Aquacultured Corals
Anemones are animals of the cnidaria phylum which is named after the stinging cells these animals contain, called cnidocytes. Anemones need lots of light to do well and obtain most their nutrition from a symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) that lives inside their tissues. Anemones prefer water free of organic wastes and good water conditions. Anemones are popular for their mutual symbiosis with many animals, whether it is crabs or anemonefish (clownfish). The anemone usually protects the animal, while in turn it receives scraps of food.
Hard corals are also referred to as stony corals, and are members of the order Scleractinia. Hard Corals can be differentiated from other types of corals by their calcium skeleton or base. These corals are often broken down into two groups by their polyp type: small polyp stony corals (SPS) and large polyp stony corals (LPS).The stony corals are generally more difficult to keep and more demanding of water quality, especially chemistry, than the soft corals. Captive-propagated hard corals seem to be much hardier than their wild-collected counterparts.
Soft corals are soft bodies made up of a large number of polyps connected by fleshy tissue. They lack the limestone skeleton found on their relatives, the hard coral. Soft corals, are a great start for the marine aquarist graduating from fish to invertebrate to full-blown-reef enthusiast. Many soft corals are tolerant toward aquarium conditions and more easily cared for than the small or large polyped true or stony corals.
Propagated Zoanthids acclimate very well to new tanks due to the fact that they are tank raised. Zoanthids are hardy corals and an excellent coral for the beginner!!