Preferably the water flow would be constructed in such a way that it would create ripples in the sand bed. This would further give the illusion that this patch reef is isolated and set apart from the greater reef structure. The final touch would be the stark blue background, signifying that this little piece of rock is the last refuge before the wide-open blue sea.

exploring the idea provided by Steven Pro; what if i use the above as a guide less the 2nd paragraph, replaced with bold.

My current aquarium (60"x30"27")

if i remove my current corals and created a pile of LR at the golden intersection (say somewhat 3.5ft right of the tank) of the aquarium with the merlinua at the pinnacle. point A

since the aquarium is long and wide enuff, what if on the left of the tank have plenty of sand, can i place heliofungia, brains, trachyphllia? point B

and also on the left a shorter and rounder (like ant's nest) mushrooms colonies, towards the front of the tankpoint C

and towards the back of the tank a small cave with some other corals? point D

Anthony Calfo

what would u suggest as focal coral? No sps pls, they will be brown as my lighting isnt powerful euff.

My advice is for you to browse through some dive books and field guides and see the range of species occuring on example atolls. You will surely find something that attracts you. Make a short list of candidates and then come back to discuss their hardiness and viability among experienced aquarists to get a consensus to proceed on.

.

Anthony Calfo

as for the list of corals, i did that too at my local forum, but no answer. as for corals being a focal point...(other than sps) i did consider, but instead let me share what i odri have and what i like. then perhaps u can help.

(A) What i have:-

~ merlinua ampliata

~  colonies of variety of discosoma, red rhodactis, yumas (love them, i have 100 of them, but yumas are chemcially powerful)

~ sinularia dura (a gift from a fren, loves strong light and grows n grows)

~ Plusing Xenia (well u are the authority on this)

~ Fungia scutaria (definitely hardier than heliofungia)

~ Euphyllia hammer ( i found and later learnt that branching are hardier compared to non branching, and i have experience tissue residing and bacteria infection, which i have saw off the parts. I would like the Euphyllia species to be 1 of the considerig focal points, to have a series of small frags making it look large.)

~ Euphyllia divisa (similar to the above)

~ 3 x Trachyphyllia radiata (they r hardy, and i understand they are found lagoons, and slits or muddy areas, the darker the color the lower the lighting intensity found)

~ galaxea fascicularis (also hardy, but watch the tentacles, which i have isolated this from others)

~ 2 x scolymia vitiensis

~ hydnophora (aquacultured - i must say they are super hardy)

~ favia speciosa

~ green star polyps

not many for a 210 gallon. My points of reference are Reef Aquarium II Julian Spring,

Aquarium Corals by Eric Borneman, The conscientious marine aquarist by Bob, Reef Invertebrates and your 1st book, Ultimate Marine Aquariums by Michael Paletta, Natural Reef aquariums by John Tullock.

I am armed with this books, i appreciate your direct feedback on the care about them like sun corals, if cannot feed them then dun keep them.

B) So my what is problem? Me hahahahhaa sigh....

I would like a biotype of species within same geographic range,

I also like John Tullock's idea on Indo Pacific recommended corals. Much like my above, less Merlinua of course and many others like corals i never tried b4, lobophyllia, cynarina lacrymalis, catalaphyllia jardinei (ur comments in your 1st book scare me off...), cturbinaria peltata, plerogyra sinuosa, caulastrea furcata.

I also like wide spaces, white sandy beach, therefore, i am known among peers to have lots of swim room and dun like pack pack corals - y? cause, it causes a revolving eye, (my orgins are from planted tank, takashi amano) i like focal points and golden interection.

So i was thinking of landscapin my 60x30x27 tank with a pinnacle or hill LR with large colonies of same species, with lots of sand around it. It is like swimming to a bommie, rather than doing a reef wall. sorri guys, it just me.

But a fren post a question can 1 stand the emptiness...

C) C for conclusion:

where do i go from here?

Many other excellent examples can be found in the Indo-Pacific Coral Reef Field Guide by Allen and Steene.

Anthony Calfo

i see. I did briefly consider that too. But i just cannot visionalise a 210 Gallon with a single species, that is why i expanded my choices to include what i ordi have. That is my existing coral. I dun mind what u have suggested, in effect, if i start small additions of a single species say like hammers and achors, and dun add anything else other than that species soon i would have a collective mass of similar corals which imo would be a striking effect too.

So lets say i start 1 step at the step, having my existing as they are (perhaps removing the soft corals) and leave the LPS, slowing stock 1 single type...if any of the existing other coral were to perish, i dun replace them. Would this be the approach?

pls advise.

Also Steven but with a Low
Steven Low