The 10 easiest coral for new reef tanks. Forgive parameter swings, color up under standard reef LEDs.
Almost impossible to kill. Encrusts everything. Some keepers try to keep it OUT of tanks.
Massive variety, beginner-friendly, fast-spreading. Wear gloves - palytoxin in some varieties.
Tolerate a wide range of light + flow. Multiplies via fission. Multiple species + colors available.
Fast-growing, soft coral. Pulses with current. Beginner-friendly.
Hardy soft coral, full polyp extension after settling. Releases chemicals - run carbon to mitigate.
Hardy LPS with constant polyp extension. Sweeper tentacles 6-12" at night - space accordingly.
Like frogspawn but rounded tips. Stunning under blue light. Hardy LPS.
Polyps almost always extended. Tolerates lower light. Spreads slowly.
High-grade premium LPS. Variety of color morphs. Tolerates lower light.
Pulsing motion makes it the most-recognized coral. Fast-growing. Some keepers find it spreads too aggressively.
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Whatever specific topic brought you here, four fundamentals govern long-term aquarium success: water quality, parameter stability, biological filtration, and species-appropriate husbandry. Skip any one and the others struggle to compensate.
Water quality: ammonia + nitrite at zero, nitrate under 30 ppm freshwater + 10 ppm reef. Test weekly with API or Salifert kits. Use our water parameter checker to score your readings against your tank type.
Parameter stability: stable wrong parameters beat fluctuating ideal parameters. Most fish tolerate a wide pH range if it's stable. Sudden swings of 0.4+ pH or 5+°F kill fish faster than chronic suboptimal values. Use temperature controllers (Inkbird) + automated dosing for consistency.
Biological filtration: the bacterial colony on your filter media + rock + substrate is the engine. Never replace all media at once. Use our filter turnover calculator to size correctly.
Species-appropriate husbandry: research adult size, territoriality, diet, and tankmate compatibility before purchase. Use our tank stocking calculator + compatibility guides.
How long does an aquarium take to set up? 4-6 weeks for full cycling + first stocking. Use our cycle ETA calculator + how long does cycling take.
What's the best aquarium for beginners? 20-gallon long. Big enough for parameter stability, small enough for budget + space. See beginner picks.
How often should I do water changes? 25-30% weekly. See water change frequency Q&A + water change calculator.
Why does my fish keep dying? 5 leading causes: uncycled tank, wrong species pairings, no quarantine, undersized tank, neglected water-change schedule. See full diagnosis.
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