One coral to rule them all

[E.intheC]

Has anyone tried a single coral species-dominant tank? I imagine there's a few zoa-only tanks, but anything else? I have some ideas but wouldn't mind seeing pics.

If you had to pic one coral, which would you choose?

Also, pics of large coral colonies might help e discussion along.

 

[Mattl22]

I'm sure they r out there I thought about doing a tank with only birdsnests and stylos b4
Gonna do only sps in new build

 

[Spsnut]

There are a few ricordia sp tanks; IMO, they outshine zoa tanks. Borneman has a single species. birdsnest colony that takes up a whole tank that is rather interesting.

 

[Spsnut]

Ive seen a lot of garden variety tanks, family buffet style; not meaning insult but these are mostly frag and/or brag tanks. Few people have the patients to plan for, or the skill and luck to achieve a tank that has only a handful of large mature 7-11 year old corals.

 

[prattreef]

I've always thought a well designed all monti cap tank would be interesting. You could mix the colors and not have to worry about the rapid plating growth shading stuff beneath it. This would need to be on a low stand as viewing caps from above is much better than from the side. Even a large stand of whorling and cupping yellow Turbinaria would be very nice.

 

[bhazard451]

Add Xenia to your tank and never cut it. It will become a Xenia dominated tank in no time.

Its the devils coral.

 

[ducati335i]

I love corals too much to have just one kind .. If I had multiple tanks then that's different

 

[Imbarrie]

There are some anemone tanks out there.

 

[MIKE NY]

Few people have the patients to plan for, or the skill and luck to achieve a tank that has only a handful of large mature 7-11 year old corals.

I must be among the very lucky few becuase I have many colonies in that age bracket and some older as well, but I just can't keep just a few..it would be boring...

 

[tunicata]

I think Kris has a euphyllia only tank.
i know I've wanted one for a while but will make due with my euphyllia mini garden in my DT.

I would also love a NPS tank with dendros, non-photo gorgs, tunicates and other filter feeders. I may do that with my nano....

 

[prattreef]

Years ago Greg Scheimer had a wonderful 30 (ish)g. cube tank that was basically one large colony of Green Bali slimer and some nice small fish.

 

[Geraud]

Pre-Sandy I had a bright yellow Caulestrea that had a really nice brain shape. I was thinking about keeping it by itself. imagine a 25-30gallon with a huge glowing brain in it.

In general I would say that anything that is "not a mat" would be more interesting. So all branching/plating SPS's and LPS's, and softies like Sarcophyton would be nice "by themselves".

 

[E.intheC]

Great ideas so far everyone. If you have pics of your system, post them up!

There are definitely examples out there:

-Leonardo's Formosa Forest was a stunning tank.
-on RC there is a TOTM that is 90% acans.
-Numerous BTA species tanks (not coral, but still).
-In upstate NY, there is an LFS with a tank that has one huge soft coral colony (I think it's green Kenya tree) and a number of small fish.
-Xenia dominant tank

Some other ideas I have been thinking about (on their own, obviously):

-Sun Coral and Dendros
-Ricordea
-Maxi-mini anemones
-Large green toadstool colony with a small live rock base
-Millepora of different colors
-Large rock centered with gsp or blue clove polyps
-Shallow tank with brain corals. (Or clams, but they're not corals)

 

[64Ivy]

I'd think a 125g of nothing but Millipora variants (and fish) would be awesome.

 

[E.intheC]

Years ago Greg Scheimer had a wonderful 30 (ish)g. cube tank that was basically one large colony of Green Bali slimer and some nice small fish.

This is exactly what I'm thinking of. One large colony with a ton of tiny fish.

 

[E.intheC]

A few months ago I saw a single large rock that had bright GSP over the entire surface. It definitely looked interesting.