Acro plating vs branching

[nitrogenbubbles]

I have read several threads on flow being the root cause for across to grow outwards and down, however I dont think this is the case. Would like some input from the community.
3 year old 75G, diy cree led on bluefish mini, 1ch up 5%, 3ch(s) dental blue 75%, 2ch(s) true white 25%. Mag 18 through 3/4 inch scwd with three outputs, standard uln params.

 

[nitrogenbubbles]

Three acros, same growth pattern

Three acros, same growth pattern

See pictures

 

[pisanoal]

Hard to tell from pics, but those may actually be encrusting montipora? If not, those are very small acro frags. If they are indeed acros, they will likely go through a phase of encrusting to get a firm base before they start growing new branches.

I would not consider what you are experiencing in line with what you are asking about. Flow patterns will influence growth patterns of acros to some degree, and really strong flow may indeed cause them to base out more before growing more branches. However, I would not consider a mag 18 in a 75 really strong flow unless your outlets are aimed directly at your acros and are not far from them.

 

[nitrogenbubbles]

I will post a better pic tonight with a different lighting scheme for more white for better clarity

 

[nitrogenbubbles]

I guess I should clarify that I dont feel flow is my problem, as you stated that my return isn't much.

 

[nitrogenbubbles]

These are all from the original frag. Standard green acropora. Not a fan of coined names...so I have no idea exactly "which named". But as you can see they are all growing out and down.

 

[Piper27]

The mag 18 is all you have for flow? No powerhead pumps?
Only birdsnest and non acro sps I have seen grow down or to one side or the other because of flow and or light, not any acropora. Are you sure this are acropora fragments? The polyps are so small and there are no coralites.
I am no ID expert but if those are acro fragments, something is off. Normally encrusting like that happens under high flow. Low flow will show long skinny branches and high will be thicker and shorter.

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[nitrogenbubbles]

As you can see I am stumped with this, not a behavior I am use to seeing based on the current setup, on a strange note, my red branching montipora is branching just fine. I do have a single Jeboa wp10 pointing up at the surface of one corner pulsing and on a backup battery setup just in case I lose power. Other than that....that's it for flow. I dont have a par meter(not many of us do) the only thing I can think of...and I am going out limb....I might have too much lighting. I have lowered my lights last month by 5% per channel per week...but several of my corals responded poorly, so I raised it back up....I guess these frags aren't dying....was hoping someone had experienced this before.

 

[nitrogenbubbles]

Last note, this is the first tank I have used less on, a friend finally talked me out of MH. We hunch I am glad I dont have to run a chiller anymore, electric Bill's are much smaller now.