Pocclipora Popping Up Everywhere

PapaDragon · May 13, 2020

Hello. I added two different kinds of pocclipora to my tank a year ago and in that time I have managed to kill every other SPS known to exist. However, the pocclipora and stylopora are doing great. They are growing larger with good polyp extension. The last six months I have noticed pocclipora popping up everywhere. They are on rocks, I’ve scraped them off glass, and I even have some growing at the base of my other corals. Is this normal? Are pocclipora the kenya tree of SPS world? I’m curious if I need to be concerned about them becoming a nuisance coral. I think they are cool looking, but I don’t want a tank full of them.

I should mention I haven’t noticed any new patches of them recently.

Larry L · May 13, 2020

Yep, they do that.

TX_Punisher · May 13, 2020

This is why I refuse to put them in my tank. Several people have taken their tanks down completely that I know to wipe our the pocci's.

DesertReefT4r · May 13, 2020

It does happen.

Andrew D · May 13, 2020

Pretty coral but yes, a nuisance that I wish I had never added to my tank. On the positive side it is pretty easy to kill. You have to be careful that it doesn't release it's spores when you cut or mash it, so I usually cover it with kalk paste and then suction it out with a python.

tehmadreefer · May 13, 2020

Your tank will be overrun if you let them!

Proteus Meep · May 13, 2020

Aiptasia of the SPS world...would never add one to a reef of mine again

PapaDragon · May 13, 2020

So I made a mistake with this coral? Are Stylo's just as bad?

C. Eymann · May 13, 2020

P. damicornis is like the aiptasia of sps coral.

ReeferMadniss · May 13, 2020

Yep...the polyps will bail out when stressed and form all kinds of new colonies.

PapaDragon · May 13, 2020

ReeferMadniss said:
Yep...the polyps will bail out when stressed and form all kinds of new colonies.

So the existence of the new colonies is from polyp bailout? This might be why I haven’t seen any new ones in awhile. My system has been stable the last six months. I have my temp finally dialed in and I have a trident to monitor my Alk/Calc/Mag.

tehmadreefer · May 13, 2020

Stylos are good

F i s h y · May 13, 2020

... im a minority in that i see no coral as a nuisance. There is always an opportunity to let someone new to the hobby learn with the easier to keep "nuisance " corals like xenia, poci, stylo, etc. We all have to start somewhere, pass them on instead of destroying them.... just my 2 cents...

tehmadreefer · May 13, 2020

Fishy65 said:
... im a minority in that i see no coral as a nuisance. There is always an opportunity to let someone new to the hobby learn with the easier to keep "nuisance " corals like xenia, poci, stylo, etc. We all have to start somewhere, pass them on instead of destroying them.... just my 2 cents...

giving someone a coral that will completely take over their aquarium and force a shut down isn’t exactly helping.

Tahoe61 · May 13, 2020

Fishy65 said:
... im a minority in that i see no coral as a nuisance. There is always an opportunity to let someone new to the hobby learn with the easier to keep "nuisance " corals like xenia, poci, stylo, etc. We all have to start somewhere, pass them on instead of destroying them.... just my 2 cents...

Spend money on more desirable corals, in a larger tank and watch Poccillopora take over trust me you would feel differentially.

F i s h y · May 13, 2020

tehmadreefer said:
giving someone a coral that will completely take over their aquarium and force a shut down isn’t exactly helping.

I guess we will agree to disagree proper husbandry and grooming should elevate those issues. My point being hardy coral are like hardy fish, good to learn with. I've grown all of the so called nuisance coral over the years.... no over run tanks, no compete shut downs no nuclear warfare ever needed...

Tahoe61 · May 13, 2020

Fishy65 said:
I guess we will agree to disagree proper husbandry and grooming should elevate those issues.

Yeah no. While not all Pocillopora types are invasive I would not recommend Pocillopora as a good candidate for those individuals keeping higher end sps.

X-37B · May 13, 2020

Species only tank is the only way I would keep them. Have seen them takeover a lfs tank. They look cool but!

LegendaryCG · May 13, 2020

I added lots of potentially invasive corals to my tank. Let’s see who wins!

LegendaryCG · May 13, 2020

Just to follow up on what I said — I guess maybe I’m in the minority but I want nature to do it’s thing. Yes I have probably spent more money on coral than I should of and I dont want to lose any but I also want my reef to be a reef.
And YES- I have Poccilpora, Clove polyps, Anthelia, GSP, Hollywood Stunner, Cespitula in my tank.