Soft corals that tend become pests (list)

[haynesw]

I'm looking to compile a list of corals that tend to overgrow/spread rapidly and become pests. I would consider Xenia and GSP in this category. I would not consider Sarcophyton in this category.

Can anyone with sort coral experience please list corals that they feel have a tendency to overgrow the tank and become pests.

Lobophytum?
Capnella?
Sinularia?
Anthelia?
Cespitularia?
Heliopora?
Stereonephthya?
Nephthea?

Thanks.

 

[FuGu2]

colt coral and kenya, definitely!

 

[salgas]

GSP and palythoas they grow and grow even when every other coral dies for some reason...
Resilient little pests...
Beautiful though.

 

[rishma]

How is a colt coral a pest? Or nepthea, stereonepthea, sinularia, etc? The don't spread.

 

[accordsirh22]

How is a colt coral a pest? Or nepthea, stereonepthea, sinularia, etc? The don't spread.

truth

 

[haynesw]

truth

One person said colt coral is but no one said nephthea, etc are pests. I put a question mark next to these genera because I don't have much first hand experience with soft corals. They were listed with their question marks for someone to say "no, sinularia do not have a tendency to spread.." etc.

 

[el_pinguino]

"Pest" is in the eye of the beholder.

Bottom line is that every coral on the reef is fighting to become the dominant species - even the slow growers (they're just playing the long con). You just have to take an active role in maintaining diversity no matter what corals you introduce.

 

[haynesw]

"Pest" is in the eye of the beholder.

Bottom line is that every coral on the reef is fighting to become the dominant species - even the slow growers (they're just playing the long con). You just have to take an active role in maintaining diversity no matter what corals you introduce.

I meant corals that overgrow and spread rapidly. You'll never hear someone say "I started with a small sarcophyton and now this stuff has spread and is covering my whole tank." I have seen this with Xenia and GSP but I really don't have experience with many soft corals. Basically I'm just trying to find out which corals have this tendency/propensity.

 

[wireefman]

blue cloves
Kenya tree
gsp
ENCRUSTING gorgonians

if u ask some people

some palythoa sp
some mushrooms

 

[Devaji108]

"Pest" is in the eye of the beholder.

Bottom line is that every coral on the reef is fighting to become the dominant species - even the slow growers (they're just playing the long con). You just have to take an active role in maintaining diversity no matter what corals you introduce.

very well said...

 

[DBLeite]

+1 on the palys & gsp