the right coral?

[waymack97]

ok i just bought a 4 x 65 dual satellite fixture for my 55 gallon reef/fish tank. i have crushed coral substrate/80 lbs of live rock/sabae clown/blue damsel/3 striped damsel/cleaner shrimp/peppermint shrimp/coralbanded shrimp. just upgraded filter system to a canister filter, got a protien skimmer, and i am doing weekly water changes with ro/di water. tank is almost ready for some starter corals, what would be a good pick. tank is 10 months old. and i would like everyone to get along.

thanks Bill.
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Colt Roberts

 

[Anonymous]

It all depends on what type of corals you want to dominate in the future. Mushroom anemones and star polyps are good for a start, however, they have a tendency to take over a tank and cause problems with the "more desirable" types of corals. I would do some reading first and make a decision on what kind of corals, fishes and inverts you will want in the future.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Bill, I suggest picking up a copy of Eric Borneman's Aquarium Corals before you make a purchase. It's an ecxellent reference bok on corals with tons of info on the specific needs of each coral.

 

[SnowManSnow]

You may consider some shroooms to get started with.. They are easy to keep and some look really cool. Also Zooanthids are nice... as far as true corals plate corals are not too difficult and aren't very intrusive on other inhabitants. You could consider an aneomone too for your clown.. I like bubble tips.. they are easy to keep and clowns like them.

Just make sure the corals you have are far enough away from each other as not to be offensive... some are very dangerous... but there are so many it's difficult to suggest only a few.

Here's what I do..Just find one that you think looks cool.. then do research on the animal to see if it will work in your system

Best of luck!
B

 

[spsmike]

Nothing wrong with a few lps like bubble or torch as they seem to be pretty hardy and desirable.

 

[Len]

I'd go with just about any photosynthetic soft corals such as finger leathers and colt corals. These are all fairly hardy, and I'm sure you can get captive bred cuttings to get your feet wet without the expense or the ethical dilemna.

Shrooms ans zoanthids are very robust and beautiful, but as people have mentioned, they are so hardy that they eventually take over the tank.

 

[Anonymous]

You would think so, but I WISH I could grow Zoos. Xenia, yes, Zoos no for some reason. I am going to look for nudis tonight I think.

 

[Anonymous]

As always, YMMV.

 

[Anonymous]

I would go with the shrooms, polyps and zoos to start. Most are hardy and forgiving. If they start taking over the tank harvest them and trade them at the lfs, most will take healthy frags. Your clowns might host in hairy shrooms if you are not comfortable with the anemone yet.
Andy