Corals
I guess like most people I have been attracted to the massive variety of colours, shapes and habits of corals and have tried to do some initial reading and research. I have decided to start with the 'easy', so called starter corals and see how I progress. These have been varieties of soft corals. Not sure of the species or Latin names so have not always included these on this page. Links to other sites might give the correct names.
I will propagate my own corals when I have the opportunity.
After seeing my 'softies' settle and grow I decided to have a go with LPS. Saw some nice frags of different Euphylia species which would appear to be quite hardy and probably suited to my reef. Just need to be aware of the aggressive nature of these corals and their sweeper tentacles. Will look to add further corals slowly. At present I will continue with photosynthetic corals as non photosynthetic will require too much care and will be rather risky. Am pleased with the way my corals are growing. I don't particularly want to have to start adding supplements to my reef as my maintenance regime is currently simple and manageable, just the way I like it. LPS corals seem to be thriving and growing without addition of any chemicals or supplements which I am delighted about. I have been able to add some Duncans and more recently Acanthastrea species corals.
At some point I will need to consider what to do with a couple of toadstool corals that have grown rather large. I have also been able to frag and sell on one of my Euphylia corals which enable me to buy a couple of Acanthastrea frags, a new Duncans and a plating montipora frag.
Had I known more about corals and their growing conditions I would have set my rockwork out with more shelving to house the corals. I would have also not added some of the larger soft corals like the big toadstools and leather corals. They can become very large and are hard to get rid off.
I will propagate my own corals when I have the opportunity.
After seeing my 'softies' settle and grow I decided to have a go with LPS. Saw some nice frags of different Euphylia species which would appear to be quite hardy and probably suited to my reef. Just need to be aware of the aggressive nature of these corals and their sweeper tentacles. Will look to add further corals slowly. At present I will continue with photosynthetic corals as non photosynthetic will require too much care and will be rather risky. Am pleased with the way my corals are growing. I don't particularly want to have to start adding supplements to my reef as my maintenance regime is currently simple and manageable, just the way I like it. LPS corals seem to be thriving and growing without addition of any chemicals or supplements which I am delighted about. I have been able to add some Duncans and more recently Acanthastrea species corals.
At some point I will need to consider what to do with a couple of toadstool corals that have grown rather large. I have also been able to frag and sell on one of my Euphylia corals which enable me to buy a couple of Acanthastrea frags, a new Duncans and a plating montipora frag.
Had I known more about corals and their growing conditions I would have set my rockwork out with more shelving to house the corals. I would have also not added some of the larger soft corals like the big toadstools and leather corals. They can become very large and are hard to get rid off.
Soft Corals
Soft corals as their name suggests, do not lay down hard calcium skeletons as they grow. They are generally less demanding than hard corals and can thrive under lower lighting and water flow conditions in a marine aquarium, they are also able to tolerate a wider range of water conditions and chemistry than hard corals. For me this makes them the ideal choice for my first corals.
Toadstool Corals
Originally I put two small toadstool frags into my reef setup. They were lovely and grew well. And continued to grow well! I need to cut them back and eventually decided to remove one altogether. This was easier said than done as any remnant left on the rock would grow into a new coral.
This one dominates my tank to some extent but is beautiful. It has long whit polyps which constantly move and sway in the water column. It is probably well in excess of 30cms in diameter and probably as high.
I also have a leather coral growing on the rock close by. I have to cut this back regularly but cannot remove it from the rock. When cutting these back I am aware that they release some nasties into the water.
Originally I put two small toadstool frags into my reef setup. They were lovely and grew well. And continued to grow well! I need to cut them back and eventually decided to remove one altogether. This was easier said than done as any remnant left on the rock would grow into a new coral.
This one dominates my tank to some extent but is beautiful. It has long whit polyps which constantly move and sway in the water column. It is probably well in excess of 30cms in diameter and probably as high.
I also have a leather coral growing on the rock close by. I have to cut this back regularly but cannot remove it from the rock. When cutting these back I am aware that they release some nasties into the water.
Zoanthus Colonies
Have introduced a number of frags that are now growing well in various places in the tank. Some problems with nudibranches eating them but hopefully this has been sorted out. Love the different colours and shapes. Not sure the difference between Zoas and button polyps
Interesting to see the large polyps close around small particles of frozen food.
One problem with button polyps is they get everywhere and I cant get rid of them!
Be really careful removing button polyps as they are highly toxic!! See my blog page for how I set about solving this problem
I think in the future I may add some more zoa colonies.
Have introduced a number of frags that are now growing well in various places in the tank. Some problems with nudibranches eating them but hopefully this has been sorted out. Love the different colours and shapes. Not sure the difference between Zoas and button polyps
Interesting to see the large polyps close around small particles of frozen food.
