Opinions / Advice Needed

DLANDINO · 02/11/2010, 07:57 AM

Hi all,

As most know, I have a 46 gallon reef and space has become limited. Unfortunatley, the addiction that this hobby drives has forced me to desperate measures. I am thinking of adding a new LR ledge for at least one more SPS. In order to do this I was thinking that I can simply place a new piece of rock ON TOP OF an existing monti. This would effectively kill off the coral directly under the new rock but would the rest of the coral survive? And, would the die off cause any water fowling? Please see the picture of where I intend to place the new rock. Thanks for the help.

P.s. a larger tank is not an option, don't think that I don't dream of that every day

erbgo · 02/11/2010, 08:06 AM

good question I dont have the answer

Gillundr · 02/11/2010, 09:09 AM

I would think that under the rock would die and the rest would live. Sort of the same idea of making a frag. But maybe it's possible the coral would stress and then die? It may just attach onto the new rock and keep growing that way. What may happen to one monti might not be the same for another. I guess if you really want the new rock ledge go for it. Have you tried maybe using some frag mags on the tank to use the sides maybe?

fishieness · 02/11/2010, 09:55 AM

The exposed part would be fine. Your are right that the part under will bleach and die. If the rock on top is stable, it is likely that the monti it is on will start encrusting on to that too. It probably wouldnt not happen all at once, so it shouldn't be too big of a deal as far as die off.
Why not try breaking some of the encrusting pieces off and making frags?

DLANDINO · 02/11/2010, 09:59 AM

I would try to do this and will attempt it first but it is really difficult to scrape off without really digging at it. I am afraid that the underlying structure, while fairly stable, may not withstand heavy scraping. Thanks for the responses all, I now have a new reef task for this weekend and have opened the possibility of getting a new frag!

Gillundr · 02/11/2010, 01:12 PM

you could always take something out..=)

DLANDINO · 02/11/2010, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gillundr

you could always take something out..=)

like my wife... and get a bigger tank???

eddiesylas · 02/11/2010, 03:59 PM

The die off of the monti would be significantly less than something like a fish or snail. The biomass of coral tissue is limited to its surface area. I would have to guess that the die-off would also not be all at once, rather it would occur over many days. Could you put the rock in place one day and take it off the next to stress the tissue over a longer period to slow the process?

DLANDINO · 02/11/2010, 06:25 PM

Aaron, good idea. I bet that I can. Thanks!

02/11/2010, 09:55 AM	#4
fishieness Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: ct Posts: 3,635	The exposed part would be fine. Your are right that the part under will bleach and die. If the rock on top is stable, it is likely that the monti it is on will start encrusting on to that too. It probably wouldnt not happen all at once, so it shouldn't be too big of a deal as far as die off. Why not try breaking some of the encrusting pieces off and making frags? __________________ That is not orange, or purple, or green, or gold..... It's brown... Current Tank Info: 8 gallon rimless cube, 33 watt diy crees, deltec MC500, RKL, ato, 5.5g sump, 4g fuge.

02/11/2010, 09:59 AM	#5
DLANDINO B.P.O.E 1784 Westbrook Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Clinton, CT USA Posts: 4,585	I would try to do this and will attempt it first but it is really difficult to scrape off without really digging at it. I am afraid that the underlying structure, while fairly stable, may not withstand heavy scraping. Thanks for the responses all, I now have a new reef task for this weekend and have opened the possibility of getting a new frag! __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 46 Gallon mixed reef and an office Fluval Spec pico

02/11/2010, 03:59 PM	#8
eddiesylas Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 950	The die off of the monti would be significantly less than something like a fish or snail. The biomass of coral tissue is limited to its surface area. I would have to guess that the die-off would also not be all at once, rather it would occur over many days. Could you put the rock in place one day and take it off the next to stress the tissue over a longer period to slow the process? __________________ Aaron Current Tank Info: 10G Pico Seagrass/macro.

02/11/2010, 06:25 PM	#9
DLANDINO B.P.O.E 1784 Westbrook Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Clinton, CT USA Posts: 4,585	Aaron, good idea. I bet that I can. Thanks! __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 46 Gallon mixed reef and an office Fluval Spec pico

02/11/2010, 08:06 AM	#2
erbgo Water it's my thing Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ellington ct AKA Smelington Posts: 2,937	good question I dont have the answer

02/11/2010, 09:09 AM	#3
Gillundr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Clinton Posts: 1,029	I would think that under the rock would die and the rest would live. Sort of the same idea of making a frag. But maybe it's possible the coral would stress and then die? It may just attach onto the new rock and keep growing that way. What may happen to one monti might not be the same for another. I guess if you really want the new rock ledge go for it. Have you tried maybe using some frag mags on the tank to use the sides maybe?

02/11/2010, 01:12 PM	#6
Gillundr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Clinton Posts: 1,029	you could always take something out..=)