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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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!?

 

zoas rics and strooms are the way to go

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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