SPS like a bonsai tree?

I got a piece of incredible hulk last night. And as i was looking at it, and watchin the yanks....

I got to thinkin, i wonder if i would manipulate an SPS coral like a bonsai tree to create symbols...

I mean just think ...and incredible hulk yankees symbol...

...i would probably start with an easier symbol, and i really havent a clue if its even possible - but was just being creative

what do you guys think?

 

I am a purist. Nature should be natural.

 

You can certainly prune SPS any way you want however you can't manipulate the branches as well as a tree's AFAIK, you can't force them into particular shapes or alter their growth pattern predictably, they grow based on flow and light I believe.

It would be interesting to see it done, however I'm with Jed in that I wouldn't do it in my tank. Show pics if you figure it out!

 

Not tryin to be a jerk...but i dont appreciate your hypocrital commentary.

Im wondering if its possible. Not what you think of it from a conservation standpoint.

Its kind of a silly idea, and im just trying to throw it around

that being said...if you really think nature should be natural and consider yourself a "purist"... I dont think any aquarium is truely "natural" so you should really tear down your tank and let everything go in the ocean

 

Indeed. Im thinking that you would need to create a "form" that the sps would grow "around" in order to reach up towards the light. Then you would change the form at a certain point to get it to grow another way or back into itself.

I certainly dont have the patience for it personally as i think it would take years per animal - but i bet some crazy fan would pay alot for a SPS living symbol to put in their tank.

Im with both of you that i wouldnt really want it in MY personal tank... but it would be interesting to see if its possible

 

I don't see why you couldn't prune it in any shape you wanted, but I doubt SPS corals easily lend themselves to wiring, so you would be limited to removing only.

Also I think you are mistaking bonsai with some other form of decorative potted house plant. In bonsai, trees are pruned and shaped to resemble trees from harsh environments that are dwarfed by their surroundings. For instance a bonsai in the windswept style would look like a tree clinging to the side of a cliff that had to deal with very strong winds.

 

I'd pick a better symbol, say this, or this.

I think it'd be interesting, but I wouldn't put it in my tank.

 

yea... you're right i am thinking of another tree. I know its big in Japan and asian cultures. Maybe a money tree?

I guess it really doesnt matter what tree it is, you knew what i meant...

 

lol...i saw that coming

...i bet if you had the chance to put a red acro boston symbol you would put it in atleast during the post season.

 

Yep I got ya.

I am not too knowledgeable about SPS so this may be a dumb question, but would they encrust whatever you were using to force it into that shape? I wonder if you could get a gobo in the shape of a yankees symbol (or whatever you wanted) and use that to control the light so the coral would only grow inside the symbol.