Beginner corals that are easy to notice if something is going wrong

[Fizzicks]

Would you suggest using a protein skimmer even if I did weekly wc's?

Depends, I really enjoy equipment. I get more joy from researching components, theory and designing the sump systems, plumbing, automation etc. Then I do from watching the tank.
Always tinkering.
If you're that type of hobbyist, get a skimmer. Reef octopus makes a good nano HOB skimmer.
If you want a tank thats simpler just up your water changes. In reality reef equipment like skimmers just prolong and reduce the amount and frequency of water changes.
Doing a 5 gallon (50%) water change would only cost you a few bucks and would reduce nutrients in the tank and restore trace elements. A skimmer would save you some money on salt on the long run and help with continual nutrient removal taking ammonia and other organics out of the system entirely before they can break down.

Id get a skimmer but thats just me. Id also probably do a mini bean animal over flow into a 5 gallon sump too. Just for fun. Could be a cool display piece if done right.

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

Depends, I really enjoy equipment. I get more joy from researching components, theory and designing the sump systems, plumbing, automation etc. Then I do from watching the tank.
Always tinkering.
If you're that type of hobbyist, get a skimmer. Reef octopus makes a good nano HOB skimmer.
If you want a tank thats simpler just up your water changes. In reality reef equipment like skimmers just prolong and reduce the amount and frequency of water changes.
Doing a 5 gallon (50%) water change would only cost you a few bucks and would reduce nutrients in the tank and restore trace elements. A skimmer would save you some money on salt on the long run and help with continual nutrient removal taking ammonia and other organics out of the system entirely before they can break down.

Id get a skimmer but thats just me. Id also probably do a mini bean animal over flow into a 5 gallon sump too. Just for fun. Could be a cool display piece if done right.

I'm just getting into saltwater and I do find the equipment aspect of it more enjoyable than the actual fish/coral aspect so far.

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

I just want to add some information about beginner mushroom.
If you have enough light the mushroom will open up and stay flat on the rock, if you don't have enough light they still open up but will have a cone shape that they try to reach out to the light.

 

[banjocat]

I just want to add some information about beginner mushroom.
If you have enough light the mushroom will open up and stay flat on the rock, if you don't have enough light they still open up but will have a cone shape that they try to reach out to the light.

Thanks was kind of confused on what tlindsey meant by them opening and closing.

 

[Five.five-six]

I still run halide lighting but it’s much more mainstream to go LeD these days On the low end you can get mars aqua on ebay for well under $100 or you could spend well over $400 on an echo tech XR-15 pro.

Leathers, Zoas, colt corals would be the easiest to start with.