How do you plan your coral placement?

[JoJosReef]

I'm going to have a lot of rearranging to do. Just tank-transferred from a 40 long AIO to an 83 w/sump and threw corals in wherever I could put them. So I'm interested in see how others plan out their space. Here's my mess:

Tank currently:

Mess:

 

[fishywishy]

I just put mine in random spots and hope they look good

 

[Alexraptor]

I try to visualize in my head, what the colonies may look like in 5-10 years time and ensure they have enough space to "grow in".

 

[DanyL]

By priority:
1. Correct environment (light, flow)
2. Distance from other corals that may attack / coral compatability
3. Tendency to overtake (I.e Zoas would never go on my rockwork on purpose)
4. Color contrast and growth pattern
5. Grow out space

 

[kdx7214]

I start them low, move them up slowly, and hope they survive. They usually don't.

 

[rdirtytwo]

I just put mine in random spots and hope they look good

Ah, another follower of the hopeitlikesit method.

 

[~MD~Reefs~]

I’ve struggled with this in the past. On my new tank I’m gluing something down to put the corals in and be able to move them around if I need to

Look up “FragPlugSeat” on Instagram

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

I just put mine in random spots and hope they look good

Yep, I put ‘em where I think they’ll do well and hope for the best. If I need to move em later than I will.

 

[rdirtytwo]

I’ve struggled with this in the past. On my new tank I’m gluing something down to put the corals in and be able to move them around if I need to

Look up “FragPlugSeat” on Instagram

I will probably do something similar on my next build. I hate to have to set my progress back if I need to break off an encrusted piece (which I had to do recently) because I glued them too close together.

 

[fandaga]

I got diamond coring bits (link) to drill plug holes in the rocks for frags. It definitely helps with testing spots out. Granted the technique to drill holes without destroying the rock takes some practice and a little luck. You can also buy predrilled dry rock online from a few vendors.

As far as placement, I’m still learning myself…

 

[~MD~Reefs~]

I got diamond coring bits (link) to drill plug holes in the rocks for frags. It definitely helps with testing spots out. Granted the technique to drill holes without destroying the rock takes some practice and a little luck. You can also buy predrilled dry rock online from a few vendors.

As far as placement, I’m still learning myself…

I tried drilling my own and got two holes perfect and then split a shelf rock on the 3rd hole! Luckily put it back with a ton of superglue and covered it up with sand. Buttt not something I’d attempt again risking breaking my rock structure. I can drill glass. Rocks? No. Lol

 

[gbroadbridge]

As far apart as possible and hope they like it.

 

[krissiRLT]

By priority:
1. Correct environment (light, flow)
2. Distance from other corals that may attack / coral compatability
3. Tendency to overtake (I.e Zoas would never go on my rockwork on purpose)
4. Color contrast and growth pattern
5. Grow out space

I do this method. I personally always put new corals on the bottom of my tank for at least a week when I first get them, this helps them adjust without getting blasted with too much light or flow. And it also helps me to be able to see the coral in MY tank/lighting and with my other corals so I can get an idea of where I’d like it…then I do the method that DanyL said.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I place coral based on where I think they will do best.

 

[Mschmidt]

plan?

 

[DanyL]

I got diamond coring bits (link) to drill plug holes in the rocks for frags. It definitely helps with testing spots out. Granted the technique to drill holes without destroying the rock takes some practice and a little luck. You can also buy predrilled dry rock online from a few vendors.

As far as placement, I’m still learning myself…

Instead of drilling holes in my rock work, I glue the corals to rubble and than the rubble to my rock work.
This allows me to easily move corals around, as they encrust the rubble instead of the rock the rubble is glued to.
And as times goes on and the rubble get fully encrusted, I may decide to glue it to another, slightly bigger rock - something that with drilled holes at some point becomes impossible.

This method is beneficial not only for a more flexible coral placement, but it also allows one to remove colonies for heavy fragging outside the tank, as well as coral treatments if they ever need any.

 

[Reefer Matt]

I par map the tank and place coral species in areas with appropriate ranges of light and flow. Then leave them be as long as they don’t lose tissue. Coral color is usually the last thing to get optimized and takes many months to get back after a move. Coral can adapt to changes as long as a good range of parameters are kept.

 

[kevgib67]

Remember the childhood birthday game where you wore a blindfold and tried to pin the tail on the donkey and who ever’s tail is closest wins? That is pretty much it. ;)

 

[Dburr1014]

Use a color wheel. Opposite colors bring out the best in the other.

 

[fandaga]

Use a color wheel. Opposite colors bring out the best in the other.

That’s a great idea - why green and red montis are so appealing. It’s hard to find orange and blue combos…or many blue corals for that matter.