Too Much Success: Are There Such Things as “Garbage Coral”?

[Reefer Matt]

Usually the goal of Reefers is to successfully grow coral and keep them healthy. However, it seems that too much of a good thing can be bad too. Are there any coral that grow quickly and “effortlessly” for you, where you actually can’t give them away and may even have to discard them?

 

[tzabor10]

GSP, green palys, and red mushrooms

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I was waiting for someone to say GSP, haha

 

[LARedstickreefer]

Xenias and brown button polyps.

Actually anything that grows quickly and that no one wants.

-Matt

 

[elysics]

Any coral that grows faster than you care or are able to sell it.

After a few years your tank is full and if you are against getting a bigger tank, any growth becomes a problem after you get sick of fragging.

Even giving them away takes time, effort, letting strangers into your home.

 

[Reefer Matt]

Xenias and brown button polyps.

Actually anything that grows quickly and that no one wants.

-Matt

Yeah, lately that’s seriatopora and montipora digitata for me. I give it to my lfs, but no one usually buys it from them.

 

[Dburr1014]

My Miami hurricane chalice grows and grows. I can't give it away so it normally ends up in the trash, Um, garbage.

 

[Jekyl]

GSP shouldn't be sold.

 

[VirginiaReefer]

GSP, green palys, and red mushrooms

agree with the first 2. i thought the red mushrooms are great because so much stuff in the reef world is green so its a nice easy contrast

 

[Slocke]

I like having a coral that can do well in a "FOWLR".
Some copper?
Low Salinity?
High Nutrients?
Who cares it will still grow

 

[Aquavaj]

Atleast with GSP and xenias you can control their spread if you're careful with isolating them. But things like mushrooms and kenya trees will drop babies and spread all over the tank.

Anemones can get out of control too for some people but they usually get sold pretty easily. Getting them to detach can be a pain though.

 

[GlassMunky]

Red Monti cap for me

 

[RedOtterCoral]

I personally will never put another zoa in a tank of mine. I know they get a lot of love by some reefers but I don't think they look all that great and they just spread over everything lol

 

[Cheezle]

Hollywood Stunner chalice is one that comes to mind (that others haven't said yet)

 

[Reefer Matt]

Hollywood Stunner chalice is one that comes to mind (that others haven't said yet)

Yup, that’s a good one too. I have a 6” diameter “frag” in my frag tank that no one wants.

 

[mfinn]

I cleaned out a 135 gallon tank that had Kenya Tree leathers in it. Took a 5 gallon bucket up to 3 different fish stores before I was able to get rid of it.

 

[JayM]

Green Montipora capricornis for me. I picked up a piece about the size of a quarter 7 or so months ago. It's as big as my hand now and it gets no special treatment. I actually had to break it off of the rock it was on and move it to a frag rack on the back glass because it kept growing onto my Maxima clam.

 

[i cant think]

Usually the goal of Reefers is to successfully grow coral and keep them healthy. However, it seems that too much of a good thing can be bad too. Are there any coral that grow quickly and “effortlessly” for you, where you actually can’t give them away and may even have to discard them?

Honestly, I take in free coral - even if I know I can’t grow it! My angels are fat because of this

No such thing as garbage coral you just have to find the right people!!

 

[Reefer Matt]

Honestly, I take in free coral - even if I know I can’t grow it! My angels are fat because of this

No such thing as garbage coral you just have to find the right people!!

That is an awesome idea! Free fish food! Lol! I like it!

 

[i cant think]

That is an awesome idea! Free fish food! Lol! I like it!

The guys at my LFS must love it

They can get rid of tons of coral they need gone and it’s resulted in a varied diet of my fish! Win win scenario

Ontop of that I can play around with what corals my angels will and won’t muller.