Letting corals grow into each other.

[Av8bluewater]

Most of my corals are still frags but I have a couple colonies that are starting to grow into each other every couple months. I've been fragging them but wondering if I should just let them battle it out. One is a green birdnest so it's not really worth a lot of money for frags... barely worth the hassle.
I know my Hawkins will kill the green birdnest branches it touches(Hawkins grows very fast too). I'm tempted to just let them grow wild but I'm afraid the green birdnest will get out of control as it grows so fast.
When I look at mature SPS tanks I wonder how are people fragging that stuff as it usually just looks like things are touching each other in harmony and all is well.

 

[Fishy 1]

I'm keen to know this as well

 

[Stevenliu9]

My spa isn't at that point yet but I am also curious. I do have two colonies of acro grow into each other, but I think they must be related because they simply fused!

 

[dowtish]

I always deter this if possible. Any signs of stress in the tank is bad IMO. I dont want the chemical warfare because I am of the theory that other corals can pick up on the stress from the battle. Which in turn could cause issues...maybe.

I also wont let an acro that is RTNing just do it in the tank if it is happening rapidly and I have determined its a lost cause, then I asap remove it from the tank as it almost seems contagious in some cases.

These are just personal thoughts and in no way have any science behind them, but it makes me sleep better at night.

 

[Av8bluewater]

Thanks for reply. I'm referring mostly to SPS growing into each other.

 

[Wazzel]

My plan is to frag just before they start to touch. I tried to space them out to have softball-ish or bigger sized colonies once they grow in. They will need some tending, if you let them grow into each other one will win and the other will loose.

 

[tycoakley]

My green slimmer and tricolor acro are growing into one another. The Green Slimmer is much larger that's the tri color. But the Tri color actually has encrusted over the slimmer. No harm, no foul in my eyes. If you are concerned with it. Cut them back. I do this with some of my corals that I don't want fighting a turf war. Frags=$$$ in my eyes.

 

[Ratpack]

I am about to have this same issue. I have a purple cap that is about to meet the green slimer. I plan to break off the purple cap, but have wondered what would happen if I just let it touch.

 

[ThorEffex]

I tend to let one half of my tank "fight it out" if you will. The loser gets a small dead spot and then they move on and grow other directions. It doesn't seem to be too big of an issue for me. I don't let colony's touch frags though.

 

[rovster]

Funny you bring this up, but I've observed that some corals can "sense" each other's presence. I have a few large frags/small minicolonies that seem to grow right up to each other and stop there. I separated them and then they started to grow again until they almost touched and then they stopped. Wierd! I have also had some that fought it out, but I wonder how much they can curb growth around one another?

 

[ZON]

no problemn at all..in my tank everyone touch neighbours

 

[Mark426]

In my tank similar corals coexist either by touching, intertwining or grow very close. Exception, my Monti Digits and my Acros dont play well together. Both seem to suffer when touching. Not really a problem as I can knock back my Montis and in a few weeks they look like they were naturally formed that way.