What are the most invasive, prolific corals?

I have two tanks on the same system, one is a mixed reef (mostly LPS) and the other is a mixed tank, mostly softies.

I'm considering taking a "natural" approach in the smaller tank (a 20g) and letting just whatever the heck run amok. I will also allow several varieties of caulerpa grow pretty much at will, except for occasional pruning.


So far in the 20g I have (mostly as small frags):

2 varieties of pulsing xenia
anthelia
clove polyps
2 varieties of star polyps
various "texas trash" and "carolina crap" zoanthids, several others
green finger leather
torch
frogspawn


And of course, a 2" hydnophora frag to see if anything can even come close to it without melting. Not really invasive, but certainly a nice coral.


Any other invasive corals? I would somewhat want this to be a "refugium" tank where soft corals are grown partly for nutrient removal.

(yes, I do run a lot of carbon and skim wet.... well aware of allelopathy )

 

The xenia, if its anything like mine, will grow like a weed! I bought a frag, and within about 2 months it was about 8in round. I just fragged it. Also large Green star polyps grow fast.

 

that anthelia will win. i would actually advise against that one or keep it somehow isolated. it will spread and clog. cool idea.

 

You will have to take care with the caluerpa. If it so much as gets near a coral, that coral is toast.

 

I've never seen caulerpa kill a coral, except for blocking light and choking it out. I think long, whispy stuff like anthelia and xenia could compete with it so long as I kept it pruned back.



I'll have to agree with the above on the anthelia. I've seen it take over tanks before, and it's a lot hardier than xenia (not pH sensitive).

 

+1 on Anthelia from me

I have had 1 colony in my 5ft for about 10 weeks, during those 12 weeks I have moved it twice
I now have 3 colonies in my 5ft

Steve

 

I have a colony of xenia with frogspawn uphill of it.Xenia grew very large and was starting to take over,then frogspawn grew larger and stung it down to size,just right!! Would post some pics if I were more computer savy!!

 

Robman is correct green star polyps. Wish I had a way to control them.

 

xenia and GSP get my vote