One problem with button polyps is they get everywhere and I cant get rid of them!
Be really careful removing button polyps as they are highly toxic!! See my blog page for how I set about solving this problem
I think in the future I may add some more zoa colonies.
Large Polyped Stony Corals (LPS)
Large Polyped Stony Corals (LPS)As the name suggests these are corals which develop hard calcium skeletons as they grow. LPS corals have small skeletons yet large volumes of tissue growing on top, and also use inflation with water to help hold their shape. Many corals are photosynthetic but are also active feeders of zooplankton, extending long sweeper tentacles to capture food. They can also use these to sting other corals.
Large Polyped Stony Corals (LPS)As the name suggests these are corals which develop hard calcium skeletons as they grow. LPS corals have small skeletons yet large volumes of tissue growing on top, and also use inflation with water to help hold their shape. Many corals are photosynthetic but are also active feeders of zooplankton, extending long sweeper tentacles to capture food. They can also use these to sting other corals.
Hammer Coral (Euphylia Ancora)
One of two LPS frags introduced at the same time. Hoping this will settle and add different form to the reef. It began as one distinct head and has literally grown dozens of new heads and has been fragged on a number of occasions. A brilliant coral
Only concern as with the other Euphylia is the sweeper tentacles that come out at night. Don't know what damage they might do.
One of two LPS frags introduced at the same time. Hoping this will settle and add different form to the reef. It began as one distinct head and has literally grown dozens of new heads and has been fragged on a number of occasions. A brilliant coral
Only concern as with the other Euphylia is the sweeper tentacles that come out at night. Don't know what damage they might do.
Frogspawn Coral (Euphylia Divisa)
The second of my LPS frags. Once again one head that has grown really well. A number of colonies now scattered around the tank as well as frags passed on to LFS.
Looks really good in the tank and has proven to be very interesting to keep within my reef.
The polyps of the specimens lower down in the tank have more green colouration than those higher up. More algae in their tissues?
The second of my LPS frags. Once again one head that has grown really well. A number of colonies now scattered around the tank as well as frags passed on to LFS.
Looks really good in the tank and has proven to be very interesting to keep within my reef.
The polyps of the specimens lower down in the tank have more green colouration than those higher up. More algae in their tissues?
Candy Cane Coral (Caulastrea furcate)
Introduced a small frag, two heads of a lovely bright green candy cane. Hoping this does as well as my first two LPS frags which seem to be settled and growing. This frag is slowly developing but has been moved around a fair bit. Presently on the bottom
Marine Habitat species profile
Introduced a small frag, two heads of a lovely bright green candy cane. Hoping this does as well as my first two LPS frags which seem to be settled and growing. This frag is slowly developing but has been moved around a fair bit. Presently on the bottom
Marine Habitat species profile
Duncan's Coral (Duncanopsammia axifuga)
Got a single polyp frag of a nice Duncan's Coral. Will see how it gets on in my reef and then possibly get a larger frag.
A cheap way to do things, £6 instead of £30 or £40 for a multi headed frag.
Added a second more lightly coloured frag with six heads.
Added a third slightly different colour single headed frag. All three colonies are growing really well I think.
Marine Habitat species profile
This coral appears to be forming two small 'buds' just below the head so it is going to be really interesting seeing new coral heads grow and develop. The second frag is now also developing new
Got a single polyp frag of a nice Duncan's Coral. Will see how it gets on in my reef and then possibly get a larger frag.
A cheap way to do things, £6 instead of £30 or £40 for a multi headed frag.
Added a second more lightly coloured frag with six heads.
Added a third slightly different colour single headed frag. All three colonies are growing really well I think.
Marine Habitat species profile
This coral appears to be forming two small 'buds' just below the head so it is going to be really interesting seeing new coral heads grow and develop. The second frag is now also developing new
Acan Coral (Acanthastrea echinata)
A small acan frag was introduced and has developed nicely. A very interesting coral in the aquarium. When looking at the varieties available this coral could be a candidate for new additions in the future.
A small acan frag was introduced and has developed nicely. A very interesting coral in the aquarium. When looking at the varieties available this coral could be a candidate for new additions in the future.
Fungia Coral (Fungia repanda)
A real surprise here. Over the last couple of years two lovely fungia corals have appeared and grown in my tank. I have no idea where they cam from or how they have grown. They started as what looked like two little mushrooms on the rock. One a few months after the other. Green in colour. They have slowly grown into two lovely white and pink plate corals on the bottom of the tank.
A real surprise here. Over the last couple of years two lovely fungia corals have appeared and grown in my tank. I have no idea where they cam from or how they have grown. They started as what looked like two little mushrooms on the rock. One a few months after the other. Green in colour. They have slowly grown into two lovely white and pink plate corals on the bottom of the tank.