My Top 5 Beginner Corals for Aquariums!

I have been in the saltwater aquarium hobby/industry for well over 10 years. Anytime I help somebody set up a new system in their home or office, they always ask "What would be a good coral to start off with?" In my opinion, there is nothing easier then Mushroom Coral's/Mushroom Polyp. The next few beginner corals come from what is called "Soft Corals/Leather Corals", Toadstool Leather, Fiji Leather, Sinularia and Zoanthids.

In my experience in dealing with these corals, they do not have any special needs. They do not require bright lights to be maintained, however Zoanthids need brighter lights to flourish. They all have symbiotic algae zooxanthellae hosted within their body which provides the majority of its nutritional needs from the light driven process of photosynthesis which means low maintenance.

1. Mushroom Corals. These corals display a wide variety of colors, textures, and patterns. Some are solid colors, whereas, others are striped or spotted. They are hardy and require very little care, will multiply and spread very rapidly. In general, they need a medium light level and a low to medium water flow within the aquarium, although different species may have different requirements.

2. Toadstool Leather. They are generally referred to as Sarcophyton Coral, Mushroom, Leather, or Trough Corals. They are found in various shades of brown, tan or green, with white or gold polyps.As they grow older, they develop a folded appearance. Some have been seen in the wild over two feet around but usually only get to around 10-15 inches in the home aquarium. They are relatively peaceful, but adequate space should be provided between them and other corals in the aquarium. Some produce toxins which are harmful to other coral types. They require medium lighting combined with medium to strong water movement.

3. Fiji Leather Coral. They may be referred to as the Sarcophyton elegans Coral. It can be found in shades of yellow, and unlike other Sarcophyton corals, it does not grow an extended stalk. Instead, these corals grow close to the rockwork, and will develop beautiful ruffles around the edges. They are relatively peaceful, but adequate space should be provided between them and other corals in the aquarium. Some produce toxins which are harmful to other coral types. They require medium lighting combined with medium to strong water movement.

4. Sinularia Corals. They are commonly referred to as Flexible Leather Coral, Soft Finger Coral, or Thin Finger Coral. It can be recognized from other members of the genus by its long, thin, flexible fingers that are often available in stunning iridescent shades of yellow, gold, green or tan. It may be slimy to the touch. They require medium lighting combined with medium to strong water movement. They are relatively peaceful, but adequate space should be provided between them and other corals in the aquarium. Some produce toxins which are harmful to other coral types.

5. Zoanthids. Colony Polyp Corals are also referred to as Sea Mats, or Button Polyps. Their most common colors are green, brown, red and yellow but are also found in other bright colors, such as orange. A lot of time, you may purchase a wild collected colony which appears to be one of the common colors but once established in your aquarium, it can morph into other colors and multiple colors on each polyp.

They are colonial animals with multiple individual polyps attached to a piece of live rock or substrate. They are easy to maintain, making them a good choice for beginner aquarists. They will reproduce easily in the reef aquarium by budding (splitting off a portion of their base or mouth), which will increase the size of their colony. They are relatively peaceful, but adequate space should be provided between them and other corals in the aquarium. Some produce toxins which are harmful to other coral types.

I would recommend any of these to a any one who is just starting out in the hobby. They are low maintenance, and generally super easy to care for. I would also recommend supplementing with iodine and other trace elements to the water to insure proper growth.