No hate: what corals wont give me anxiety as a new hobbyist?

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

There are far more reported incidents than most would have you believe, leaving how many unreported or misdiagnosed? I sound like a broken record, but the bulk of this hobby grossly and dangerously underestimates the danger. It is quite literally one of the deadliest neurotoxins on the planet and you have no way of knowing if your particular corals have it or don't.

If I were the OP - I wouldn't have anything from the paly or zoa family in my tank. Simple as that.

That's true - there are many incidents, and I hope my comment didn't come across as downplaying the danger of it (to be fair I personally don't intend to keep palys or zoas at any point due to the toxins).

My point was just that with proper precautions it shouldn't be an issue (I can only think of one instance where the poisoning would have been really unexpected; the rest all came from doing less-than-wise things with the corals without PPE). With small kids involved, though, it may be best to avoid them as OP was already planning regardless of any precautions.

 

[Sphyrna_gal]

I asked my LFS the other day, and the guy kind of laughed at me, and said that any coral is fine with the proper precautions, then he went on to tell me that his zoa and palys have not yet caused his family to become poisoned by palytoxin, even after handling each without gloves. I’ll take that anecdotal evidence with a grain of salt; as I told him in my response, my anxiety levels are simply too high to risk something that could kill myself or my children if I made a stupid, rooky mistake. As a millennial, I am a person who researches heavily before committing to anything. I google absolutely anything to a point where it becomes borderline obsessive. With little success, this leads me to the question of:

I have two small children, one who is too young to trust that she will not to put her hands in the tank. I also have a dumb cat who is declawed and has the brain of a toddler (and that’s on a good day. Normally, my cat’s last two braincells are not working together enough for him to recall where his food bowl is always kept.) Needless to say, the forces are working against me, and there simply is no amount of lecture that will teach my toddler or my cat to keep their chubby little paws out of the tank, for now at least.

I know that bacteria is a thing, so I have taken proper precautions… my tank lid is on tight, but then again, my toddler is very avid in the search/seek/destroy department. But, the bacteria found in tank water are not my main concern. I have wondered what corals would be “family safe.” I am new to this hobby, so please correct me if I am wrong, but I have researched fairly thoroughly, and I have found that duncans are safe and nonaggressive. Further research tells me that pulsing xenia is fine, as well as candy cane coral. Favites may be okay, but I’ve read that fava (sp?) can produce toxins that cause burns. Anything else similar to these? For instance, any types of nonzoa or nonpaly mushroom coral?

Does anyone have any other suggestions that are tried and true for coral that can burn/sting (as most do) but will not kill you or your family if you accidently touch your face or handle other objects after handling the coral? I am interested. Obviously, I will wear gloves, but I am someone with anxiety, so I would like to know before I commit.

Please no “don’t join the hobby if you are afraid of the risks” or “you’re more likely to be hit by a bus than be poisoned by blank” responses… those types of replies are simply entirely unhelpful and truly condescending. Consider that people can want to love and join a hobby for their mental health’s sake while also having a family that they want to protect at all costs.

Xenia are super easy and fun to watch pulse- almost like they are waving to you. Green star polyps and clove polyps are bright and cool to view under blue light, mushrooms are bigger/easier to see from a toddler perspective and available in lots of colors..fuzzy or smooth striped or solid.

I think as you get the hang of keeping corals you will see for yourself what you're comfortable with and if you want to branch out to do other kinds that you originally weren't as confident about you can try them out.

Also, researching things is always a great idea even if someone else thinks it "too much". If we all looked into things more I think the world would be a better place. But then again I am a millennial too LOL

This hobby is a fun way to teach kiddos about the ocean, ecosystems and other living things. SO good luck and enjoy!

 

[BeanAnimal]

That's true - there are many incidents, and I hope my comment didn't come across as downplaying the danger of it (to be fair I personally don't intend to keep palys or zoas at any point due to the toxins).

Nope - just putting an exclamation point on it....

My point was just that with proper precautions it shouldn't be an issue (I can only think of one instance where the poisoning would have been really unexpected; the rest all came from doing less-than-wise things with the corals without PPE). With small kids involved, though, it may be best to avoid them as OP was already planning regardless of any precautions.

