Not sure waht to do with this chalice coral

[rhitee93]

I have a chalice coral I bought on a whim at a frag swap last March. It was about the size of a silver dollar at that time, and I've never really found the right place for it in my tank. I had it lower down on the rockwork early on, but both it and my elegance coral have grown quite a bit, so I keep moving the chalice up the rockwork.

It's in a pretty high light and high flow spot right now, which I know is't the usual for these, but I don't have any space on the sand at this point. It seems to have acclimated fine, and is still growing so I don't think the coral really cares at this point.

This is a bit wider shot to help with scale. I didn't measure it, but the coral is probably about 5" in diameter now.

I don't really know how this thing will grow out. I get all sorts of answers online, followed up by photos of little frags that don't help much. The best I can tell is that this particular type will just keep forming a bigger diameter disk.

Where should I stick it? Here is a wider angle shot. I'm starting to think about the low section in the middle of the tank, but I never intended for this to be a centerpiece coral so I'm not sure I want to give up that space just yet.

 

[Jimbo327]

The chalice will keep growing out, most likely follow the top rock and flatten out like a pizza. My LFS has one that is greater than 12"x12". It even grew onto the side/back tank wall after chalice ran out of room.

Chalices are tricky to frag, probably need a dremel with cutting wheel unless you have access to bandsaw.

 

[VintageReefer]

It will grow like this and it will do fine in high light and current placement

Once it comes in contact with another surface it will bend and grow over it

 

[Dburr1014]

I have a chalice coral I bought on a whim at a frag swap last March. It was about the size of a silver dollar at that time, and I've never really found the right place for it in my tank. I had it lower down on the rockwork early on, but both it and my elegance coral have grown quite a bit, so I keep moving the chalice up the rockwork.

It's in a pretty high light and high flow spot right now, which I know is't the usual for these, but I don't have any space on the sand at this point. It seems to have acclimated fine, and is still growing so I don't think the coral really cares at this point.

This is a bit wider shot to help with scale. I didn't measure it, but the coral is probably about 5" in diameter now.

I don't really know how this thing will grow out. I get all sorts of answers online, followed up by photos of little frags that don't help much. The best I can tell is that this particular type will just keep forming a bigger diameter disk.

Where should I stick it? Here is a wider angle shot. I'm starting to think about the low section in the middle of the tank, but I never intended for this to be a centerpiece coral so I'm not sure I want to give up that space just yet.

It's going to start to plate when it runs out of rock to encrust.

I just keep breaking it. Very easy to frag.
No rock under that.

 

[rhitee93]

Thanks for the input. I don't know. Maybe I should just leave it where it is. My maxima clam has priority, but it will be a while before they grow together.

I should have mentioned that I don't really have any interest in fragging it. I'd rather just watch it grow.

 

[rhitee93]

It's going to start to plate when it runs out of rock to encrust.

It is pretty well into plating mode now then. The only thing it has encrusted is the frag plug it was on when I bought it. I can pick the whole disk up and move it around at will.

Will it start encrusting the rock if I leave it there long enough, or will it just plate from here on out?

 

[Dburr1014]

It is pretty well into plating mode now then. The only thing it has encrusted is the frag plug it was on when I bought it. I can pick the whole disk up and move it around at will.

Will it start encrusting the rock if I leave it there long enough, or will it just plate from here on out?

If it touches rock it will encrust that. If nothing to touch, it will keep plating.
I updated my first post. Check it out.