Which coral should I get?

[RyanMcLaughlin]

Well it is time to get my first coral. All my levels are good and I have narrowed it down to two corals. An open brain coral or a Hammer coral. They both seem to need the same care so any advice. I am leaning towards the hammer.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Would be nice to know what your levels actually are. What type of lighting do you have?

And is the fish listed in your "current tanks" correct?

 

[RyanMcLaughlin]

Alk 7.9, Calcium 520, Nitrate 5, Nitrite 0, Ammonia 0, SG 1.026, Mg 1260, Temp 82. Right now in the DT is a fire shrimp. I dont have either crab and my fish are in qt. I have dual 250watt metal halides.

 

[ludnix]

I don't have a hammer coral so I can't offer advice in that aspect but I have a nice vibrant green open brain coral. I found it was very easy to care for and if placed in a low flow area with correct water levels it grows pretty quickly.

 

[tmz]

THe hammer( euphylia anchora) should do fine. The open brains (I assume you mean a trachyphyllia,symphylia, cynarina, or scolynmia) are all a bit different regarding their tolerance of high lighting and flow with the red trachyphilia being most sensitve to either.