- Joined
- Apr 20, 2020
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- 437
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- 370
As someone getting back into reefs after a decade of keeping high tech planted I’m struck by how differently the design, layout and inhabitant selection often seems. I don’t know if it’s that’s corals are far harder to keep than plants, or if it’s just not possible to shape a reef the way you can shape a planted tank, but it’s quite striking.
The best planted tanks, certainly show competition worthy ones, generally focus on using the plants to create an overall image and feeling. Only a handful of plant species may be used, with repeating combinations, and great care is placed on trimming and replanting to follow layout ideas and angles/lines.
Reef tanks, even the best ones, seem to be much more focused on keeping a wide range of corals and color morphs, with duplicate specimens rare, and corals only moderately controlled in their growth and form.
How possible do you think it would be to try to create a reef tank that mimics the style and technique of a planted tank?
For example, instead of introducing 4 or 5 Zoa varieties on a large rock and then bemoaning one outcompeting the others, you would physically trim/prune the more aggressive Zoa and maybe introduce additional frags of the slower growing varieties to keep a balanced look.
Instead of collecting dozens of different SPS, maybe 2 or 3 varieties with complementary colors and form could be placed throughout the tank and fragged to maintain their shape or a sloping composition.
The idea fascinates me but I’m wondering if it would be like sledding uphill.
The best planted tanks, certainly show competition worthy ones, generally focus on using the plants to create an overall image and feeling. Only a handful of plant species may be used, with repeating combinations, and great care is placed on trimming and replanting to follow layout ideas and angles/lines.
Reef tanks, even the best ones, seem to be much more focused on keeping a wide range of corals and color morphs, with duplicate specimens rare, and corals only moderately controlled in their growth and form.
How possible do you think it would be to try to create a reef tank that mimics the style and technique of a planted tank?
For example, instead of introducing 4 or 5 Zoa varieties on a large rock and then bemoaning one outcompeting the others, you would physically trim/prune the more aggressive Zoa and maybe introduce additional frags of the slower growing varieties to keep a balanced look.
Instead of collecting dozens of different SPS, maybe 2 or 3 varieties with complementary colors and form could be placed throughout the tank and fragged to maintain their shape or a sloping composition.
The idea fascinates me but I’m wondering if it would be like sledding uphill.