Poll: For a new coral addition, which would you choose?

[<3Oscar]

I'm putting in my favorites and I having quite the time trying to decide which to go for next! Personally, I am a big fan of movement! I'd love to see what your favorites are out of the choices!

[Ace25]

With your tank being new and still having detectable ammonia and nitrites, I wouldn't recommend corals quite yet.. but when you do I would go with any of the bottom 4 on your list as those are the easiest and most hardy. If you want the most movement then xenia or a torch coral will give you that. First 2 on your list are a little more delicate, especially the elegance. But if it were me picking my favorite out of your list it would be the elegance. lol.

[Conski]

If only you liked bumpy colorful blobs cause I'd say chalices, funny thing is when friends who don't know anything about the hobbysee the tank they always think the torch is the most money and the best looking thing lol. But on that list I'm going with the fungia

[DoctaQ]

i think ricordea would be a good first coral.

do not get xenia, ever.

[Ace25]

do not get xenia, ever.

Why would you say that? I have seen quite a few nice SPS tanks that had isolated spots of xenia and it was nice. As long as you control it, it can be a great easy coral that adds nice movement to the tank. Another plus is you can easily frag and trade it or some LFS will give you a small store credit for it, can't beat free LFS credit from growing an easy coral. ;)

[MGDMIRAGE]

Very tough selection, i'd have to say Hammer and Rics.

[fsn77]

I voted rics... Generally, a hardy coral that comes in quite a few colors (see CoralMorphologic.com for some nice examples of color variety) and one that can grow / spread relatively easily. At least around here, it's also pretty easy to sell / trade to other hobbyists.

[<3Oscar]

With your tank being new and still having detectable ammonia and nitrites, I wouldn't recommend corals quite yet.. but when you do I would go with any of the bottom 4 on your list as those are the easiest and most hardy. If you want the most movement then xenia or a torch coral will give you that. First 2 on your list are a little more delicate, especially the elegance. But if it were me picking my favorite out of your list it would be the elegance. lol.

My tank isn't new at all. it was up and running 5+ years before I got it. When I bought it, I transfered all existing water, filtration, sand, live rock, and a couple fish with it. It's been up and running in my own home for a year now.

Edit: I forgot a comma

[<3Oscar]

also I have a frogspawn, zoas, a chilli cactus, and a mushroom that are all thriving.

[Ace25]

Oops, my mistake. I read your other thread wrong.. you said things were steady for a month.. some reason I was thinking that was when you set up the tank, a month ago.

[<3Oscar]

No problem, I guess I didn't write it very clearly either! Though I did recently make the switch from a regular filtration system to a refugium/sump. It feels like its evaporating more than usual since I switched, but I suppose since it only is lowering the levels of the tank below that it is probably the same amount. My chaeto is growing very steadily and before long I am going to be trimming that down I'm sure!

[redfishblewfish]

I too am a softies person…just love that movement. I do have some SPS and LPS, but still love the softies. I still don’t get those who are solely interested in sticks and caps….They just sit there! I also get a kick out of people coming to my house and expecting to see all this SPS, since I’ve been doing this for a number of years, and they look into my tank and see all these “beginner” corals. I just laugh.

I love xenia! It is so interesting to watch it pulse over and over and over again. Yes it spreads, but just place it in an area that you can control.

If you like movement, I would like to add a couple more choices to your list.


Star Polyps (I have three different colors, but really like the neon green)
Clove Polyps (Sway nicely in the flow…spreads like rabbits…place carefully)
Anthelia

All are considered beginner corals, but again, I don’t get hung up in titles. If you are not familiar, the Anthelia has an appearance similar to xenia, but is much longer and does not pulse. Because of its length, it sways very nicely back and forth in the flow of the tank.

[Jstdv8]

I agree with ace on the xenia, they are easy to keep, easy to control and have a lovely sway in low or high current.

[Markushka]

I voted for the fungia and the torch, both are corals I hope to add to my tank soon. xenia is alright, mine's a very slow grower for some reason.

[emptywallet]

I say no to xenia and anthelia...They are MONSTERS. If you let your tank slip with them in it they will take over. My tank is over run by pulsing xenias and anthelia and i cant find a way to get rid of them!!!
I like ric's they offer great color and have a cool looking texture.

[<3Oscar]

On the topic of Xenia's, how are they fragged/trimmed down if they start overgrowing their allotted space? is it similar to softies where you just basically razor cut to separate?