anyone have pictures?

[pixburg-reefer]

Hey everyone,

Well as most of you know, my tank has always been LPS dominated since I set it up (6 years ago!). And since it will need to come down after summer, before I go off to college, I wanted to do more of the propagation. I have never really fragged much, I just let everything grow into large colonies. And I like that, I'm just trying different stuff and observing coral reproduction/survival capabilities. So maybe when I have to sell everything off, I'll have more nice frags. I suppose this leads to my question (I was inspired by the last PMAS topic for propagation). I decided to pick off a few of the larger buds growing on one of my large (17 head) torch and I glued them to some rubble. Now that seems fine for now, but how will they grow? I mean when ever we get Euphyllia for our aquariums, the skeletal structure is large and unattached (broken off from the colonies in the ocean). So when these buds grow out, will they have a nice thick skeletal structure like you usually see or will it adhere to the rock. I guess I’m not sure because I don't know how they grow in the wild. I suppose the skeletal structure just attaches to the rock for support but grows from there out. The only place I have ever seen where the Euphyllia had sexually reproduced and new colonies was in Baltimore at Exotic Aquatics. I was just wondering if anyone had any growth photos from doing this also.

Thanks!

Kelly

 

[Python73]

Hi Kelly. The branching euphillia (like that torch) grow by laying down new skeleton as the soft tissue grows. So essentially, they grow out/up/bigger. Torches in particular grow new heads by splitting the head in half and both grow into full heads.

So when you look at a big colony, you will see splits at different distances from the base. This is how they branch. Whether they grow in a tight cluster or spread apart depends on rate of growth, water flow, lighting, etc.

And no, the torch will never lay down skeleton anywhere but right under the tissue. They don't encrust, that hard part is all dead skeleton. If you didn't mount it in a sturdy spot, it will eventually get big enough to fall / break off. Most people mount torches with putty for this reason, or wedge the base in live rock.

S !

 

[pixburg-reefer]

Hi Sam! Oh I get it, that makes sense. When are you going to make a meeting!?

Kelly

 

[Python73]

Two weeks!! Wooo.

S !