Best Bang for the Buck Corals

As a bit of a newbie, this question has become more of interest to me. Essentially, I'd like some opinions as to the best bang for the buck corals. I realize many of you will say "go with frags", but I'm looking for a bit more than that.

Criteria:
Cost (optimal - minimum)
Size (optimal - maximum at purchase)
Growth Rate (optimal - maximum)
Color (optimal - 'brighter is better')
Level of Care (optimal - minimum, besides good lighting and water parameters)

Please list as many as you can think of, and feel free to comment on any corals in relation to the stated criteria. Thanks.

 

For cheap, fast, easy growers: Xenia, Green Star Polyps, Mushrooms, Zoas.

Before you know it your tank will be covered. You can get all but the xenia in some pretty cool colors too.

 

I personally have had great luck with clove polyps. They seem to be the fastest growing coral in my tank and only have moderate lighting requirements.

 

Maybe I should have stated what I already have in my tank:
3 different zoa morphs (each a small frag)
Corallimorph mushroom (one head)
3 different ricordeas (2 single heads, 1 double head)
frogspan (5 heads)
duncan (4 heads)

120gal tank

 

every coral is different. after that, the variables of growth and color are further effected by lighting and nutrients in a tank.

Cost (optimal - minimum)- liveaquaria.com is pretty reasonable on about 95% of their stuff for market value. Personally, I am a big sucker for corals that people dont see too often so i always am seeking them. the most i pay ever is $25 for a frag from my friends. I have found that i can find almost all of the ORA corals from my friends and even some more "prettier" variants.
Size (optimal - maximum at purchase)- usually get them from 2-3"... I just go for frags because they grow fast enough given the correct conditions
Growth Rate (optimal - maximum)- the rate increases as the coral gets larger -their is more surface area for energy to be taken up at, there are more branches that have active growth tips-
Color (optimal - 'brighter is better')- dont even get me started!!! if you want a private lesson PM me...
Level of Care (optimal - minimum, besides good lighting)- cant really control this... some are easy in general (pocillapora, birdsnest... some just like to die when fragged *raspberry lemonade millepora* is coming to mind)

 

Understood what you're hinting at when it comes to color. Photoshop does wonders online. I was really considering the "real" color when you view them under proper lights in person.

My lights are 4 65W 420 actinics, 3 250W 20k MHs. However, I was trying to keep this a more "general" discussion for the sake of all.

 

this depends completely on your bulbs

 

I did a ninja edit just in front of you, but continue on.

 

well granted you have quality bulbs in for the 20k, i am sure you will be very satisfied with your colors...
with all those 20k and actinic bulbs your tank must be BLUE!

 

It's "bluer" than what I'd like. The previous owner had just replaced the halide bulbs, so in a few months I'll replace them with 15k. When I take pictures I have to do color correction on my photos otherwise they're just washed out in blue.