Help me pick a coral

[gnikoli]

I'm trying to figure out my next move, but I need some input. I've got some vertical or nearly vertical surfaces under medium-sized acros and I would like to know what corals, if any, grow in that sort of environment on a real reef. One area is exposed to low-med flow and another area would be considered high-flow. The surfaces are not completely shaded by the acros above, maybe about 50%.

Each area is about one square foot, so it should be some time before anything could spread and start to compete with its neighbors. Chalice coral appeals to me because I've read it exhibits some nice coloration with less than full exposure to light, but I would like to find something that is considered a natural inhabitant of the understory below spreading corals.

Any suggestions?

[stevelkaneval]

hope this works.


about:blank

[Pmolan]

Most polyps, zoas, xenia will grow vertically.

[returnofsid]

I would suggest zoanthid polyps or maybe even Sun Coral (Tubastrea sp.). Keeping in mind that Sun Coral require feeding of each polyp as they aren't photosynthetic. I don't know that I'd chose Xenia as it would quickly grow to a point where it shaded your Acros.