Softies - Coral overgrowth

I also see an abundance of Kenya Tree Coral(Capnella sp.) rather than Colt Coral(Klyxum sp.). Kenya Tree grows like a weed in most tanks so we often see it being given away for free because it is so prolific, Sorry. Unhappy

It self propagates by pinching off branches that float around until they attach wherever they happen to land. Fragging is easy. Use a sharp scissors to cut it off and an elastic to hold it into a depression in another rock until it attaches. Usually takes 3-10 days.

Colt Coral is much less common in the hobby because it is less hardy. It does not self propagate and does not easily attach to other rocks. See the pic below. One way to know the difference is that Colt Coral shrinks it's polyps right into the stalks so they almost completely disappear whereas Kenya Tree polyps shrink up to look like tiny pine cones.

If that tank were mine and I wanted to increase the diversity, I'd first test the Alk, Ca and Mg levels and ensure they were within range. Then I would simply remove and sell rocks with the Kenya and Mushrooms to be replaced with new rock and coral.

Aloha,

Mark

P.S. I have a question about the plumbing, if you don't mind. The Locline returns are pretty deep in the tank. How do you keep the sump from overflowing when the main pump goes OFF?

An easy fix and really the best fix is to adjust the nozzles so they are into the water just 1/2". Then, when the power goes out the water siphon will break when the nozzles almost immediately start sucking air. No need for failure prone holes drilled in the Locline or cumbersome anti-backflow valves in the plumbing. Smile

1. When one or two types of coral dominate the tank, their territorial toxins(allelopathic chemicals) inhibit and in sufficient concentration will slowly kill other coral/animals.

2. Activated Carbon adsorbs toxins. Place it loosely in a media bag in an area of good flow, like next to the main pump intake screen, readjust/flip the bag over weekly and replace it monthly.

3. Water changes help dilute territorial toxins. 10% monthly water changes are typically sufficient.

4. After Salinity and Temperature, Alk(Alkalinity), Ca(Calcium), and Mg(Magnesium) are the three most important components of healthy seawater. Testing these and keeping them within range are critical to coral health. It's part of the fun of reefkeeping to do these chemistry things. Smile

5. Sometimes, after all is said and done, an individual coral or a species of coral may just not do well in a particular tank where everything else is doing fine. Xenia is one of these that grows like a weed in some tanks but disappears when placed in another tank.

Of course, Butterflyfish eat some types of coral and beneficial worms so we might see a hobbyist buy coral to feed the Butterfly. Wink