Trim SPS or let them grow into one another?

ReefingHavoc · 01/12/2016, 08:03 PM

As the title says, I have a Tyree Rainbow Stylophora and what I believe to be a Blue Tort Acropora. They're starting to grow into one another and was curious if I should frag the Acro to keep it away from the Stylo or let nature take its course. Thoughts? Experience?

Stormtrooper · 01/12/2016, 08:24 PM

I have found that by letting the different varieties "grow" in to each other that they
actually fuse together at some point and continue to grow without killing each other.

It certainly looks more natural in my opinion and lets the corals develop their natural shape.

Dave.

organism · 01/13/2016, 01:03 PM

It looks cool with similar species, but Acro vs Stylophora is not going to go well imo since they'll be stinging each other like crazy.

A1t2o · 01/13/2016, 01:12 PM

You could test it out with a frag of each to see if they will play nice or if they will kill each other. It would be a lot less risky than trying it with the colonies. In the mean time, I would frag the colonies and sell the frags until the test frags grow enough to tell.

power boat jim · 01/13/2016, 02:12 PM

The stylo will win the fight keep it away from the tort.

Wazzel · 01/13/2016, 03:24 PM

If they play well with each other I let them be, if not I trim. When making frags to sell I try to take them from potential conflict zones. It keeps my colonies looking better than if I just trimmed from what I could easily reach.

iClown2 · 01/14/2016, 09:04 AM

I would trim. Sometimes the favorite gets out grown.

MrCaveman · 01/14/2016, 12:32 PM

Id frag it and place it somewhere else in the tank with different lighting access. Its cool to see if some corals will change or develop a different color hue. Plus having a few colonies of a same species looks more natural too as long as you still have space for a second colony and space for more frag species if you still want to further grow your collection.

01/12/2016, 08:03 PM	#1
ReefingHavoc Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 120	Trim SPS or let them grow into one another? As the title says, I have a Tyree Rainbow Stylophora and what I believe to be a Blue Tort Acropora. They're starting to grow into one another and was curious if I should frag the Acro to keep it away from the Stylo or let nature take its course. Thoughts? Experience?

01/13/2016, 01:03 PM	#3
organism code monkey Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: south bay Posts: 6,223	It looks cool with similar species, but Acro vs Stylophora is not going to go well imo since they'll be stinging each other like crazy. __________________ I don't always grow frags... but when I do, I prefer Dos Acros

01/13/2016, 03:24 PM	#6
Wazzel Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Houma, LA Posts: 4,743	If they play well with each other I let them be, if not I trim. When making frags to sell I try to take them from potential conflict zones. It keeps my colonies looking better than if I just trimmed from what I could easily reach. __________________ Mark Beware the light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes it's a train. Current Tank Info: 120, LED, Bare Bottom, SPS/LPS

01/12/2016, 08:24 PM	#2
Stormtrooper Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Western Australia Posts: 56	I have found that by letting the different varieties "grow" in to each other that they actually fuse together at some point and continue to grow without killing each other. It certainly looks more natural in my opinion and lets the corals develop their natural shape. Dave.

01/13/2016, 01:12 PM	#4
A1t2o Moved On Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Mankato, MN Posts: 382	You could test it out with a frag of each to see if they will play nice or if they will kill each other. It would be a lot less risky than trying it with the colonies. In the mean time, I would frag the colonies and sell the frags until the test frags grow enough to tell.

01/13/2016, 02:12 PM	#5
power boat jim Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Wisconsin, The big peninsula Posts: 2,100	The stylo will win the fight keep it away from the tort.

01/14/2016, 09:04 AM	#7
iClown2 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 30	I would trim. Sometimes the favorite gets out grown.

01/14/2016, 12:32 PM	#8
MrCaveman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: West Covina, CA Posts: 201	Id frag it and place it somewhere else in the tank with different lighting access. Its cool to see if some corals will change or develop a different color hue. Plus having a few colonies of a same species looks more natural too as long as you still have space for a second colony and space for more frag species if you still want to further grow your collection.