Beginner frags ideas?

[Nor'easter reefer]

This is mostly a post because I'm sure this gets asked alot and there isn't a sticky of corals the people consider "more beginner friendly". I searched a bunch and found posts but no stickies! I'm new to corals myself but maybe someone knowledgeable should make on?

1:forgiving corals that typically have faster growth but not quite plague level growth?

2:any plating corals that are more forgiving?

3: just tell me corals that you thoroughly enjoy that might be less popular/common. Everytime i read these posts i find corals I've never heard of before!

 

[Fish Fan]

This thread may help:

Best corals for first timers

I’ve been doing some research on some corals I was wanting for my tank but I want to hear your guys opinion on good corals for first timers!

www.reef2reef.com

Most of the soft corals are fine, I’d stay away from Green Star Polys (Gsp) and Xenia as these can quickly grow out of hand in a tank.

 

[Nor'easter reefer]

This thread may help:

Best corals for first timers

I’ve been doing some research on some corals I was wanting for my tank but I want to hear your guys opinion on good corals for first timers!

www.reef2reef.com

Most of the soft corals are fine, I’d stay away from Green Star Polys (Gsp) and Xenia as these can quickly grow out of hand in a tank.

Thanks! I was just fairly surprised there wasn't a sticky in each sps, lps, softy forum saying "these are commonly what people suggest" seems like this question gets asked alot

 

[Fish Fan]

Thanks! I was just fairly surprised there wasn't a sticky in each sps, lps, softy forum saying "these are commonly what people suggest" seems like this question gets asked alot

That might not be a bad idea!

 

[Jasonak]

The problem is with the easily growing corals as they will all become plague corals. Caps, digis, spongodes and pocliporas. You really have to watch placement of these guys. Its exciting at first and then they just start growing exponentially.

 

[Nor'easter reefer]

That might not be a bad idea!

I was basically nudging some of the smart people in here

 

[Nor'easter reefer]

The problem is with the easily growing corals as they will all become plague corals. Caps, digis, spongodes and pocliporas. You really have to watch placement of these guys. Its exciting at first and then they just start growing exponentially.

That's kind of my worry. I'd love a huge fast growing softy, but I'm trying my hand at patience with this tank

 

[exnisstech]

Plating monti have done well for me.
One problem I've run accross is what is normally considered easy for some is not always easy for everyone. I went for years and couldn't keep gsp and zoas alive. I now have gsp that is doing well. Zoas are surviving but not thriving. Xenia? I'm close to 9 years in and still can't keep it alive. I gave up on candy canes as well. While all that easy stuff was dying many of my LPS thrived along with some easier sps.

 

[Jasonak]

That's kind of my worry. I'd love a huge fast growing softy, but I'm trying my hand at patience with this tank

Something like ricordias or toadstool easy to control and not super fast grower. Devils hand grow fast but again easy to control. Stay away from smooth shrooms.

 

[Jasonak]

Birds nest all the way around I would say is fastest and least nuisance coral for me at least.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

I'll still tell any new person to get GSP lol. Its soo forgiving. Just know to contain it on its own rock. Still a good chance it spreads. Nothing beats the grass look it gives.

But yea, mushrooms and zoanthids are always a great start.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

GSP is very easy to keep and spreads like crazy!

 

[Nor'easter reefer]

Plating monti have done well for me.
One problem I've run accross is what is normally considered easy for some is not always easy for everyone. I went for years and couldn't keep gsp and zoas alive. I now have gsp that is doing well. Zoas are surviving but not thriving. Xenia? I'm close to 9 years in and still can't keep it alive. I gave up on candy canes as well. While all that easy stuff was dying many of my LPS thrived along with some easier sps.

I really like plating monti's. So at least you got that and if i had the choice of easy softies vs LPS, I don't think you got shafted too bad

 

[Nor'easter reefer]

Birds nest all the way around I would say is fastest and least nuisance coral for me at least.

Something like ricordias or toadstool easy to control and not super fast grower. Devils hand grow fast but again easy to control. Stay away from smooth shrooms.

Is toadstool easy to remove entirely if you so decided you didn't want to go that route anymore? I worry about softies leaving pieces and regrowing or will it only regrow if it has some of the top to feel with?

Would you consider birds nest fairly easy? That's an SPS isn't it?

 

[Nor'easter reefer]

I'll still tell any new person to get GSP lol.

Some would say that's blasphemy

 

[Nor'easter reefer]

GSP is very easy to keep and spreads like crazy!

Some say too easy I'll have an island of it at least

 

[Jasonak]

Toadstool you would just get rid of the rock its attached to or you could break that part of the rock off if it was a bigger rock to remove it. Yes I would consider birds nest one of the easier SPS in the same category as monti cap and poclipora etc. Its easier to control in my opinion also.

 

[Nor'easter reefer]

Toadstool you would just get rid of the rock its attached to or you could break that part of the rock off if it was a bigger rock to remove it. Yes I would consider birds nest one of the easier SPS in the same category as monti cap and poclipora etc. Its easier to control in my opinion also.

I'm super close to getting a single birds nest and monti cap frag when I get some but that'll probably be my second batch of corals

 

[Jasonak]

Id hook you up but your in maine, id give you all the cap and birds you wanted. No local reefers around you ?

I'm super close to getting a single birds nest and monti cap frag when I get some but that'll probably be my second batch of corals

 

[Uncle99]

For me, the green slimer fits No. 1 to a tee.
Easy and fast grower. Easy to keep its size in check.
Monti caps same.