Pocillopora that won't spread uncontrollably

[Peter Eichler]

Really? I don't think I've heard that before. This is the kind of thing I was worried about as I can't stand pest species in my tank. I know they don't multiply like Aiptasia, but I don't relish the thought of having to kalk tens or even hundreds of corals whenever my Pocillopora decides to multiply.

I don't keep any type of birdsnets in my tank anymore other than Ponape. Even if they don't spread via polyp bailout, they all grow like weeds and will form huge colonies in no time. As far as I'm concerned with my tank, they're pests...

 

[biggles]

I've had pocil repeatedly throw out polyps over the years, it's common and the novelty wears off very quickly when they begin competing with your other SPS. I have two small branches in the tank now and one ejected about 20% of its polyps a few days ago for no particular reason so both need removing before i end up with yet another pocil outbreak. As Peter said, they end being pests in many cases, i don't know why i even tried keeping them again tbh :rolleye1:

Edit: Here's a pic showing the little polyp spitter showing a few spots of missing polyps. First time you see this you freak thinking the pocil is RTN'ing lol - after a while you end up wishing the bloody thing did........
Btw i chopped back those acros after the pocil did it's thing so that wasn't the trigger.

 

[wizard13]

Wow, this is news to me. I bought a "damicornus" that is 1 week away from leaving QT and going into my main tank. The reef is exclusively SPS with 90% being acro, 9% monti and 1% birdsnest/Pocillopora. After reading this I'm considering not putting it in my tank. So if I'm reading this correct, all pocillopora spread or is it just certain kinds? Thanks in advance.

 

[lionfish300]

I have a green one started as a mimi colony 5 years ago. Over the years i have got rid of alot of good size colonies 5-6 inches from babies, every so often I have to pick out new babies all over my rocks, they do end up every where and some really hard to get to places

 

[tcmfish]

They do SPAWN. They are brooders, not broadcast spawners... Just like Tubastraea sp.

 

[Amphiprion]

I think people make a bigger deal about them "taking over" a tank than needed. Yes, it can be a hassle, that said, at the end of the day, it is a stony coral, so its not like it grows super fast either. You can just break it off and sell or give away the frag. Some pocci's are nicer than others.

Depends on the tank. It grew incredibly fast for me and did take over the tank:

 

[rlpardue]

Meh, it's probably better to have multiplying Poccis eating up spare nutrients than majanos. You could even think of selling the little baby frags as nutrient export; kind of like Xenia tanks. I guess poccis consume calc and alk though, which would be a little annoying for something you don't really want to keep.

 

[wizard13]

I'm glad I came across this thread before I put it into my tank. Thank you.