Is there a set of rules as to what is placed on the sand/bottom and what is placed on rocks? I know with clams some, like croceas and maximas, are placed on the rocks so they can get enough light and the others derasas, squamosas, gigas' are placed on the sand because they do not need as much light and because they can get too big to be on the rocks. I was asking Mel about plate corals and she said they should be on the sand because they have a fleshy underside that needs the softness of the sand. There may be some that "œyou want to place on sand" because the sand can act that a boundary and minimize spreading (they would tend to spread on rocks). Are there any other rules?
placement rules
- Thread starter TriMax
- Start date
reeflover101
New member
This would be a great topic for our next meeting.
acrodave
REEF NERD
i dont think any rules are 100% if your lights are strong enough then you dont have to put the clams on the rocks.and if you ever want to move them again you dont put them in the rocks. every thing ive seen in book say plates go on sandy bottoms. but if you see pics of them in the wild they are all up in the rocks.and i have had zoas spread across the sand before. so i think all the rules are meant to be broke
I agree with acrodave
Plates and bubble corals, and others, do have delicate flesh and do not need to be smashing against rocks. Plates can swell up and move sometimes and have a nasty sting. I have one that is on the sand ,but between 2 rocks so it cant move on its own and take out other corals.
As far as other corals and their placement I am still learning. I have been able to experiment with some of my sps and placement. I take a frag and move it somewhere else in the tank and watch. I now know I have my pocillipora colony placed to high in my tank. I moved a frag of it lower than the colony in my tank and have noticed much more growth from the frag than the colony. Just opposite of this is my green slimer, where moving a frag of it higher in my tank has increased growth.
As far as set rules, I guess some sources list guidelines, either I haven't read these guidelines or have forgotten what I read. Whatever the case I am learning more about the placement of my corals by fragging.
Plates and bubble corals, and others, do have delicate flesh and do not need to be smashing against rocks. Plates can swell up and move sometimes and have a nasty sting. I have one that is on the sand ,but between 2 rocks so it cant move on its own and take out other corals.
As far as other corals and their placement I am still learning. I have been able to experiment with some of my sps and placement. I take a frag and move it somewhere else in the tank and watch. I now know I have my pocillipora colony placed to high in my tank. I moved a frag of it lower than the colony in my tank and have noticed much more growth from the frag than the colony. Just opposite of this is my green slimer, where moving a frag of it higher in my tank has increased growth.
As far as set rules, I guess some sources list guidelines, either I haven't read these guidelines or have forgotten what I read. Whatever the case I am learning more about the placement of my corals by fragging.
reeflover101
New member
I agree with GPHiAce. I would play with it and see where they like every system is different.
There really isn't a rule of thumb for such things... Some clams like to be up in the rock work, others don't... But if they aren't happy where they are placed, they will throw themselves elsewhere... Likewise, if a coral is fading or browning out, sometimes its water quality, but other times its placement...
