70g Cube: Goniopora-Dominated or Euphyllia-Dominated Reef?

[2molly]

I’m planning a new reef and would like some opinions before I commit.


The tank will be a 70-gallon cube, and I’m thinking about going with a single-coral theme instead of a traditional mixed reef.

Right now I’m torn between:

• a Goniopora-dominated tank, or
• an Euphyllia-dominated tank.

I have an AI Hydra 64HD, water movement from the return pump, and an AI Nero 5 running at a fairly high setting (not maxed out), so equipment shouldn’t be a limiting factor.


What really appeals to me is the elegance of a tank centered around a single type of coral. I like the clean, cohesive look, and I also like that I wouldn’t have to worry about different coral species stinging each other or constantly planning around coral aggression.


I’m also not a fan of the typical “candy shop” look with bright neon green, red, I prefer a more natural and consistent appearance.


My biggest concern is whether a tank focused mostly on one type of coral will become boring after a year or two.


Has anyone here kept a Goniopora-only or Euphyllia-only tank long term? Which one would you choose, and why? Did you ever regret not going with a mixed reef?

 

[steveschuerger]

Why not do a half and half mix. Just don’t add others. Right now my 25 is split between Gonis , Frog/Hammer and a few favia mostly

 

[ccole]

In my experience, goniopora can be aggressive towards one another, as can torches.

 

[2molly]

In my experience, goniopora can be aggressive towards one another, as can torches.

How close were your corals to each other?

 

[Waters]

I did the same thing and ended up mixing both. They are close enough in appearance to not lose the illusion of a single type of coral.

 

[tzabor10]

How close were your corals to each other?

Perhaps the type of Goni or torch matters. I have had both and never had any coral warfare between the same species. Most every LFS has them stacked together. My vote is for Gonis.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

IME goni's or euphyllia can sting each other. I've lost so many goni's from goni on goni action, they have strong stingers even against each other sometimes. Some goni's can be together, but some can't. I had a frogspawn kill off several heads of my hammer coral and eventually had to be removed cause it was killing several other corals too.

 

[Ufuk's reef]

I’m planning a new reef and would like some opinions before I commit.


The tank will be a 70-gallon cube, and I’m thinking about going with a single-coral theme instead of a traditional mixed reef.

Right now I’m torn between:

• a Goniopora-dominated tank, or
• an Euphyllia-dominated tank.

I have an AI Hydra 64HD, water movement from the return pump, and an AI Nero 5 running at a fairly high setting (not maxed out), so equipment shouldn’t be a limiting factor.


What really appeals to me is the elegance of a tank centered around a single type of coral. I like the clean, cohesive look, and I also like that I wouldn’t have to worry about different coral species stinging each other or constantly planning around coral aggression.


I’m also not a fan of the typical “candy shop” look with bright neon green, red, I prefer a more natural and consistent appearance.


My biggest concern is whether a tank focused mostly on one type of coral will become boring after a year or two.


Has anyone here kept a Goniopora-only or Euphyllia-only tank long term? Which one would you choose, and why? Did you ever regret not going with a mixed reef?

My vote goes to Euphyllia. My little garden.

 

[steveschuerger]

Perhaps the type of Goni or torch matters. I have had both and never had any coral warfare between the same species. Most every LFS has them stacked together. My vote is for Gonis.

Yeah my vote, if sticking with either or would be Gonis as well. This was from a tank I had running a few years ago. Notice all the touchy feely going on

 

[kingranch2003]

I’m also not a fan of the typical “candy shop” look

 

[ccole]

How close were your corals to each other?

Here’s my tank. I let all my hammers and frogspawn touch. That big green goniopora is the one that seems to do most of the stinging to other goniopora so I keep it as separate as possible.

As for torches, I just try and not let different localities touch. If something seems to be bothering something else, I just move it.

 

[Joe.D]

I love my torches! I have 2 torches, a hammer and 3 Goni’s in my 75g. The Goni’s are definitely more temperamental- I have one that’s closed up and gone white 3 times and has come back each time. No idea why, parameters have been stable. The torches are more resilient.

One of my Goni’s grew into a huge candy cane colony and stung it. I managed to save 2 heads. It fell over the other day and you can see it laying on the bottom before I fragged it. I now give that Goni plenty of room.