Coral aggressiveness query

[Aaarrrggg]

I've heard mushrooms can be quite aggressive and was wondering if I could use this to my advantage to stop a star polyp from spreading too far? Could this work if they were placed next to each other... or would they just both end up unhappy?

 

[my120reef]

can't you just trim the star polyps?

 

[Aaarrrggg]

Ooo I didn't know you could!
I'll explain a little more why I asked...

I just started adding corals and I'm finding placement rather difficult... so many things to keep in mind, plus making them look good!

I have a nice green star polyp rock that I don't really want getting any bigger. I read how they can go a bit nuts and its best to have them on a little island to limit their growth. Unfortunately there isn't really room to do that so I wondered if I could put it at the bottom of a mound with mushrooms above it to keep it under control?

I guess I could prune them later, but I’d rather not let it come to that.

 

[saltpeter]

You want agressive , try anchor or hammer . It stings me , it repels neighbor coral and even causes die off .

 

[reefworm]

Had the same experience with green stars, and my120reef is right - you can trim them. What I did was to place small rock next to the stars in the direction of growth or spread. Once the polyps had spread onto the new rock, I'd separate the two rocks with an exacto knife, and use the new rock for trading frags or trade for stuff at the LFS

 

[Aaarrrggg]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9370943#post9370943 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefworm
Had the same experience with green stars, and my120reef is right - you can trim them. What I did was to place small rock next to the stars in the direction of growth or spread. Once the polyps had spread onto the new rock, I'd separate the two rocks with an exacto knife, and use the new rock for trading frags or trade for stuff at the LFS

Thats some mighty smart thinking! I'll give that a whirl thanks

 

[reefworm]

You're welcome. Just passing on wisdom that was passed to me. Don't you love this place?

 

[Aaarrrggg]

Yup! There's no way I'd risk a SW aquarium without it!