Can Hollywood Stunner chalice kill SPS?

[Phyber]

I've had a Hollywood Stunner, a Cali tort, and a bird'snest coral all near each other for about 6 months now. Everyone has grown well and look good .

About 2-3 weeks ago I noticed my tort and bird'snest having some die off. All of my parameters are holding steady in good ranges. I did a 20% water change (was behind on it) and added fresh carbon.

Is this a case of coral warfare? These are the only two corals looking bad.

 

[ndrwater]

Yup... Corals don't have teeth and claws, so they fight chemically.
I have had Miami Hurricane (very similar to your Stunner) actually kill and overgrow Hydnophora which is notoriously nasty.
This is pretty common actually and why we need to allow lots of room for growth between the corals or frag often..
This is one of those situations where not great things happen because we are being very successful reefers...

 

[Phyber]

Yup... Corals don't have teeth and claws, so they fight chemically.
I have had Miami Hurricane (very similar to your Stunner) actually kill and overgrow Hydnophora which is notoriously nasty.
This is pretty common actually and why we need to allow lots of room for growth between the corals or frag often..
This is one of those situations where not great things happen because we are being very successful reefers...

Would you say I just need to trim back the stunner? I obviously don't want to lose my SPS and the chalice has grown quick.

Is there a "strength" chart of how deadly corals are? Or can all.of them kill neighbors equally?

 

[ndrwater]

Not sure of the "Strength" chart, but that would indeed be an awesome resource.
If it were me, and I say this from a place of experience, I'd hack the bajeezus out of the stunner and get it off the top of the rock. Put it on its own island like many mention about doing with GSP.
By the time I started hacking my Miami, it was over 20" in diameter.. I have a picture somewhere with a 4" yellow tangs over it. If I find it, I'll post it.
Chalices like that can dominate and overrun large parts of our tanks. A beautiful piece yes, but with some drawbacks too

 

[jwshiver]

I replaced mine in 2018 because it started to kill everything around as it grew bigger. And I ...

... replaced it with this Raja Rampage. The Raja has not been aggressive at all.

 

[nereefpat]

Hollywood stunner will sting the carp out of anything near it. Sweepers can get several inches long on them.

 

[StevePhx]

I gave my Hollywood Stunner away when it got to be about 12" across. Killed branches of SPS and killed an entire Tonga yellow leather

 

[Phyber]

Hollywood stunner will sting the carp out of anything near it. Sweepers can get several inches long on them.

that's what I keep reading, but at any time I've ever spied on it (night time, feedings, etc) I can see stingers but only a few MM's long.... My tort's at least 2-3" away.

 

[Phyber]

I gave my Hollywood Stunner away when it got to be about 12" across. Killed branches of SPS and killed an entire Tonga yellow leather

The better part of one half of my tort is dead... Should I move the chalice and leave the dead branches? They're toast right, no re-growth?

 

[DeniseAndy]

I have had a chalice (not sure of name) and it had like 12-16" sweepers at night. Stung and killed so much. I have to give it away. It was like 7" across. Huge and nasty. This was like 10 years ago.

 

[StevePhx]

The better part of one half of my tort is dead... Should I move the chalice and leave the dead branches? They're toast right, no re-growth?

Move the chalice for sure. Stunners sweepers are 3" to 6" long.

Remove the dead branches, it will only encourage algae growth that can irritate the remaining coral

 

[ndrwater]

Possibility of regrowth. Corals are amazing animals..

 

[Graffiti Spot]

Yup... Corals don't have teeth and claws, so they fight chemically.
I have had Miami Hurricane (very similar to your Stunner) actually kill and overgrow Hydnophora which is notoriously nasty.
This is pretty common actually and why we need to allow lots of room for growth between the corals or frag often..
This is one of those situations where not great things happen because we are being very successful reefers...

Woah! Killed a hydnophora??? That’s saying something right there, since hydnophora are amazing at killing almost any coral.