Want to start corals, need advice??

[lakersfan5016]

I have a tank that is roughly 8-9 months old and would like to start trying corals. I want to start with the easiest possible just to see if it works out, without spending a fortune. I have a 70g tank with live rock. I have a Coralife 260 watt light with Actinic,10K and Lunar. Do they have coral packs on here that are for beginners. I don't even know the process of how you do it, do you just get some coral and put it in and it attaches itself wherever it wants to, do it put it on your live rock, etc. Sorry for the stupid questions, I just dont know anything about it but would like to add some color to my tank. The only fish I have currently are 2 sebae clowns and some small crabs and snails, will the crabs and snails harm corals?? Thanks.

 

[wangotango]

I don't think SWF.com sells beginner packs, but easy corals to start out with include mushrooms, zoanthid polyps, star polyps, and leathers. once you get them you place them where you want them in the tank, provided that they're in an area where all of their needs are met (lighting/flow). what I listed are known as soft corals; they will ultimately attach themselves to the rock. Things like hard corals will not, as they have their own skeleton.
-Justin

 

[lakersfan5016]

I talked to someone and they said that you could glue or insert them into a whole in your live rock or something like that. I think my lighting and everything else is OK. Yes that may have been another site that had the beginner packs, they included mostly the things that you had mentioned. I guess I could just pick some coral from the list on this site. So I should stick pretty much with mushrooms, polyps, and soft corals that would require low or moderate lighting?? Can anyone list the names as they appear in the coral list on here that way they would be easier for me to find. Thanks. I would just like some brighter colors for my tank and easy to take care of, and low price would be nice also.

 

[puffer32]

I would go with some orange mushrooms. Leathers are pretty hardy, and come in shades of pink for color. GSP is a nice green, also a good beginners coral. They should all come on their own rocks and you can just place the rocks they are on on your rock.

 

[lakersfan5016]

I have one powerhead in my tank currently, do I need to add a second one if i want to start coral? Also, what is the best location for them, near the top, in the middle, etc.

 

[dksart]

They sell an umbrella mushroom here on saltwaterfish.com for about $7. and green ricordea for $7. too. I have two of the rics and one umbrella, they're really beautiful and easy to care for.

 

[petieaztec]

with the 260 watt you should have enough light. i would get two more power heads for flow. each coral is different as far as lighting position. I would get like some mushrooms or zoos like everyone is recommending, just make sure you have enough live rock. you could go with frogspon, hammerhead, or torch corals too. i have found those to be pretty easy. just make sure you do your reading because the frogspon will sting other corals. good luck and post a pic when you get somthing cool!