Beginner-friendly LPS

[Magnapinna]

My tank is close to 5 months old now and doing well with a young ocellaris clown and some blueleg hermits. It's been very stable and I'm ready to start thinking about corals. I'm mostly interested in LPS, haven't completely ruled out softies but I'd prefer to avoid them. I'd like something relatively forgiving and inexpensive, but it doesn't necessarily have to be idiot-proof; I want an attractive specimen, not just an easy and cheap coral for the sake of it being easy and cheap. If that means a little extra challenge I'm willing to give it a shot. My clown likes to sit on things (including the crabs lol) so it does have to be something that will play nice with him.

The tank is 10 gallons, rougly 12" deep with an Orbit Marine Nano LED for lighting. I'm still struggling to understand lighting requirements, but my tank looks as bright if not brighter than those at my LFS which are supporting some very healthy SPS. On full settings it honestly seems too bright, so I'm thinking it should be strong enough for my needs. For flow, I'm running an Aquaclear 50 HOB but don't have a powerhead right now. The HOB alone creates dunes on anything above minimum flow so I'm struggling to find one that isn't overkill, especially as my clown isn't the most athletic. I preferred to get a better idea of what corals I'd like before deciding how much flow I'd need anyways. Suggestions on that would be very appreciated too

 

[VintageReefer]

Many lps coral are medium or low light, and medium or low flow.

For a beautiful easy coral that doesn’t have special needs, but should have stable calcium and alkalinity, I would recommend dragon soul favia. This is mine, I bought it as a single polyp for 40$ and when that polyp started spreading over the frag plug, I put the plug in a small 2.5” rock. When it spread over that rock, I placed on a 4” piece of shelf rock. It has grown nicely encrusting Rock to rock and makes it appear as a single piece. This whole process took 2 years to grow from single polyp to the below picture

Other good choices for beginners:

Duncan (left)

Palythoa grandis - something about a gigantic head paly group in a small tank makes it very interesting- these heads are each .75-1.5” each and unlike zoa you can feed them flake or mysis for faster growth

When you want to step up a little to something higher end and have stability proven, a single Cynarina can be an excellent centerpiece in a small tank. There’s lots of varieties and only need to be fed once a week, at night. These corals have become a favorite of mine due to their slow growth and unique variations

Torch is another of my favorites, they need good parameters, varying medium flow, and occasional feedings. Pick a small one because they do grow and stretch out

Eventually you can have a LPS garden they will have a variance of colors, textures, and motion

 

[VintageReefer]

Nano wave maker

Amazon.com

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

You will eventually need a small wavemaker for livestock health. A hob is trickle of water onto the water surface, but flow means pushing water from one side of the tank to the other.

 

[crazyfishmom]

All awesome information from previous poster. For a first LPS Coral I would really look at Duncans. They’re not expensive and are super hardy. They also move with the flow in your tank and look like flowers. They also like to feed so they’re fun to watch.

Acans are also really great additions. They come in many beautiful colors and though they grow slowly their polyps are interesting and they can look very fluffy when happy.

Mushrooms are also great additions (softy 2.0); their colors are beautiful and they tend to do pretty well in general.

 

[kevgib67]

Most have been mentioned but candy cane corals are beginner friendly.

 

[steveschuerger]

My first was a Duncan. Still have it 3 yrs later. Micromussa, aforementioned candy cane/trumpet, favia, Bowerbanki , chalices, blastos
Duncans

Micros/Acans and Bowerbanki

Candy Cane
Chalice

Blasto

Favias

 

[Magnapinna]

You will eventually need a small wavemaker for livestock health. A hob is trickle of water onto the water surface, but flow means pushing water from one side of the tank to the other.

I can assure you the HOB creates flow. It creates very nice current around the rock scape and keeps any and all detritus in suspension throughout the whole tank --- a piece of food could circle around the entire tank and never settle anywhere before being sucked up the intake. Even on the lowest flow it still forms subtle dunes in some places over time. The sand is virtually spotless at all times. I'm quite sure it wouldn't be enough flow for LPS but the plan was always to get a powerhead going before corals

 

[Magnapinna]

Many lps coral are medium or low light, and medium or low flow.

For a beautiful easy coral that doesn’t have special needs, but should have stable calcium and alkalinity, I would recommend dragon soul favia. This is mine, I bought it as a single polyp for 40$ and when that polyp started spreading over the frag plug, I put the plug in a small 2.5” rock. When it spread over that rock, I placed on a 4” piece of shelf rock. It has grown nicely encrusting Rock to rock and makes it appear as a single piece. This whole process took 2 years to grow from single polyp to the below picture

Other good choices for beginners:

Duncan (left)

Palythoa grandis - something about a gigantic head paly group in a small tank makes it very interesting- these heads are each .75-1.5” each and unlike zoa you can feed them flake or mysis for faster growth

When you want to step up a little to something higher end and have stability proven, a single Cynarina can be an excellent centerpiece in a small tank. There’s lots of varieties and only need to be fed once a week, at night. These corals have become a favorite of mine due to their slow growth and unique variations

Torch is another of my favorites, they need good parameters, varying medium flow, and occasional feedings. Pick a small one because they do grow and stretch out

Eventually you can have a LPS garden they will have a variance of colors, textures, and motion

Some awesome suggestions here! Thanks! Favia is a favorite of mine --- they had some beauties at an LFS I visited this past weekend. Perfect price range too. Yours looks stunning (as do all the others).

