Montipora will soon touch acro, what will happen?

[Paolissimo]

I feel like I should know this but, my monti will soon touch my acro (don't know the names of either corals)what will happen? The monti is growing faster then the acro base, so I fell like I should maybe cut the monti, but because is encrusting on a rock, its really hard to do. Will it stop once it reaches the acro, or will it take over and hurt the acro? I attached pics.
Thanks

 

[CaptainAndy]

Montes usually loose. Break off Acro branches close to the montipora.

 

[sunny]

Montipora will lose. The only monti that can survive an acro agro is the sunset monti.

Cut the acro or break the rock using a screwdriver and a light hit of a hammer

 

[budddman]

Sunset monti loses to red planet..lol

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using Reefs

 

[Coralreefer1]

Acro beats the Monti, just like the ace of diamonds beats the king of hearts! LOL

 

[motortrendz]

ive never had an acro beat a monti, ive had montis grow right over the base and up the stalk of an acro.. ive even glued rocks over montis with acros on them and eventually the acro will secure a base and then the monti will overtake it.. i would move it if i could.. or wait it out and see...but thats just what ive experienced..

 

[smoq]

Sunset monti loses to red planet..lol

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using Reefs

+1 I have many corals engaged in war and so far sunset monti won with green monti cap by growing underneath it and killing most of the colony! But, it clearly looses with red planet. Acros usually win with montis. What is interesting when two branching sps meet, you won't believe what size offensive tentacles they may present. Check this battle picture between my birdsnest and pocilipora colonies:

 

[sig45]

Seen both prevail. No explanation in my system. I let them fight it out. Looks more natural to me. Right now I have 3- monti's green w/ blue polyp and 2 different orange varieties clashing. Green is losing. I have a purple monti overgrowing an unknown nonstag type of acro for a couple of years. Efflo is beating up a pocillopora as well.

 

[Paolissimo]

I am going to let it fight it out for a bit, but my other question is this, will the fight bleach the losing coral? Meaning that it will stress it soo much that pretty much gives up and bleach?

 

[smoq]

I am going to let it fight it out for a bit, but my other question is this, will the fight bleach the losing coral? Meaning that it will stress it soo much that pretty much gives up and bleach?

Yes, you can see on my picture that one stalk of birdsnest is bleached from losing the fight. The losing coral will bleach and start growing in other direction. And I agree that you should let it fight a little bit, it looks more natural and it's really interesting to watch. I have a staghorn coral that encrusts on digitata taking it's shape

 

[sig45]

Here are some examples...

 

[ducati335i]

So if they fight the losing colony won't completely die?

 

[smoq]

So if they fight the losing colony won't completely die?

It depends, at least in my tank. The cap died almost completely while the birdsnest is making a great escape to avoid pocilipora.

 

[sig45]

agree w/ smog. depends on coral and growth rate