Although I agree with the above suggestions as far as hardiness, etc., I'd tend to look more toward what you intend to eventually keep in the tank.
If you want an
LPS-dominated tank, start with a Fox coral (Nemenzophyllia), or Open Brain (Trachyphyllia), or a Trumpet or CandyCane (Caulastrea sp.). Most
LPS are not difficult to keep, as long as you provide good water quality, medium lighting, and stable
ca/
alk parameters.
If you think you want your tank to be a 'shroom/polyp/softy reef, then by all means, start out with some mushrooms, polyps, a Colt or Leather coral.
However, if you intend this to some day be an
sps dominated reef, be careful with the mushroom/polyp choices. One of the worst mistakes I ever made was trying to use rock from our old 75g softy tank to establish our 180g
sps reef. A couple stray '
shrooms and Green Star Polyps hitchhiked along, and now I find myself battling them back on an almost daily basis.
It can be done - the '
shrooms, polyps, etc. can be kept on isolated rocks. Just know that there is a potential for them to turn into a "weed".
s anyone in the CT Mass area and if so are there any decent stores to get
LR or corals from?
Where in CT are you? If you're willing to drive a bit further north, I could offer you a good deal on a
frags. I have large Colt & Brown Finger Leather
frags, Gorgonians, red '
shrooms, hairy mushrooms, a couple small Trumpet
frags, zoanthids (2-3 different kinds), button polyps, and Orange ricordea. I'd be willing to sell them to you pretty cheaply - with my new work hours, shipping has become next to impossible, and I want to get rid of all the softies and change the prop. tank over to
sps only. PM me if you have any interest.