Corals that create "part shade" under themselves?

[damsels are not mean]

What are your favorite "canopy" corals? Those that can grow and thrive without creating pitch black underneath them?

There is a spot in my tank that would really work well for a coral that branches sideways. Underneath would become a shady microbiome for some low light, low flow LPS or perhaps NPS corals like tubastrea. The spot gets good flow and light so Acropora is probably the go to here or perhaps M. digitata. Bonus points if it isn't green or purple (too much of that in the tank already).

 

[Nano sapiens]

My suggestion: Common Pink Birdsnest for some shading, Ponape Birdsnest for denser shading (higher light (170+ PAR LED will turn it pink).

 

[damsels are not mean]

My suggestion: Common Pink Birdsnest for some shading, Ponape Birdsnest for denser shading (higher light (170+ PAR LED will turn it pink).

that one seems a very unique growth pattern that might do what I want and it comes in a cool color, thanks!

 

[Nano sapiens]

that one seems a very unique growth pattern that might do what I want and it comes in a cool color, thanks!

Ponape BN in ~150 PAR:

Same coral in over 170 PAR:

You can see the Sunset Monti being shaded out in the first photo as this variety creates quite a dense shade when grown in.