SPS placement to each other

[Ratkiller]

I have purchased about 20 SPS frags (various acro-s and mille-s) since January. I know at some point things are going to be getting pretty crowded. Do I need to worry about some stinging others? Are some not good to put next to others? And what about contact? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Reefer577]

Most sps need space in between each other, unless they are the exact same type they will sting each other. Even a lot of milleporas that look compatible will sting each other. Any of your sps that have large polyp extension, I would give more room because they will usually sting harder.
In my tank, I keep similar sps near each other, that way if they do fall over (fingers crosses) they won't be damaged as badly. Like my millepora frags are all grouped together, my montiporas have their own side of the tank, my torts are also grouped together, etc.
But this might not look very natural in a display tank, so I would just give them all plenty of space and no hermit crabs to knock them over. ;]

 

[Reefer577]

...

 

[iap]

Keep the millis away from the acros. Stupid snail knocked a milli on my frag rack into an acro and was there leaning on it all day while Im at work. Get home and a section of my acro is now white.

 

[Ratkiller]

OK so stinging is an issue. I do like the natural look, so I don't want to segregate them. And I've gotten rid of all my crabs years ago. But do have 3-4 snails that rome around on the rock work, but never had a problem knocking them over.

As it's hard to judge how big these are going to get and the growth pattern. Is it a safe bet to keep at least a 1in gap between them?
I've used super glue to mount them to rubble then used epoxy putty to secure them to my rock work. I figured I can easily pop off the putty when it comes time to move them. Or worst case scenario trim the SPS as needed, to avaiod any contact or stinging.

 

[iap]

I am interested in knowing this as well. As I have 23 frags sitting on plugs in a rack right now. Gonna go pick up some rubble rock probably today and superglue the frags to them ad place them in my rock work.

 

[Reefer577]

1inch gap is not enough. 2-3 inches minimum is what I'd go for. It might not look very pretty right now, but when they grow out they won't be stinging the heck out of each other every month.
Just take a look at some of the tank pics on here, you'll see a lot of people start out with spaced out frags at first, but in a year or less everything grows in and it doesn't look bad at all.

 

[JB NY]

acros will easily grow 8-10" or more in a few years. At that point they will be encrusted in the rockwork and difficult to remove. 1"-2" is really tight. 6" or more is about the minimum you should put frags, it might seem like a lot because all you have is small sticks right now, but acropora grow really large over time.

 

[Ratkiller]

I didn't think about it incrusting on to the rock. Thanks JB!!!!

I'm thinking, at this point I will just have to keep a close eye on them. I have many frags in a limited space. After they start growing in I may have to sell off some to make room. And just stick with the ones I like best. A few are only the size of my thumb nail, so I have some time.