Alternatives to Tonga Branch

[Martyd]

Other than the man-made versions (I’ve used the thicker pieces that Aqua SD sells, with some success), has anyone tried to use any of other available natural branching corals in place of Tonga? I was thinking a piece like this could be smoothed out and made to look a lot like thinner branched Tonga.

 

[gentlefish]

Many years back when life rock was still a thing, I got some thick dead coral branches sent that you depict. I tried twice to use them. Never could make it work. Attracts algae that snails do not seem to be able to get to. I would try man made before trying this again.