What does a Pocillopora overrun tank look like?

[Alexraptor]

I've been hearing that pocillopora should be added "with caution" to a tank due to its ability to spawn asexually.
Does anyone have any pictures that shows what a tank that's been overrun with spawning pocillopora looks like?
And is it really a bad thing? or just a problem for SPS keepers that are trying to cultivate a greater diversity of corals? I mean given how pocillopora can grow in vast fields in the wild.

 

[outssider]

pocillopora grows pretty rapidly (for sps). once it gets settled in and comfortable in your tank (could be a year or more) you may start to see little spots on your rocks where it magically appears. If you have an established tank you don't want to be taking all the rock apart to kill it. it will appear in areas that are extremely hard to get to so killing it will be a challenge. My advice is not to put it in your tank unless you are comfortable with it being everywhere.

I have no pictures. luckily I caught my problem in time and was able to use a laser to eliminate the little basterds.

 

[AdamNC]

I have not had an issue with mine in 3 years. The only thing I did with mine just recently though is broke it down and placed a fresh frag of it in the same spot. It was getting a little big for its spot, a little bigger than a soft ball. Grows nice with a deep dark green color that just glows under the blues.

 

[Cyberdude]

It's super aggressive. Even grows on walls. I throw out baseball sized growths every other month.

 

[Alexraptor]

How potent a stinger is it? I mean how does it stack up against other aggressive corals like Euphyllias and Pavonas?

 

[Cyberdude]

Harmless just eats up your real estate. Don't plant it

 

[DiscusHeckel]

I used to have a P. damicornis colony. It reproduced even on clam mantles as shown below:

 

[jda]

I don't know anybody who lets all of the spawn grow... people just get sick of killing it all the time.

It is a catch 22... if you want to get good at this, then it will haunt you. If you never want it to spawn, then just have a so-so reef. ...neither are good.

I have a no monti, birdsnet or poci rule. Only exception is Leng Sy cap.

 

[Alexraptor]

No birdsnest? I can't even keep those at all long term for some reason. They usually just "melt" for me after a few months and even my acro frags don't do that.

 

[jda]

Birdsnest are the xenia of the SPS world.

Monits are the mushrooms... most of them are terrible, but there are few cool ones.

Pocis are the clove polyps which will take over and ruin your vibe.

 

[WLachnit]

I have seen a tank that had it sprout up on the sides of the glass.


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[plyle02]

I had green pocci grow on a piece of bottom of tank where the sand was blown away, on the overflows, in the grates of the overflows, on the locline return nozzles, and even on a gyre powerhead, and of course near other corals. I actually could no eradicate it, it was so bad... Sadly, it was a beautiful coral, the green color was amazing and the way it grew, but I have learned my lesson and won't even think of it again, even the rainbows

 

[Alexraptor]

At the same time it sounds pretty cool though.
I kinda like the idea of a more natural looking totally overgrown reef tank lol.

I'd actually seriously consider getting it, but only If I knew for a certainty that my pavonas, wall hammer and frogspawn have the upper hand. you know, being able to totally sting the life out of pocilloporas if they cropped up too close. And that the Pavona's could overgrow them with ease like they can overgrow monti's.

 

[Alexraptor]

You know what, nvm that.
I got a 15 gallon reef that is in dire need of a restart. I think I might just re-commission it as a Pocillopora Only tank(as far as corals go), just for the fun of it.