How do you choose your corals and anemones?

[allendehl]

Yeah....I know..one of those questions :hmm2:

I am a bit overwhelmed when it comes to planing how I want my tank to look like in the future.
With so many choices of anemones, SPS, softies, etc I don't really know where to start. My fear is to go with the "beginner" stuff and in the future realize I am full of not so great looking or "cheap' stuff and not have a way out.
Also, I am terrible at making things pretty so I'd like to know how you got to build your super awesome tanks. How you chose what to buy and how/where to place it and combine it in your tank.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

You buy your corals that can grow and prosper based on what kind of lighting you buy. Same for anemones. Softies can be grown in lower light conditions. SPS and anemones need much brighter lighting.

 

[hkgar]

Softies are easier than SPS and may be a good starting point, but they will tend to take over a tank. Do some research in the sub forums.

I started, as do most, with softies and eventually switched to SPS. It is not easy to do, but because mushrooms took over and the LFS gave me store credit for the mushrooms and replaced the rock pound for pound I could switch over easily.

Anemones like to move around and a tank with SPS may see coral damaged from them. I had clowns and an anemone but now just clowns.

Try what YOU want and see how it goes. I have never wished I didn't have any of the tank types I have had and glad to have experienced them.

 

[LeJeune981]

You buy your corals that can grow and prosper based on what kind of lighting you buy. Same for anemones. Softies can be grown in lower light conditions. SPS and anemones need much brighter lighting.

Tell that to my LTA!!
I replaced my 4x55 watt power compact light.. with a 4 x65 watt PC light with 2 X 250 watt M.H. lights...
With just the one 250 mh light on.. on the opposite side of tank... my nem almost imploded lol. It puckered right up... haven't used the M.H since :-(

Sent from my SM-S907VL using Tapatalk

 

[JUNBUG361]

Lol^

 

[Uncle99]

In softies and LPS look for colour, health, size and note that price usually dictates this.
Watch non photosynthetic and watch mixing in SPS this can be problematic, can be done, but the differences in environment creates the difficulty.
Research each before you by and watch carefully for hitchhikers especially aptasia and bug like things.....dip them in a reef safe solution before adding them....
Go slow....add I little at a time....just what you think is the best....this gives time for the environment to catch up with the new additions.
And have fun...

 

[Uncle99]

If your going to do the anenome thing, I always do him first and wait until he has not moved for a month.....then place my corals......the anenomes has a sting which can kill corals.

 

[allendehl]

Thanks a lot, great tips!

 

[Cancun]

I agree with everyone else...also I am fortunate to have a few great LFS's close to me...so I buy local...I prefer to not buy site unseen...I also started out with softies...then moved to LPS...then added a few SPS...I waited until my tank was a year old before I added my first nem....when choosing a nem make sure the foot is healthy...no damage....Google pics of healthy nems if you have too....also if the nem is attached to a piece of live rock ask the LFS if you can buy the nem still attached to the live rock.

 

[Sk8r]

By your lights. If you have strong, full-spectrum light, you can have stony coral and clams. If medium light, you can have soft coral and lowlight stony like bubble coral.

Anemones are not friendly to coral. The fight can take down a tank. Experts can combine them, but don't try it for a start-up.

 

[mcgyvr]

How I choose is as follows...

I see what I personally like with my eyes and not what someone else tells me is the thing to have or whatever..
I learn whats required for me to have that thing..
I plan/learn/adapt/adjust as needed to get whats required or I decide that its more than I want to do so I pass...

I may find I need to upgrade my lighting or improve my stability or do whatever.. It its something I'm willing to do then I do.. If not I pass..
But its all about what I like in a tank and how much I'm willing to do for that..

 

[CRreef]

I agree with everyone else...also I am fortunate to have a few great LFS's close to me...so I buy local...I prefer to not buy site unseen...I also started out with softies...then moved to LPS...then added a few SPS...I waited until my tank was a year old before I added my first nem....when choosing a nem make sure the foot is healthy...no damage....Google pics of healthy nems if you have too....also if the nem is attached to a piece of live rock ask the LFS if you can buy the nem still attached to the live rock.

Well i only have one LFS, and there is not many options .
have to drive 1 hour to get better price/quality

 

[Uncle99]

Anenomes can take down a tank cause they are not friendly...Now that I find interesting!
While absolutely true....never had one touch, sting, or kill a coral in more than 25 years unless it was a carpet which best kept alone cause they are brutal.
Maybe this is only because I waited until they stop moving for more than a month before adding coral and giving a min of 10 inches of space from full inflation.

 

[hkgar]

Ten inches of radius around an anemone is a lot of space to give up. I have had anemones before and even after they have been located for awhile they can and do decide to move. Maybe mine were just ADH.