starter coral suggestions?

Im just about cycled, went though the diatom stage now the green hair algae is starting to go away. My calcium level is incredibly high at 520 and I have coraline growing on all rocks including my caribsea rock which was bone white.

So now I want to add coral and my lfs is having a sale on saturday at 30% off.
What would you suggest as a test bed for seeing if my tank can support coral?
Im thinking about something that is fast growing and easy to gauge if the tank is up to snuff. Im not really looking for a hardy coral or a coral that requires TLC, but more along the line of a test species that will report back if it likes being in the tank or not. This way I can learn the problems before going hog wild at the check out counter.

 

A leather - like a colt. Or Xenia. These seem to be good indicators to me. Both of these were amongst my first corals and I still have them. They grew really fast. (note, whether or not the xenia 'pulses' is irrelevant as this seems to be random tank to tank, you're looking for growth and expansion)


I would also suggest some Zoa's.


Mushrooms and GSP are nice beginners but pretty much are indestructible IME, so I wouldn't say they would fit your requirements... but wouldn't hurt if you got them either!

My Blastomussa's are my favorite water quality indicators that I have... but wouldn't suggest them for a first. They are pricey and a bit sensitive. But easily Peredhil's favorite coral. I have two colonies and want a few more.

 

zoa's or zoo's or zoanthids all the same are pretty cool everyone has told me that the xenia is like Saltwater Herpies once you have it there's no getting rid of it but??? who knows just buy some things you like that arent crazy money and give it a whirl...

 

I also think zoa's are the perfect starter coral, great color, reasonably priced usually, very hardy, not difficult to care for. My zoa's are the first thing to show alkalinity problems for some reason, they start shrinking but then after the correction is made they come right back.

 

I like the leathers, I had one in my old tank. Zoa's are my favorite, they along with ricordia add so much color. Good suggestions.

 

picked up a toadstool as my first coral

 

candy canes are in destructible