I think the sticking point is the "proper" precautions. When the bulk of the hobby is ill-informed about the danger, they are even less informed about the safety. The fact that many don't have the toxin and so many people have the "Ohh i frag them every day, and lick them too" mentality, simply because they got lucky by having palys or zoas with no or very little toxin is fostering a hobby wide game of Russian roulette.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Xenia are super easy and fun to watch pulse- almost like they are waving to you. Green star polyps and clove polyps are bright and cool to view under blue light, mushrooms are bigger/easier to see from a toddler perspective and available in lots of colors..fuzzy or smooth striped or solid.

And both are extremely invasive corals that are almost impossible to remove from a system once they start to thrive.

 

[Sphyrna_gal]

And both are extremely invasive corals that are almost impossible to remove from a system once they start to thrive.

homie read the room.

 

[modom1207]

I had a buddy bring his kid over not that long ago and hes kind of a monster. Hands in every tank. I warned him to make sure to wash his hands before they go in his eyes or mouth. I got tired of warning him and when his hands went in the Fahaka tank I kind of just laughed. Then I fed the Fahaka a hand full of giant ramshorn snails and said I told you to keep the hands out of the tank! Fingers are much softer than the snails. I dont have kids. I do have 2 cats though but they really dont care about the fish tanks they just want to be in the fish room because I usually dont let them. They get bored and want back out in 5 minutes.

Yeah, you just described at least one of my children lol she is so smart, yet she is the same amount of stubborn! No amount of informing her will do the trick to keep her out of the tank. Similarly, no amount of scolding my cat will get him to not get in the part of the tank that is slightly uncovered enough for him to get into it when we’re gone. I’m sure it’s stimulating for him, but this cat loves to stick his paws in the tank. I have a lid on, but my children and cats are smart! I’ll have to secure it with the devices mentioned in this thread. I would’ve never had any of these ideas without asking on R2R.

We have the display tank in the dining room because I’m just that hyped about it… I really don’t want to move it if I don’t have to lol. I want to see it frequently, and I also want everyone to get a chance to see it. I know it will look great thanks to everyone’s help! And now I have ways to secure the lid and everything so I’ll def implement those

 

[merkmerk73]

It depends on the level of maintenance you plan on doing

If you aren't going to do water changes often and stay on top of parameters with testing, you have options like GSP - which you can get cheap, put on a rock, and it'll create a beautiful grassy covering that waves in the flow

There are also lots of other soft coral options - some ugly and brown (most places don't seem to sell these much anymore), some really nice.

If you are willing to put in a bit of effort to keep your parameters up, you can get LPS - I don't think LPS require dosing much until you get crazy because they don't grow nutty - but you'd need water changes and to test once in a while and keep your nitrates/phosphates under control

I won't do Zoa or Palythoa because of the Palytoxin risk - just a personal choice, but I sleep better at night knowing I don't have those corals.


Lastly, there's lots of really easy SPS corals that just need some basic maintenance - montiporas and birds nests.

And both are extremely invasive corals that are almost impossible to remove from a system once they start to thrive.

I can't speak to Xenia - but GSP is easily managed. Just keep it on a single rock on the sand. It doesn't show up in different parts of the tank.

GSP is one of the best corals in the hobby and gets a lot of undeserved hate - it's beautiful and cheap. If it were rare people would foam at the mouth for it.

Maybe someday when we start genetically modifying it to get yellow and blue and red varieties.

 

[BeanAnimal]

homie read the room.

Excuse me?

The OP is worried about stress related to poor choices or lack of information regarding coral choice, as well as safety regarding his children. Both have been addressed in this conversation. He wishes to reduce his stress by making informed decisions.

You suggested “easy” corals, but they also have some drawbacks, one of them being their invasive nature. Doesn’t that sound like something a guy worried about making informed decisions would want to know?

 

[VintageReefer]

Excuse me?

