Welcome to reef2reef! didn't notice that you were a new member at first lol
adding on to my previous post, its also worth mentioning that different coral need different lighting intensities that we measure in PAR, different coral types have par ranges like how acropora typically need 250-400 par which would be classified typically as high par, soft coral like to be at the low end of the spectrum typically 50-150. coral warfare, warfare amongst coral can range in methods from species to species, torch coral will sting with both their normal tentacles and longer sweeper tentacles, other euphyllia do the same as well as most other coral like favia, candy cane coral, scolymia as an example. some are more aggressive than others with coral in the euphyllia family typically being the more aggresive potent sting along with goniopora and galaxea, favia tend to be pretty defensive of their space as well, although there sting is less damaging to others its still something to watch out for. other coral have some different ways to attack/fend off neighboring coral like how lobophyllia use digestive mesenterial filaments to disolve the victim coral, some softies like zoas mushrooms and leathers notably release chemicals into the water to stunt the growth of other coral and can also kill coral near them occasionally. zoas and palythoa use the method of fast growth to smother other coral, pulsing xenia, green star polyps and pulsing xenia are known to do this to the point of being almost like a weed.
Reef safe fish, many fish would be fine in a reef tank and typically websites will have a reef safe section, you may also find a reef safe with caution categorie which typically includes fish that may go after clean up crew or nip at corals like many dwarf angelfish, some fish have a chance to go after coral but may not or have lesser chance depending on the type and personality, this is best applied to dwarf angelfish like coral beauties, cherub and flameback angelfish which have a lesser tendency to go after coral and in my experience as long as they are well fed will not, fish that are not reef safe with typically be labeled as non reef safe or FOWLR (fish only with live rock) these fish are an absolute no go for a reef tank due to their messy eating, coral eating tendencies, or destructiveness overall. some examples of fish to avoid in a reef tank would be most triggerfish and file fish, butterflyfish, large angelfish, some pufferfish, some wrasses, and inverts would include select mantis shrimp, camelback shrimp red knobbed starfish, and chocolate chip starfish. the good thing is that if you decide to have a full reef that there is A LOT of variety in color, sizes, and shapes in reef safe and reef safe with caution fish.
(sorry for all the typing)
here's a pretty helpful video about coral warfare:
coral warfare
