Growing out chalice.... !? Plate / Encrust ?!

[DrPheel]

Hey RC !

I have this nice orange and teal chalice frag that is doing very well in my tank and it is now at the point where its completely covering the frag plug. I am starting to thing about the placement and I'm wondering how does one know if it will plate out or keep encrusting?! I know this forum has many chalice lovers so please let me know what you guys do as of placement / care / growing them.

When I got it 5 months ago:

About 1 month ago , It is now dripping down from the edge of the plug :

 

[organism]

It should start plating when it runs out of space... If you glue it to something like a golfball sized rock and then glue that rock into the tank it should plate once it reaches the bottom of the plug. If it has a bigger rock underneath then it might keep encrusting before it starts plating.

 

[DrPheel]

It should start plating when it runs out of space... If you glue it to something like a golfball sized rock and then glue that rock into the tank it should plate once it reaches the bottom of the plug. If it has a bigger rock underneath then it might keep encrusting before it starts plating.

Thanks for the reply! I will try and bring it to the edge of the rock and see if it will plate when it has no support under

 

[Grandlotus]

I kept mine on powder fine sand and she plated along the sand bed.

Was a very neat look.

 

[DrPheel]

I kept mine on powder fine sand and she plated along the sand bed.

Was a very neat look.

I will try this with a few other of my specimens that need lower light but the ones I'm most worried about outgrowing the plug unfortunately need to be placed under heavy light a littler higher in the tank

Thanks for you input !