Has anyone tried growing corals on the front of the glass?

[Michigan Reefer]

I know it sounds crazy, but I just bought a new 30 pc magnetic frag rack and placed it on the front panel of my display just temporarily. Already I've noticed my fish love swimming and hovering underneath it right in front of the tank. It's really nice seeing the fish up close and being still right in the front. I'm sure they feel more protected and safe so why not try this with a small frag rack, but grow a few corals off of it protruding out to create a ledge for them to swim under. I'm thinking either montipora or tabling acros. The front of my tanks usually have a lot of open space in front so I figure a little shadowing won't hurt. Just a little eye sore of a magnet on the front, but the top down view I think would look amazing. Any other suggestions or photos of this approach? Plus more room for corals to grow right?

 

[Peach02]

Personally I think it would get old really quick having a coral blocking your view but it would be awesome having the fish closer up. I've never seen it done in person though

 

[Lorenzo Angotti]

The only thing you might face is the coral out growing it’s space, obscuring your view to see other corals, and maintenance on your front glass with build off algae, detritus etc.

 

[Lorenzo Angotti]

Oh, I’ve heard some people grow corals on the back of the glass especially if they are quick spreaders,
Like blue star polyps and green star polyps.you could place your montipora plate on the back as well , but you would have to keep an eye on it growing outwards by trimming it to keep it back. Hope that’s given you another option

 

[Gonzo74]

I say go for it! Keep us updated. I appreciate your “outside the box” thinking. This is the type of scientific exploration that starts new trends in hobbies or helps others learn to not try it.

 

[Jettareefer223]

People actually do this... I do not on the front glass. But none the less a decent lime in the sky stag and a rainbow torch on a magnet. My rainbow torch spawned yielding randomly placed babies that’s one of them lol. I’ve always had some sps on magnets I like the ability easily move them around fill dead space and give the floating corAl effect lol!

Old config.

Currently. This is the best picture of magnet stag (picture taken right after I redid it there’s still a bunch just laying around it looks better now!)

 

[SeaDweller]

my RR Aussie gold colony is growing onto the back pane... good problem to have I guess.


for now.

 

[Jon Fishman]

I would try to grow a monti-plate etc in a front corner maybe

 

[KrisReef]

If you let your frag plugs rest on the bottom of the tank they can encrust and start growing really nicely. I let the coralline algae grow on my viewing panes because I'm lazy, old, and enjoy looking from the top down. So I have a few encrusting on the bottom, and once they hit a viewpane they will start to grow up and obscure the view like others have mentioned and it will be similar to what is happening in my tank with coralline algae

The frag front and center is encrusting, and you can just see the edge of another pancake colony that it is competing with. The second colony is 1/2 inch up the front panel (not shown) but it looks like the coralline that is shown.

Most people don't like this look, and they are welcome to come scrape the coralline algae anytime by appointment.

 

[Gonzo74]

I

If you let your frag plugs rest on the bottom of the tank they can encrust and start growing really nicely. I let the coralline algae grow on my viewing panes because I'm lazy, old, and enjoy looking from the top down. So I have a few encrusting on the bottom, and once they hit a viewpane they will start to grow up and obscure the view like others have mentioned and it will be similar to what is happening in my tank with coralline algae

The frag front and center is encrusting, and you can just see the edge of another pancake colony that it is competing with. The second colony is 1/2 inch up the front panel (not shown) but it looks like the coralline that is shown.

Most people don't like this look, and they are welcome to come scrape the coralline algae anytime by appointment.

I love this post! You do things your way buddy! You like things how you like things. Don’t ever change that.