pest corals. Add to the list!

Cozen89 · 05/05/2007, 12:58 AM

I'm new to the coral thing and trying to figure out what I want for my tank. I'm sure a lot of people are in the same boat as me. I'm worried about getting some corals that might look good to me now, but that will eventually over take a tank. I'm sure I already have some.

So I'm looking for those experienced reefers to help list some corals that tend to multiply a lot and over run tanks not allowing a healthy environment where other corals can't co-exist. Thanks!

As of right now I have:

frog spawn
red mushrooms (4)
orange and purple ricordias florida (2)
green zoos
pink zoos
pink carnation
green star polyps

drummereef · 05/05/2007, 01:03 AM

The only corals I really have to keep up on fragging are green star polyps and xenia. As long as they are on an island you really won't have a problem. I would consider the frogspawn to be quite desirable, along with the ricordia imo. Zoas are easy to keep seperated and are easy to frag as well.

Cozen89 · 05/05/2007, 01:14 AM

xenia huh? Darn and I was itching to find a pulsating xenia. Might ahve to get it anyway haha.

jenajet · 05/05/2007, 01:22 AM

Yellow polyps spread like crazy. Xenia and gsp I agree big time.

AquaReeferMan · 05/05/2007, 01:43 AM

Mushrooms. Man I started with 4 of them. Turned into 300. Very aggressive and multiply very quickly. I wish I never would have taken them.

Cozen89 · 05/05/2007, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AquaReeferMan
Mushrooms. Man I started with 4 of them. Turned into 300. Very aggressive and multiply very quickly. I wish I never would have taken them.

what type of mushrooms in particular?

a friend of mine had problems with his reds. Hence why I now have some. Haha!

Anyone have the same problems with ricordias?

drummereef · 05/05/2007, 02:13 AM

Just your '-standard Actinodiscus are good growers. I have lots in my tank.

avshockey311 · 05/05/2007, 05:23 AM

Mushrooms and Xenia are my 2 worst enemies in my tank.

Bambalam · 05/05/2007, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by avshockey311
Mushrooms and Xenia are my 2 worst enemies in my tank.

Same problem here....

papagimp · 05/05/2007, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cozen89
list some corals that tend to multiply a lot and over run tanks not allowing a healthy environment where other corals can't co-exist.

It's in their very nature to not co-exist and try to spread. Survival of the fittest. Xenia can overrun a tank because of quicker growth rates, but even though my xenia spreads and grows quicker, other non fast growers, like one of my frogspawns keeps the xenia from spreading further in any direction. They get close, the froggie stings em back. They're definatly ways to work around coral selection. Green Star Polyps can overrun a tank quickly as well. Keep em on a nie little island rock in the sanbed where they cannot reach the majoirty of aquascaping, easy to control then. You just have to be smarter than the average coral.

bayislandsreef · 05/05/2007, 08:13 AM

I recently had to take out live rock by rock and remove dozens of mushrooms because they spread like wild fire. Even after doing that, others have started growing were the remains of others were. I do have xenia but I am keeping it on a separate rock and GSP also. If you want to someday have sps get rid of mushrooms they can be toxic if they come in contact with others

squeezix · 05/05/2007, 10:59 AM

Ricordea are not very fast growers, they won't overun your tank. Just be sure to pick the prettier varieties because if and when they do split, you can sell 'em or trade 'em. Smooth mushrooms, no matter what color grow fast. Yumas, Umbrellas and furry mushrooms do not grow as quickly, are much more interesting and tend to get larger.

Frick-n-Frags · 05/05/2007, 01:21 PM

i would say a pink carnation is more "don't buy because it is almost guaranteed to die" list material.

hey there's a great thread idea. I'm on it...

SFMMcoasters · 05/05/2007, 02:35 PM

What ammount of time are you guys speaking about here? I've got GSP, xenia, several zoa's and Ive seen hardly any spread in the 2 months ive been running them. Are you talking about a larger time scale?

Cozen89 · 05/05/2007, 02:54 PM

I've seen shrooms take over a tank in 1.5-2 years time. Although it was happening gradually the entire time. Hmm, maybe I should remove my red shrooms now while I can. And stick with ricordias.

Cozen89 · 05/05/2007, 11:42 PM

anyone else have opinions on this?

BCreefmaker · 05/06/2007, 12:48 AM

pest corals = lots of money in LFS credit for me

Cozen89 · 05/06/2007, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BCreefmaker
pest corals = lots of money in LFS credit for me

very very good point there haha!

rush07 · 05/06/2007, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by papagimp
You just have to be smarter than the average coral.

