Building a Reef, What to Start with????

[re_vogel]

I also posted this in the LPS forum but figured this might be a better place to get an answer.

OK, I have a three year old tank with a frogspown, some mushrooms, a birds nest (SPS), a Clam, and a few Zoa. My water is finally stable, good lighting (250 MH) and flow (15-20X).

What I am looking for is suggestions on what to ad to the reef. I understand that everyone has different taste but I could really use some people with establisshed reefs to let me know what the top 5 or so corals (SPS, LPS, or Soft) in your tank are.

I am looking for color, growth and diversity. So, tell me were you wished you had started with.

[Arati]

Im an sps guy so for me

#1 ORA Red Planet
#2 Idaho grape monti cap
#3 Green Slimer
#4 ORA bird of paradise
#5 Purple Nana (dr.mac)
bonus coral Oregon Blue Tort

my favortise and must have list combined.

[lil gramps]

for color and growth, you really can't go wrong with green slimer

[re_vogel]

ARATI, thanks, I have not heard of any of those so I will research. You don't like any LPS's?

[Arati]

Its not that I dont like them. I have verry high flow verry high lighting ect my tank just isnt designed for them. I do have a a nice Scoly. The high flow makes them unhappy I think.

[re_vogel]

What do you concider high flow/light?

[reefscape15]

My favorite frag i have is a small piece of Orange Cruch Acan. It's kinda slow growing, but i really don't care about things growing fast. I'm not out to make money off of frags, or to try to get my corals to get huge, i just want my tank to fill in and look awesome. Anything else really doesn't matter to me. If your not opposed to softies, i bought a really nice colored Anthelia in Buffalo, NY at A Reef Creation. It kind of between neon purple and blue. It's very small now (it got tipped over and sat upside down for a few days), but the color is sweet. Anthelia is a very fast grower. For SPS i'd have to suggest a Green Scroll Coral. I know they aren't a real rarity or a very fast grower, but the forms they can make are pretty spectacular. Just my opinion though. Look around on the internet and try to find stuff you like

[Arati]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14388644#post14388644 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by re_vogel
What do you concider high flow/light?


on my 65g reef I have 45x flow and 2 x 250w MH

[re_vogel]

Thanks, I will look into those corals and I appriciate the softies suggestion a really want diversity which is why I decided to ask people with mre experience then me..

[reefscape15]

HAHA!!!! This online community is awesome huh? I try to have a mixed reef, as you would find in nature, and i try to avoid an all acro or SPS dominated reef, or LPS or softies. I like to have a little of everything. My tank is ruled by my Angler, so the choices for fish are slim, but i like to mix it up with what i can