Confused with SPS placement

[Zoa Junkie]

I see a lot of beautiful sps tanks where they are all next to each other and it even looks as though they are touching. I always thought that sps fight for space and when they're too close they sting each other causing white areas from where they are stung. So how is it that I see many sps so close and still look like they aren't fighting one another? I'm currently in my build and have a dedicated area in my tank that I want to be all sps. What is the secret of sps placement among each other and not worrying that once they grow, they will not sting each other if their branches touch. For example, can I only put torts next to a tort, or an acro next to an acro, etc etc etc. Please help guide me so I will know once I start purchasing sps. I'm jus way confused of how close they can be, thanks in advance.

 

[FireWater]

Warfare is part of it. I can tell you I do some preventative trimming. I have had sps touch with no issues and others that get with in an inch of each other and it is a war.
Like you said, you can get away putting like corals in same area. That isn't always guaranteed though.

Just keep an eye on the colonies and be ready to trim if needed.

 

[FireWater]

Not a very good pic. Sorry.
You can see several colonies in this area with no issues.

 

[spspirate]

FireWater is right! Some may even over lap one another and feel fine with it. I have a Blue Millepora and the Bloody Mary Montipora touching each other and we all no Millepora's are pretty aggressive! It tends to knock the Bloody Mary back a bit but thats their way of communicating. Both corals are happy but soon the hard headed Bloody Mary will get the picture I hope and shy away from the Millepora. Iv'e seen it before! Like Fire Water said keep a watchful eye on each coral in your reef and how its interacting with surrounding corals.