Snip all of the tips?

[Toddrtrex]

I wonder if this is similar to putting a coral on its side and having a take off. I had this one "stick" and it truly was just a stick, about 2" inches tall -- had it for at least a year and little to no growth. Long story short about 4 months ago it got knocked on its side, me being lazy didn't do anything about it. It is now huge with at least 5 main branches.

 

[maximumpat]

I inadvertently broke a new ORA frag in half and almost threw up--it was SO cheap and It was one of my first SPS.

 

[maximumpat]

.....hit the wrong button. Anyway the growth exploded afterward. I don't think I can bring myself to do it on purpose, at least not until they get established.

 

[91yota]

excuse the crappy pics and the algae... but heres an example this is the micropthalma i mentioned earlier that went dormant on me for a few months... notice the nubs of new growth on the left where i broke a piece off and at the top right at the tip

12-25-08 before

one week after fragging... it has doubled the growth shown here in the week since this pic was taken

 

[stylolvr]

I'm joining in. I just snipped a 1/4" piece of a blue-tip green Acro stick that I have had for about 3 months with no growth. The tip went a little higher in the tank on some rock, and the original went back in the rack. We shall see.......

 

[hal000]

I also have noticed that taking a frag, will start a growth spurt!
here are a few pics that I have accidentally broke of a growth tip cuzing a groth spurt,
gren stag, broke growth tip a while back, where it broke no longer has a growth tip so no more upward growth, but shoot out 3 branches at top and bunch on bottom. maybe i will scrape of tip to see if I can get it going again!

millie only has 1 growing tip, this is a couple months back!
9-29-08

broke tip, then got this growth, pic on 12-29-08

here it is today, 1-27-09

Ok in this pic you can see that the lower branches have not grown in months, So in a few minutes I will cut(scrape) the tip of off that lower front branch and we will see what happens! I will keep you all updated!

 

[hal000]

Ok that was painfull, the sacrifices we will make for science!!
All these pics taken on 1-27-09

Sooo lets see what happens over the next month or two!
I will keep everyone updated!

 

[MikeCentore]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14238088#post14238088 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nextlevelreef
this actulay works when growing illegal plants snip the top to get biggger fuller busheier plants coral ive always wonderd

I'm not going to ask how you know this. :lol:

 

[IFbettas]

lol. Those look like some great growth shots hal0. I'm hoping to get results like that on my acros too, with the help of the tip snipping.

 

[serpentman]

This actually makes a lot of sense since these corals take a beating from wave action and storms in the wild. I think most wild corals are in a perpetual state of self healing.

 

[Marklu]

constant attacks by butterfly fish and parrrotfish also

 

[MACH5]

Great thread guys! Very interesting.
I have a pink/red Hyacinthus that's growing very well but has gone "dormant" on several areas, don't really know why? I actually been thinking about doing this but with the evidence shown in this thread I'm definitely going to try it now.

Will try this technique tonight as see how it goes but sounds promising! I will also try before and after pics.

 

[James983]

Just think when we frag from mother colonies there is new growth soon after. I just tried it on an acro frag I have since xmas that hasn't grown a hair. Lets see how it goes.

 

[Jadams]

very interesting thread..Im going home from work soon to try myself

 

[IFbettas]

How long does it usually take your acros to heal up and cover up the spot that you fragged the piece off of? I'm wondering if it takes mine longer than usual, some take a week or more before they mostly cover up the bare spot.

 

[91yota]

depends on the coral for me... some heal in a day, some take up to a week

 

[madadi]

so do you guys cut only one branch or all branches that you want to start growing? will cutting one branch make the coral grow from all the branches?

 

[Ace1]

Fellas Fellas Fellas

Its Called PRUNNING....
I've always wondered if this was possible with coral but due to the price and delicate sentement i could never get the heart to do it.. UNTIL NOW... Its On

Has anyone snipped a birds nest or Digitata??

 

[Madfronter]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14238088#post14238088 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nextlevelreef
this actulay works when growing illegal plants snip the top to get biggger fuller busheier plants coral ive always wonderd

I had to laugh when I read your post. I totally agree with you though. Thats a good thing to do to get more branches. Every time you cut one two more sprout.

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

The axial coralites are what give acroporas a growth advantage. It seems like it would actually slow growth down if you removed it. It takes the coral more energy to regrow the axial coralite.

You may see increased growth at the tip, as the colony is spending all its energy there, to replace it. But at what cost? Long term I wonder how this effects the colony.