Coral growth on rockwork

[jrnannery]

I like the look of corals that have grown onto the rockwork, like zoas, palys, etc. I really like the look of acans, favias, etc when they become part of the liverock.

What I want is to separate similar corals with different corals. Zoas separating acans, blastos separating favias, you get the picture. Essentially I am looking to create a tightly integrated reef, similar to what you'd see in nature. I know to expect some warfare, but I'm hoping to minimize that by strategically bordering corals that will get along.

Anyone have any experience in putting corals together that'll behave, and won't integrate...at all.

[Scutterborn]

I've got some experience here. I've got a superman monti that grew up to some zoas and stopped. The zoas were unaffected but blocked the light to the monti.



Right towards the center of that pic.


- Ben -

[jrnannery]

Great, so generally speaking, zoas and montis shouldn't compete for real estate? At least in your tank?

Nice setup, BTW.

[FireWater]

It is a crap shoot most of the time. I have had zoas overtake acans. Acans overtake palys. Sps literally grow right around, over and through other sps.

The ones that appear to get along we're by chance.

[Scutterborn]

Thank you.

Generally speaking, most phyllia will work together but will not work next to anything else. While they won't sting it typically, they tend to aggregate polyps into not opening. This will contribute to the demise of said coral.

Zoas and palys will not "attack" each other but can block light, causing problems. There are many variable and not all coral act exactly the same way. Take this advise with a grain of salt also! Lol.


- Ben -