Damn. I think I found my problem.............

Dingo Dog · 05/06/2007, 10:52 AM

Other than what's already be suggested, I'd avoid anything that can relocate itself like anemones, or have long extending tentacles that can reach out and sting, etc.

05/05/2007, 12:58 AM	#1
Cozen89 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,411	pest corals. Add to the list! I'm new to the coral thing and trying to figure out what I want for my tank. I'm sure a lot of people are in the same boat as me. I'm worried about getting some corals that might look good to me now, but that will eventually over take a tank. I'm sure I already have some. So I'm looking for those experienced reefers to help list some corals that tend to multiply a lot and over run tanks not allowing a healthy environment where other corals can't co-exist. Thanks! As of right now I have: frog spawn red mushrooms (4) orange and purple ricordias florida (2) green zoos pink zoos pink carnation green star polyps

05/05/2007, 01:03 AM	#2
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	The only corals I really have to keep up on fragging are green star polyps and xenia. As long as they are on an island you really won't have a problem. I would consider the frogspawn to be quite desirable, along with the ricordia imo. Zoas are easy to keep seperated and are easy to frag as well. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

05/05/2007, 01:22 AM	#4
jenajet Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ga Posts: 103	Yellow polyps spread like crazy. Xenia and gsp I agree big time. __________________ Jena Current Tank Info: 90 gallon mixed reef.

05/05/2007, 01:43 AM	#5
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	Mushrooms. Man I started with 4 of them. Turned into 300. Very aggressive and multiply very quickly. I wish I never would have taken them. __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

05/05/2007, 02:13 AM	#7
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Just your '-standard Actinodiscus are good growers. I have lots in my tank. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

05/05/2007, 01:14 AM	#3
Cozen89 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,411	xenia huh? Darn and I was itching to find a pulsating xenia. Might ahve to get it anyway haha.

05/05/2007, 05:23 AM	#8
avshockey311 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Nebraska Posts: 1,643	Mushrooms and Xenia are my 2 worst enemies in my tank. __________________ Surgeon General's WARNING: This hobby may be addictive, and has also been known to drain bank accounts. Current Tank Info: 90 AGA MegaFlow, 120 lbs. LR, RedSea Berlin skimmer, 20 gallon sump, 2 150W Metal Halide

05/05/2007, 08:13 AM	#11
bayislandsreef Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Far and Away Posts: 51	I recently had to take out live rock by rock and remove dozens of mushrooms because they spread like wild fire. Even after doing that, others have started growing were the remains of others were. I do have xenia but I am keeping it on a separate rock and GSP also. If you want to someday have sps get rid of mushrooms they can be toxic if they come in contact with others

05/05/2007, 10:59 AM	#12
squeezix Premium Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 338	Ricordea are not very fast growers, they won't overun your tank. Just be sure to pick the prettier varieties because if and when they do split, you can sell 'em or trade 'em. Smooth mushrooms, no matter what color grow fast. Yumas, Umbrellas and furry mushrooms do not grow as quickly, are much more interesting and tend to get larger. __________________ Necessity is the Mother of Invention; Frustration is the Father Current Tank Info: 25 Tall lit by 250 DE, Moonlights. 10 gallon sump with CPR Bak Pak. New Tank 4/23/2007

05/05/2007, 01:21 PM	#13
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	i would say a pink carnation is more "don't buy because it is almost guaranteed to die" list material. hey there's a great thread idea. I'm on it... __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

05/05/2007, 02:35 PM	#14
SFMMcoasters Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: LA Posts: 112	What ammount of time are you guys speaking about here? I've got GSP, xenia, several zoa's and Ive seen hardly any spread in the 2 months ive been running them. Are you talking about a larger time scale?

05/05/2007, 02:54 PM	#15
Cozen89 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,411	I've seen shrooms take over a tank in 1.5-2 years time. Although it was happening gradually the entire time. Hmm, maybe I should remove my red shrooms now while I can. And stick with ricordias.

05/05/2007, 11:42 PM	#16
Cozen89 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,411	anyone else have opinions on this?

05/06/2007, 12:48 AM	#17
BCreefmaker Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,129	pest corals = lots of money in LFS credit for me __________________ To make apple pie from scratch, You must first create the universe.

05/06/2007, 10:52 AM	#20
Dingo Dog Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: TEXAS Posts: 432	Other than what's already be suggested, I'd avoid anything that can relocate itself like anemones, or have long extending tentacles that can reach out and sting, etc.