Easiest coral to start with?

[mano]

I'm looking into getting some corals and eventually attempting to propagate them but I don't know where to start. What are a couple of easy soft corals you'd recommend for a beginner? I got extensive marine fish culture experience but haven't gotten an opportunity to work much with corals. Could someone point me in the right direction? I've tried searching but haven't got much info from that. I'd rather find out from other coral keepers out there anyways, what they like and what they find to be easy to get and keep going. Thanks!

 

[k2yu]

you can start with mushroom or leather like finger leather, or tree leather etc. Most of the demand not a lot of light, except the Ricordea mushroom.

 

[coralfarmer84]

mushrooms are def the easiest. If you can kill a mushroom, I'd be very surprised.

 

[Monkeyfish]

Mushrooms
Xenia
Green star ployps
Sarcophyton (toadstool leather)

 

[mr pink floyd]

i never realized xenia are easy, i thoguht they were high maitnence and needed very strong lights like MH or VHO

 

[whatcaneyedo]

My xenia go nuts in my tank. From what I've seen I'd say that they do better with strong light and lots of nutrients but I wouldnt call them high maitenance. Once you have one settled they grow and spread like crazy.

 

[ONEMANBAND]

kenya tree is really easy

 

[Monkeyfish]

Most xenia grow like weeds in a well maintained tank. They can flourish with relatively low levels of light and supposedly absorb nutrients and nitrates from the water. They CAN be fickle. Every now and then xenia will melt for no readily apparent reason, but overall they grow and split quickly and are easy to frag.

 

[MiddletonMark]

Look at what you like, and look at what there is demand for.

While some easy to care for corals are great, no doubt ... they are generally commonly found and locally I've found a few [kenya tree, wonderful first coral] I need to give away else they take over my frag tank.

Sadly, paying attention to `the market' would be good ... as you can propagate just about any healthy coral.

Personally, I would get the care down first. After a year, then really focus on propagation - but as you need large healthy mother colonies to start from anyway - which takes time.