How close is too close for sps corals?

[Fernthereefer]

Hello fellow reefers.

I have been keeping sps for only a short while now (6 months), but am happy to say I have had decent growth and 0 loss so far!

However, I am now in a little bind: because of the growth of stylophoras and birdsnest my acros seem to be surrounded now. How much of an issue is it, particularly regarding coral warfare ?

In the following picture, you can see how I placed the acros, stylos and birdsnest on a top rock in the scape. However, my myagi tort and tricolor valida frags, more recent acquisitions, are still in the encrusting phase, and being overtaken by the stylophora and neon green birdnest in the front.

Will post more pictures soon.

Thanks

 

[CCauthers]

Looks like it might be trimming time. Usually as long as theres .5-1 inch in between them its ok, but PE can be negatively affected if they're too clse together. SPS USUALLY do not have very active sweepers.

 

[Fernthereefer]

Here are today's pictures:

Thanks!

 

[Fernthereefer]

Looks like it might be trimming time. Usually as long as theres .5-1 inch in between them its ok, but PE can be negatively affected if they're too clse together. SPS USUALLY do not have very active sweepers.

Cool, thanks for the reply. Are stylo's or Birdsnest more aggressive, or is the outcome impossible to predict?

Tx

 

[CCauthers]

Stylos and birdsnests will outgrow and kill most acropora if they are not trimmed or controlled in some way. As I'm sure you are experiencing, they grow very fast for sps. They are not inherently aggressive, per se, but have the ability to outcompete and kill on contact.

 

[Ike]

My suggestion, if you like Acropora best, or think you might in the long run, then it's best ditch things now. Clearing a reef of these corals early on will save you grief down the road.