Control direction of tabling??

[wuster77]

How do you control the direction of table acropora growth? water flow? lighting? something else? not possible?? or do people just trim it??

I got a red planet table frag that I hope to have it grow over one edge of a rock and was wondering if theres anything I can do to promote that

Thanks in advance!!

 

[64Ivy]

Good question. I am guessing that the general direction of one's water flow is the key here but I couldn't begin to tell you how to go about fiddling with it to change the pattern of coral growth. Besides, results would take several months to notice each time you made a change. In my case, I have completely random flow and as a consequence, my tables grow in all directions, even backwards toward the rear wall! But if you're serious about 'training' them, I would search for a tank whose bio-design I liked and actually try to copy its flow patterns. I'm serious. ToTM archives will often have info regarding powerhead size and placement. Good luck.

 

[psteeleb]

For directional growth;
they will want to grow toward a light source and direct their growth energy accordingly. Flow will have some impact, they will not grow into very high flow areas where water channels.
you may have a hard time getting it to grow to the back of the tank assuming the light is not as intense back there.

For horizontal tabling:
I've seen montepora plates adjust their flat growth to flow, but I'm pretty sure acroporas are always going to strive a horizontally flat growth to eqaulize lighting across the surface. I've had several and when placed in the tank with a slight angle for viewing they will start to adjust the growth paterns to re-establish a horizontal plane (same as all large acropora tables I've seen in their natural environment)

So you may be able to grow it out a bit then reposition it, but I would bet they try to grow flat again