies.. the fixture is actual compact fluorescent lighting. i do need to replace the bulbs. i wanted to get a new fixture but im not sure if im wanted to spend the money. thats kind of been my decision lately. but if it is doable with my lighting now i might stick with it and try.

 

[chrisfont23]

You can keep leather corals under compact flourescent. I had a few Colt Corals boom in my sump under a simple Home Depot 6500K CFL.

 

[coville]

Maybe try a sun coral, it needs regular feeding but has low lighting requirements. Plus it adds a lot of color

 

[c_wags9]

think any lps would do good under the compact fluorescent?

 

[c_wags9]

or soft corals?

 

[Art13]

A duncan would, i had growth out of mine with just regular flurescent bulbs and regular feedings, 2-3 times a week. same with dendro's and sun corals, they need no light, but they need to be fed just about daily.

 

[Dendro Dude]

When you change the bulbs you may see a difference in your corals health. If your going to upgrade lighting soon though don't waste the extra money buying bulbs.

 

[x1C0DE1x]

I suggest getting a toadstool, they get big and have a very nice flow. They make a good centerpiece, I have 2 in my tank. I also suggest bright colored brain corals, they are really awesome and they get big and puffy when they are happy and its always fun to spot feed them and watch the body and tentacles engulf the brine shrimp. Torch corals and corals similar to that are very nice also, the swaying motion of the tentacles are very nice but they can be finicky at times.

 

[Badlands25]

+1 on the toadstool

 

[c_wags9]

okay thanks, yeah i have always liked the toadstools as well. i think i may get a t5 fixture since i have to replace my bulbs anyway.