So how does growing points/polyps work?

[dav1d84]

So all the growing polyps on my sps, well atleast acro i notice are bigger and lighter color. yesterday i was looking at one of my colors and i notice one of the small branches hasn't been growing for the longest time, I look closer and notice that the tip polyp looks small and like every other non-growing polyp on the arco. Is this branch never going to grow again? Please educate me on how arco's growing tips work, because all of this i'm staying is just my speculation.

Also, i notice one of my birdsnest frag has never grew, has about 3 branches, 2 inches long, when i got the frag i did kind of handled it by the tips and might have damaged those tips. Did this stop it from growing?

all other sps in my tank are good and grow fine.

 

[Semillon]

This is one of the more thoughtful and interesting posts ive read on this forum, very interested to hear if anyone has some information or theories...

 

[flamron]

Break the tips off where they are growing. just a small 1/8" or 1/4" break, and that will likely stimulate them into growing again - this is what happens in nature anyways.

I don't know why they don't grow, but breaking the tips off will make them grow again.

 

[dav1d84]

So are the growing polyps actually different from the rest? only my big tip polyps i notice grown, and once they shrink to normal size, they never grow again. anyway to simulate it to grow again without breaking it? One of the branches that i want to grow is only 1/8 inch long is why i ask

 

[flamron]

Could try to just break the tip of the corralite off. That may stimulate it enough to grow again.

Have you tested your phosphates with a high resolution meter? It almost sounds like the few coral that aren't growing may be effected by phosphates. It could be that the others that are growing are more tolerant of "dirtier" water.

Just a thought. Maybe list the corals that are growing (and an estimated growth rate) as well as the corals that aren't growing.