 

[VintageReefer]

 

[BeanAnimal]

, you have options like GSP - which you can get cheap, put on a rock, and it'll create a beautiful grassy covering that waves in the flow

As mentioned a few other times here, so easy that they easily become invasive and spread all over the tank. Great if that is the goal, but a nightmare if it is not.

In that context, many new reef keepers opt for GSP, Xenia, Leathers, Pocilloporas, zoanthids, encrusters, and other prolific or easy corals, only to regret it sooner than later when they can’t get rid of them.

 

[VintageReefer]

As mentioned a few other times here, so easy that they easily become invasive and spread all over the tank. Great if that is the goal, but a nightmare if it is not.

In that context, many new reef keepers opt for GSP, Xenia, Leathers, Pocillopora, zoanthids, encrusters, and other prolific or easy corals, only to regret it sooner than later when they can’t get rid of them.

Agree.

This persons tank started with a Xenia frag. And turned into this after a few years and high nitrates

And the problem is removal involves scraping which will release who knows what into the water, and in large amounts. Some of it can’t be scraped. And, Xenia absorbs nitrites and has unintentionally become part of the systems filtration - removing it also removes a large amount of nitrate absorption, and will follow up with a nitrate spike.

 

[PotatoPig]

GSP is one of the best corals in the hobby and gets a lot of undeserved hate - it's beautiful and cheap. If it were rare people would foam at the mouth for it.

IMO - if GSP was difficult to keep alive it’d be incredibly sought after. Very pretty coral, moves nicely in the water.

For better or worse though, it’s not difficult to keep alive, and some folks wind up with it where they don’t want.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Agree.

This persons tank started with a Xenia frag. And turned into this after a few years and high nitrates

And the problem is removal involves scraping which will release who knows what into the water, and in large amounts. Some of it can’t be scraped. And, Xenia absorbs nitrites and has unintentionally become part of the systems filtration - removing it also removes a large amount of nitrate absorption, and will follow up with a nitrate spike.

All kinds of invasive stuff in there, not just Xenia… doomed for SPS or really anything… a lot off chemical warfare going on there. Though I bet the Xenia is mesmerizing.

 

[VintageReefer]

All kinds of invasive stuff in there, not just Xenia… doomed for SPS or really anything… a lot off chemical warfare going on there. Though I bet the Xenia is mesmerizing.

I have to admit. I’m a fan of gsp on walls

If I had a full wall of gsp my tank would look radioactive!

I’m going for neon orange instead on my overflow. I chose 2 types of lepto as it’s less invasive and a little slower to grow. Maybe it will be complete in a year

 

[BeanAnimal]

IMO - if GSP was difficult to keep alive it’d be incredibly sought after. Very pretty coral, moves nicely in the water.

For better or worse though, it’s not difficult to keep alive, and some folks wind up with it where they don’t want.

Pretty much. It was all over my weir and a few rocks. I got lucky and it all died due to water quality back in the day. If only the leather and mushrooms did… I still 10 years later have to tweeze out leather sprouts or cover them with epoxy.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I have to admit. I’m a fan of gsp on walls

Beautiful stuff, green or blue. Same with Xenia… and trumpet vine in the garden. Just somebody else’s tank or garden.

 

[Mschmidt]

Beautiful stuff, green or blue. Same with Xenia… and trumpet vine in the garden. Just somebody else’s tank or garden.

I just got done mowing the creeping Charlie in my back yard. I miss grass...

 

[BeanAnimal]

I just got done mowing the creeping Charlie in my back yard. I miss grass...

There are very few herbicides that will kill it and not your grass. You don’t want any part of most if you enjoy your health. I spent the better part of a decade fighting it in my lawn. Mechanical removal is the only real option and it is futile. Neighbor nuked their lawn with roundup, replanted and the Creeping Charlie laughed.

Friend planted trumpet vine 5 years ago for a backyard trellis. I warned him not to. He said I worry too much. Pretty… except for it pops up EVERYWHERE, even 2 houses away on both sides.

 

[Solo McReefer]

Zoanthids are my least anxiety driving corals

For others, I suppose they cause more, "OMG, these are gonna kill my kids with their toxins"