Fish only with weed corals display

[Nifkin747]

I just added my first fish to a 75 gallon "Fowlr" setup. I plan on lighting the system with a 4 bulb t5 fixture with 2 whites, 1 blue, and 1 purple bulb. I do not want the blue reef tank for this setup as the fish will be the stars of the show. That being said, I want to have more than just live rock and less than a coral focused display tank. I would like some color, texture, and movement. I am looking for the corals in the same lane as pulsing xenia and GSP that most people do not want in their tank (aiptasia, majano, etc are out lol) . My thought is that I let the weed corals grow out a bit before I add potentially non reef safe fish that may see them as dinner. Any suggestions on color variations of the xenia and gsp or other corals that would fit this idea?

 

[nuxx]

Any reason going t5 over LED?

Interesting idea though

 

[Nifkin747]

Any reason going t5 over LED?

Interesting idea though

Honestly because i can get a 4 bulb hybrid fixture that I could add LEDs to down the road if I change my mind for about the same price as an AI prime. I don't really want a high cost coral light for a mainly fish display. I am also of the mindset that using T5s as fill light along with LEDs is a far superior option to LEDs only.

 

[nuxx]

Honestly because i can get a 4 bulb hybrid fixture that I could add LEDs to down the road if I change my mind for about the same price as an AI prime. I don't really want a high cost coral light for a mainly fish display. I am also of the mindset that using T5s as fill light along with LEDs is a far superior option to LEDs only.

Gotcha, was thinking if you were just going FOWLR, you could get a cheap LED and that didn't use much power and wouldn't require bulb changes

 

[Nifkin747]

Gotcha, was thinking if you were just going FOWLR, you could get a cheap LED and that didn't use much power and wouldn't require bulb changes

The cheap black box LEDs scare me and bulb changes don't lol.

 

[dedragon]

The cheap black box LEDs scare me and bulb changes don't lol.

There are super cheap options out there for leds like these from aliexpress or smatfarms leds if you wanted to do more compact lighting . When you go to change out t5 bulbs every year the cost does start to add up. Always good to have some more options.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832657411052.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.b4912e00xuYbwg&algo_pvid=79031bb1-c046-46b3-ae55-cc71245d85b5&algo_exp_id=79031bb1-c046-46b3-ae55-cc71245d85b5-1&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22sku_id%22%3A%2212000023689049362%22%7D&pdp_npi=2%40dis%21USD%2173.74%2158.99%21%21%21%21%21%402103143616727282676612875eccea%2112000023689049362%21sea&curPageLogUid=00mEPelMYRro

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832261088194.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.100009.1.3a6b488edcYs8L&gps-id=pcDetailLeftTopSell&scm=1007.13482.271138.0&scm_id=1007.13482.271138.0&scm-url=1007.13482.271138.0&pvid=69809072-90dd-4959-bae2-941144f6f9fe&_t=gps-id%3ApcDetailLeftTopSell%2Cscm-url%3A1007.13482.271138.0%2Cpvid%3A69809072-90dd-4959-bae2-941144f6f9fe%2Ctpp_buckets%3A668%232846%238110%231995&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22sku_id%22%3A%2212000024637616944%22%2C%22sceneId%22%3A%223482%22%7D&pdp_npi=2%40dis%21USD%2153.74%2142.99%21%21%21%21%21%40210312cc16744996852045744ed3c6%2112000024637616944%21rec&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa&_randl_shipto=US

 

[dedragon]

For corals/inverts bubble tip anemones grow pretty quickly if they are fed as well as faster growing zoa types and mushroom corals. I dont know of anything that grows faster than GSP and xenia, but they just become extremely annoying as they almost grow too fast and start getting onto walls, overflows or on pumps too fast

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

You could try macroalgae instead of coral... Although the fish might nibble on that too.

 

[RedFrog211]

Pandora Palythoa, Green Explosion Palythoa, Blue Clove Polyp, Pulsing Xenia, GSP

 

[Nifkin747]

You could try macroalgae instead of coral... Although the fish might nibble on that too.

I have thought about some macro algae too. Thats a good idea. I am running a fuge so i could grow it as per normal and take some of the harvest and throw it in the display. I'd probably rinse it pretty good first though.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I have thought about some macro algae too. Thats a good idea. I am running a fuge so i could grow it as per normal and take some of the harvest and throw it in the display. I'd probably rinse it pretty good first though.

Why rinse? It's all the same water, lol.

 

[Nifkin747]

Pandora Palythoa, Green Explosion Palythoa, Blue Clove Polyp, Pulsing Xenia, GSP

I have never had any clove polyps. Are they pretty easy? I will probably stay away from Palys for the same reason most people do. I'm not ever sure about zoas, I have had them get pretty tasty to "reef safe" fish and the price for a single is sometimes a bit crazy.

 

[Nifkin747]

Why rinse? It's all the same water, lol.

I have had ... things... in my macro before...

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I have had ... things... in my macro before...

And you don't think those "things" are also in your tank?

 

[nereefpat]

Any suggestions on color variations of the xenia and gsp or other corals that would fit this idea?

Red Discosoma mushrooms
Leathers, especially toadstools. There are 2 easily found varieties of toadstools, green and brown/silver.