Nano wave maker

Amazon.com

I was also looking at the Koralia 240, any opinions on that one? From what I've read it's pretty low flow but I did try the 425 and it was too much

 

[lil sumpin]

I can assure you the HOB creates flow. It creates very nice current around the rock scape and keeps any and all detritus in suspension throughout the whole tank --- a piece of food could circle around the entire tank and never settle anywhere before being sucked up the intake. Even on the lowest flow it still forms subtle dunes in some places over time. The sand is virtually spotless at all times. I'm quite sure it wouldn't be enough flow for LPS but the plan was always to get a powerhead going before corals

I use an AC50 as well and while it does create flow, it would be better to add a wavemaker. The AC50 alone will provide a one directional kind of flow, you’ll want something with a wave or pulse to it.

 

[VintageReefer]

Some awesome suggestions here! Thanks! Favia is a favorite of mine --- they had some beauties at an LFS I visited this past weekend. Perfect price range too. Yours looks stunning (as do all the others).

I was also looking at the Koralia 240, any opinions on that one? From what I've read it's pretty low flow but I did try the 425 and it was too much

That is a power head but not a wave maker. It has no control it’s full power all the time. The one I posted has a controller and can make waves and patterns and the speed is customizable. It has also has feed mode which reduces to approx 10% so your fish can eat easier and it’s overall a more versatile device

 

[Magnapinna]

That is a power head but not a wave maker. It has no control it’s full power all the time. The one I posted has a controller and can make waves and patterns and the speed is customizable. It has also has feed mode which reduces to approx 10% so your fish can eat easier and it’s overall a more versatile device

That's super helpful, thanks! Will order one later or tomorrow

 

[dr_vinnie_boombatz]

Acan echinata are a great choice, they grow fast but some of them are mean (need distance). I target 150-175par. They have an awesome feeding response.

My first coral is a "Cool Runnings" from Tidal Gardens. I got lucky in that it has an orange streak going through it, alongside the lime green growth rim it still is one of my favorites.

Their stock photo from their website:

 

[dwarfseahorse]

Most have been mentioned but candy cane corals are beginner friendly.

I

 

[dwarfseahorse]

I love my candy cane corals.

 

[Northern Flicker]

Most have been mentioned but candy cane corals are beginner friendly.

Kev I hope for your sake those aren't blue clove polyps I see

 

[kevgib67]

Kev I hope for your sake those aren't blue clove polyps I see

Ya, they are a maroon polyp. Isolated to one rock structure. I wish they were gone but haven’t caused any problems in 2 years. I’ll frag some for you for free, just let me know.

 

[Reef Puncher]

Many lps coral are medium or low light, and medium or low flow.

For a beautiful easy coral that doesn’t have special needs, but should have stable calcium and alkalinity, I would recommend dragon soul favia. This is mine, I bought it as a single polyp for 40$ and when that polyp started spreading over the frag plug, I put the plug in a small 2.5” rock. When it spread over that rock, I placed on a 4” piece of shelf rock. It has grown nicely encrusting Rock to rock and makes it appear as a single piece. This whole process took 2 years to grow from single polyp to the below picture

Other good choices for beginners:

Duncan (left)

Palythoa grandis - something about a gigantic head paly group in a small tank makes it very interesting- these heads are each .75-1.5” each and unlike zoa you can feed them flake or mysis for faster growth

When you want to step up a little to something higher end and have stability proven, a single Cynarina can be an excellent centerpiece in a small tank. There’s lots of varieties and only need to be fed once a week, at night. These corals have become a favorite of mine due to their slow growth and unique variations

Torch is another of my favorites, they need good parameters, varying medium flow, and occasional feedings. Pick a small one because they do grow and stretch out

Eventually you can have a LPS garden they will have a variance of colors, textures, and motion

i have an LPS tank too with all the same corals except that BEAUTIFUL cyarina. all your corals looks so healthy. most of mine are good except my Euphyllia are all being really wierd. they all developed this flat region around their mouths and their mouths are all like gaping open. its really wierd and i cant figure out why. but beautiful tank man i hope in 2 years mine looks like yours.

 

[kingranch2003]

My first was a Duncan. Still have it 3 yrs later. Micromussa, aforementioned candy cane/trumpet, favia, Bowerbanki , chalices, blastos
Duncans

Micros/Acans and Bowerbanki

Candy Cane
Chalice

Blasto

Favias

Awesome reef! Do you find the favia to be aggressive towards each other or any other corals? I see you have these guys nicely arranged in close proximity to others

 

[VintageReefer]

Awesome reef! Do you find the favia to be aggressive towards each other or any other corals? I see you have these guys nicely arranged in close proximity to others

Favia are semi aggressive depending how big they are and what you put them near

Small favia have small sweepers. Larger favia have much longer ones

Small favia small sweepers

Larger favia sweepers

And random sweepers can get several inches if they want to