Newbie Has Some Q?'s

[CuttleKid]

I am trying to get into the nps coral world. after having tank after tank of sps corals its starting to feel repetitive. I have a 40 gallon cube that i want to try my hand at some nps corals. The tank has been up and running for a little over a year so it is definitely mature.My main questions are

-My lighting consists of MH. Ive heard mixed reviews from people about keeping azoo corals under halides. Will the corals extend their polyps in this light when they are well fed? or will it cause them to shrivel up and perish?

-What are the best azoo corals for a beginner? and which ones are the most advance so i can steer clear from them. Also are their any corals in between the newb - advance level?


Thanks in advance for any advice

ps: please pardon my inexperience

 

[uhuru]

I am trying to get into the nps coral world. after having tank after tank of sps corals its starting to feel repetitive. I have a 40 gallon cube that i want to try my hand at some nps corals. The tank has been up and running for a little over a year so it is definitely mature.My main questions are

-My lighting consists of MH. Ive heard mixed reviews from people about keeping azoo corals under halides. Will the corals extend their polyps in this light when they are well fed? or will it cause them to shrivel up and perish?

Some don't care about light, and others are more sensitive. Corals like Tubastrea and Dendrophyllia just need to be trained to open with food. Others like Balanophyllia may never open in the light. Gorgonians don't seem to care. The only issue is algae growth on their tissue. Some shed it off easily while others don't.

-What are the best azoo corals for a beginner? and which ones are the most advance so i can steer clear from them. Also are their any corals in between the newb - advance level?
Dendrophyllia are probably the easiest, unless you get the type that Aquabacs has. Rhizotrochus are suitable for beginners too. However, these are rather expensive corals, so many people start with a small colony of Tubastrea. Check the sticky in this forum for some of the intermediate level corals to keep. Many of them are much, much hardier than people give them credit for. Some day they will probably be considered beginner corals. I've actually had better luck with them than with Tubastrea and Dendrophyllia. Dendronephthya and Scleronephthya are some of the most difficult.


Thanks in advance for any advice

ps: please pardon my inexperience

no problem you are asking the right questions!

 

[coltrref]

I also recommend as tubastreas economic corals, however, also nephthyigorgia are easy to maintain.

 

[CuttleKid]

thanks a bunch for the responses. I have actually found a rhizo at my lfs and i will most likely purchase it tomorrow.

-2 Quick questions though
Is acclimating a nps coral the same as any other coral?
if not, What would you suggest?

Thanks

 

[uhuru]

Pretty much. Personally, I know the salt and SG my LFS uses which matches mine so I do very little acclimation when I buy from them. OTOH, if its from an unknown water source, I acclimate longer.

What temp is your tank kept at? I would shoot for low to mid 70's. Most likely your LFS keeps it much higher so I would definitely slowly temp acclimate. Also, I wouldn't worry about feeding the first day unless it looks like its starving. To be extra safe, I also start off just feeding small zooplankton like cyclopeeze.

 

[Aquabacs]

Mike you beat me to it

Balanophyllia, Tubastrea, Dendrophyllia, Rhizotrochus acclimation is pretty much the same.

Mike