Calling all Reef Experts!

ryanwolf · 06-03-2009, 09:13 PM

I'm making the plunge next week to start adding corals to my FOWLR.
I know I want zoo's ... but where and what are the best, brightest corals for beginners???

I do not want to mess with target feeding (taking canopy off is pain)...
So I'm hoping some tips on feeding can be offered up along with where I can get great starter corals that look great under actinics...

Very excited!
Ryan

Screwtape · 06-03-2009, 09:26 PM

Zoanthids sound like they meet all your criteria. No target feeding, hardy, easy to care for, great colors. That's where I would start, just make sure you place them in a place where they can spread over the rock decently and won't interrupt any future coral placement. They will grow almost anywhere so if you have some better placement for more demanding corals maybe leave those spots open if you plan to add more in the future.

I think you answered your own question.

bwalker9801 · 06-03-2009, 09:27 PM

Check out reefgardener.net she has some nice looking zoas.I wouldn't worry too much about target feeding them I have always found them to grow like weeds anyway.
I'm no expert but I did stay at a holiday inn express last night.

ryanwolf · 06-03-2009, 09:51 PM

Most places where they sell zoas... talk about frag sizes (4 to 6 polyps)
Doesn't that sound awfully small for 20-100 bucks!? How long does it take to grow? And what do you mean by spread over the whole rock... does that mean it can also grow to surrounding rocks... yikes!?

Damsels R Cool · 06-03-2009, 09:55 PM

zoas rics and strooms are the way to go

Da_Gopherboy · 06-03-2009, 10:08 PM

At my LFS I can get a mushroom polyp for 10 bucks (neon colored), or about 24 - 30 polyps of regular zoanthids. About 20 bucks for about 10 polyps for rare and really colorful zoanthids. Can't go wrong with them, their really hardy and will reproduce quickly.

ryanwolf · 06-03-2009, 10:37 PM

Is it me or does vivid aquariums have some really wicked stuff (found them on the sponsor page)
I think I'm going with them... they have something called a started zoa rock which has I believe 11 different frags fixed on a single rock... (90 bucks)

Any thoughts?

PS I love their bubble tip rose anemone for 90... soundsl like a winner site!

Ryan

PackLeader · 06-03-2009, 10:46 PM

Zoo's/palys would be an excellent choice. Yes they will grow on to surrounding rocks, nearly any coral would. GSP's are also very easy and really pop under actinics. Shrooms/rics come in a variety of awesome colors and are also really easy.
I second reefgardener.net, it's pretty much the only place I am going to be ordering corals any more. Yes, the prices are higher, but you are getting much more unique and rarer specimens. Also, be wary, as many sites will photoshop their coral pics to high heaven (reefgardener does none of that at all). Plus her customer service is next to none

Just my two cents from experience.

But with that all being said, I have no experience with Vivid. I am sure they are good too, as all of our sponsors seem well. If just starting out you may want some of the less expensive corals till you get some miles under your belt, but sooner or later you will catch the bug and need the creme of the crop that no one else has

irr0001 · 06-03-2009, 10:56 PM

vividaquariums does have greas zoas! and excellent service! everything i have gotten from them has been amazing

32Boom · 06-05-2009, 07:30 AM

It's not a reef, just a fish only with liverock- and some coral, inverts and other stuff to.

06-03-2009, 09:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
ryanwolf Skunk Shrimp Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: South Texas Posts: 282 Skin: Dark Karma: 495	Calling all Reef Experts! I'm making the plunge next week to start adding corals to my FOWLR. I know I want zoo's ... but where and what are the best, brightest corals for beginners??? I do not want to mess with target feeding (taking canopy off is pain)... So I'm hoping some tips on feeding can be offered up along with where I can get great starter corals that look great under actinics... Very excited! Ryan

06-03-2009, 09:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
Screwtape Tonozukai Fairy Wrasse Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 2,287 Skin: Mint Karma: 27513	Zoanthids sound like they meet all your criteria. No target feeding, hardy, easy to care for, great colors. That's where I would start, just make sure you place them in a place where they can spread over the rock decently and won't interrupt any future coral placement. They will grow almost anywhere so if you have some better placement for more demanding corals maybe leave those spots open if you plan to add more in the future. I think you answered your own question.

06-03-2009, 09:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
bwalker9801 Corkscrew Tentacle Anemone Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Saint Augustine, Florida Posts: 727 Skin: Mint Karma: 17274	Check out reefgardener.net she has some nice looking zoas.I wouldn't worry too much about target feeding them I have always found them to grow like weeds anyway. I'm no expert but I did stay at a holiday inn express last night.

06-03-2009, 09:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
ryanwolf Skunk Shrimp Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: South Texas Posts: 282 Skin: Dark Karma: 495	Most places where they sell zoas... talk about frag sizes (4 to 6 polyps) Doesn't that sound awfully small for 20-100 bucks!? How long does it take to grow? And what do you mean by spread over the whole rock... does that mean it can also grow to surrounding rocks... yikes!?

06-03-2009, 09:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
Damsels R Cool Teardrop Maxima Clam Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Greenacers,Florida Age: 19 Posts: 847 Skin: Dark Karma: 4298	zoas rics and strooms are the way to go

06-03-2009, 10:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
Da_Gopherboy Enchelycore pardalis Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Morgan Hill, CA Age: 27 Posts: 311 Skin: Classic Karma: 2227	At my LFS I can get a mushroom polyp for 10 bucks (neon colored), or about 24 - 30 polyps of regular zoanthids. About 20 bucks for about 10 polyps for rare and really colorful zoanthids. Can't go wrong with them, their really hardy and will reproduce quickly.

06-03-2009, 10:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
ryanwolf Skunk Shrimp Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: South Texas Posts: 282 Skin: Dark Karma: 495	Is it me or does vivid aquariums have some really wicked stuff (found them on the sponsor page) I think I'm going with them... they have something called a started zoa rock which has I believe 11 different frags fixed on a single rock... (90 bucks) Any thoughts? PS I love their bubble tip rose anemone for 90... soundsl like a winner site! Ryan

06-03-2009, 10:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
PackLeader Giant Squid Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Reno, NV Age: 28 Posts: 5,482 Skin: Mint Karma: 54695	Zoo's/palys would be an excellent choice. Yes they will grow on to surrounding rocks, nearly any coral would. GSP's are also very easy and really pop under actinics. Shrooms/rics come in a variety of awesome colors and are also really easy. I second reefgardener.net, it's pretty much the only place I am going to be ordering corals any more. Yes, the prices are higher, but you are getting much more unique and rarer specimens. Also, be wary, as many sites will photoshop their coral pics to high heaven (reefgardener does none of that at all). Plus her customer service is next to none Just my two cents from experience. But with that all being said, I have no experience with Vivid. I am sure they are good too, as all of our sponsors seem well. If just starting out you may want some of the less expensive corals till you get some miles under your belt, but sooner or later you will catch the bug and need the creme of the crop that no one else has

06-03-2009, 10:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
irr0001 G. ternatensis Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Auburn, Alabama Age: 21 Posts: 1,563 Skin: Dark Karma: 52638	vividaquariums does have greas zoas! and excellent service! everything i have gotten from them has been amazing

06-05-2009, 07:30 AM	#10 (permalink)
32Boom Coral Banded Shrimp Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: MI Age: 16 Posts: 394 Skin: Mint Karma: 11730	It's not a reef, just a fish only with liverock- and some coral, inverts and other stuff to.