Why Not Fake Corals To Bridge the Newbie Gap?

[NS Mike D]

If patience is a virtue with reef tank then why not using fake corals to satisfy our want of a great looking tank while taking our time establishing a mature tank.

I estimate I have a 60% survival rate on with my corals even though I try to take my time. But in retrospect, I have rushed it and now I have decided to hold of any more purchases until I can understand with confidence my water chemistry and lighting.

The long term goal would be a 100% natural tank, but in the sort term, I think using artificials along with the real corals will give the tank the appearance i desire, help reduce the urge to run adding coral, and save me money in the long run in predicting what corals will do well in my tank. Not only that, by spacing out my purchase I can buy larger specimens which would have a better chance of survival than small frags.


Anyone have a mix tank? Pictures?

 

[Jeff4777]

Fake coral are horrendous to look at. Especially to fellow reefers.. its so disappointing to see this huge tank made on tv shows just to be filled with fakes. Why waste money on that when theres nothing wrong with FOWLR tanks? Maybe start picking soft corals until you get some more expereince or other easy to keep coral.

 

[CStrickland]

If you want to try it start with a few and see how you like it. It's just about what looks good to you. But something to keep in mind is that just like your new rock doesn't stay clean looking for long, neither will plastic coral; algae and biofilm and diatoms will leave it kind of dull looking after a few weeks

 

[Laredotx1987]

i would say be patience and not put fake corals you are going to waste money on things you really dont want

 

[Therinx]

I used a fake coral in my first tank many moons ago. Was pretty expensive and within a few months, the color was replaced by brown/green algae and nothing in my tank wanted to clean it. In retrospect i'd have been better off aesthetically by just leaving the space open until it was a good time to add natural stuff in.

 

[Sk8r]

It will turn brown and ugly with algae, besides possibly leaching substances such as phosphate, paint components, and other things that might be detrimental to corals. My advice to improve the look of the tank in the interim is to start with some corals such as hammer, which is relatively inexpensive, fast-growing once params are good, and which can dress up a tank and focus visitor attention. It's one coral I do recommend getting in a multi-head clump of, oh, 10 or so heads, because (my own observation, nothing scientific) it seems to grow faster when there's more of it. It's tough, it doesn't shed new corals off into your rockwork, it grows fast once it starts growing, and it'll teach you a lot. Plus if you decide to go to sps, it's easy to remove and trade off. I had a 50 head clump that used to reproduce itself about every 3 months, which can really fill up space in a hurry.

 

[Laredotx1987]

yeah better wait and spend your money on real corals

 

[Greybeard]

I had fake corals, real bad copies, and dead coral skeletons in my first marine aquarium... circa 1982. Took 'em out and bleached them every once in a while. That was just what everyone was doing back then.

I'd like to think that things have improved dramatically since then. Commercial aquariums that have to be put in place in a day, with a professional maintenance company taking care of them? Not really an enthusiasts kind of tank. Nothing I'd want, anyway. This is a hobby... take your time, learn, and enjoy the process.

How 'bout easy corals? You don't have to start with super bright colored SPS... A new reefer should probably look at leathers, colt coral, xenia, mushrooms... Lots of nice looking soft coral tanks out there, and they're _much_ easier to establish.

 

[mmittlesteadt]

How 'bout easy corals? You don't have to start with super bright colored SPS... A new reefer should probably look at leathers, colt coral, xenia, mushrooms... Lots of nice looking soft coral tanks out there, and they're _much_ easier to establish.

I agree, why bridge the gap with something that is just going to get covered in algae anyway? I went all softies...easy to keep and provide color and movement. This pic shows my zoanthids, mushrooms, kenya tree, GSP and I plan getting some xenia as well. But I like all softies anyway because I like the movement of them. They are also usually quite inexpensive because most reefers wants LPS and SPS.

 

[MichelleMas]

Yes, I would pass on the fake corals.

 

[Chibils]

I think there's some misplaced anger toward fake corals in this thread, but it's true that decent looking ones are expensive and all of them get algae. I think soft corals are a good option if your temp, pH, and salinity are in line. They are very un-demanding, and usually cheaper than the fake pieces.