Coral Wars: Rogue Cauliflower Colt?

My colt has grown so large that I'm having trouble placing it where it can't touch other corals, which it purposely seems to do if one is in reach...

I rearranged my tank yesterday so that I could place my toadstool a little higher where it could get more light and flow, and everything appeared to be happier with their new placement. The colt was in a corner where it seemed certain that the current would keep in in check, and my button polyps were several inches away, "upstream". I noticed this morning that the colt had stretched a branch- horizontally and against the current- and several tips were lashing the BPs which had closed, shriveled, and appeared to be covered in slime! I separated them and placed the BPs in an area of higher flow and now, 2 hours later they seem fine; however, the colt is now stretching toward my mushrooms! It can't quite reach them, but will probably only take a couple of days...

My dilemma is, I don't know what to do with the colt. I really don't want to frag it- it's just too darn beautiful; I love the long flowing branches. At the same time though, if it can really be that aggressive, I'm not so sure if I want to keep it at all. I do have a friend with a 40B soon-to-be reef that just finished cycling... What would you do?

 

In the past I simply took very sharp scissoors and cut the branches getting too close to the corals. The colt slimmed for a short while but no damage was done or extensive toxins released. Other branches will grow back quickly.

It's going to dominate your tank that is what it does. I too love the movement provided.

Since you getting a bigger tank is out of the option I say pass it on and look for less invasive corals that provide the movement affect, like Sinulara, Capnella types, even some Euphyllias or larger Toadstools.

JM2C

 

Thank you, Cheryl. Your input is very much appreciated. Definitely don't want to cut it if I can avoid it.

BTW, my toadstool is nearly 6 inches across, now.

 

Without getting rid of/fragging i would try to just put it as far from any coral as possible.

If it were me, i'd pass it on to your friend with specifics NOT to frag it, and invest in some other flowy corals. Maybe some goniopora or millepora

 

Mr.B,I had the same troubles from kenya tree,it was actually killing back my gsp!I never would have believed it had i not seen it.If you can't get this guy outta everybody elses path then a trimming may be in order.Leathers are some down right funny corals and are far more aggressive than many think.

 

This coral is 12 inches tall and quite bushy in a 29g tank... not much room for moving things around. Definitely hope my buddy takes it (and really don't care what he does once it's his), but he might not as I can't lie to him about it...

 

Isn't that the truth! I certainly never imagined anything like this.

If all else fails, I'll probably frag it. Not too fond of frequent trimmings.