This guide is written as an operating framework. Exact limits still depend on the organism, system volume, equipment and local rules.
Plan for the colony
A small frag can shade, sting or overgrow neighbours as it expands. Reserve space before gluing.
Acclimate light
Moving a coral directly under stronger light can damage tissue even when the species ultimately prefers high intensity.
Use turbulent flow
Flow should deliver gas exchange and food without folding tissue against skeleton or creating a dead zone.
Respect aggression
Sweeper tentacles, mesenterial filaments, overgrowth and chemical competition extend beyond visible daytime tissue.
Make movement possible
Mount valuable coral so it can be repositioned while the system is still being tuned.
Research and review
This is original AquaNexus writing. It does not reproduce third-party articles, tables, photographs or databases. Species-specific legal and husbandry claims must be checked against current authoritative sources before publication as final guidance.