[Witfull]

as mentioned water quality is the first step to any coral looking good. if WQ isnt up to snuff, the best looking corals will not be all they can be.

second is lighting, some corals are sold al lower light. but i had found that this translates into can survive under poor lighting. but they thrive under more light. one thing that has to be remembered, our tanks even with strong lighting is lower than the sun. ive heard LFS say MH lighting will kill leather corals and burn brain corals. this simply is incorrect.

now the next part is the hardest to accomplish. Patience . dont run all willy nilly buying corals just to fill the tank. think of it as decorating a mansion, you dont want to have any old coral, you want a chipendale. make coral shopping an event, go to several stores if available. leave the credit card or cash in the car. look, browse, compare at one store then the next. after looking over all options, then decide if you really liked anything you saw. just because you went doesnt mean you HAVE to buy something.

many of the tanks you see have been built over years of patience and dedication.

end of ramble~