sps encrusting growth with no vertical growth?

[ohioreef71]

I have been noticing most of my sps frags i got a few months back seem to be encrusting the frag plugs great but not much if any vertical height and no more branches appearing. I have mostly acros and milles and both seem to be acting the same. Is this normal should I wait it out or should I suspect something? I am fairly new to sps and am trying to learn as much as possible.

 

[RRaider]

Perfectly normal.

 

[secrest]

+1 totally normal.

 

[SpinyReef]

I had a particular millepora encrust for TWO years before showing any vertical growth

 

[Chris Lakies]

I hear ya! Ive been frustrated with my miami orchid. Its encrusted about 2 inches in diameter now without any branching or vertical growth.

 

[cromedogg33]

It really depends on which coral and where you have it placed.

If you have a coral that is in front of a powerhead it's going to grow a big base so that it can withstand the flow once it does grow vertical.

I have some milles that are getting blasted and put down a huge puddle before they even think about growing vertical or new branches. I also have some that aren't getting near as much direct flow and they have smaller bases with more vertical growth.

Think of them as trees....they need their roots first so they don't fall over in a windstorm.

 

[franklypre]

The branches will come, give it some time.

 

[mikid]

...........

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i only buy and trade frags,seem to be healther than colonies,as for growth, most of my frags encrust then grow up, my red planet frag of 2 inches,several branches is still encrusting out 3/4 inch in even direction,after 5 months, now is starting to grow knobs...will start to shoot up braches soon, its what is expected....at least you know that their healthy.....good luck...mike:beer:

 

[allsps40]

My Scripps Milli encrusted for a good while before shooting up a ton of branches.

 

[MammothReefer]

I prefer when my corals do this, I will often take my frags and remount them sideways.

I accidentally snapped it after it had begone to recrust so I glued it side ways.. Started like this

Grew to this

and here it is about a month ago

 

[Reefer1225]

What is the time frame for that growth Mammoth? Pink Lemonade?

 

[fishguy597]

Mammoth,
What is the green stag in the second pic? I have the same one and I know its not a slimmer.

 

[MammothReefer]

A year from the 1st photo the last, 4months between the second and the last.

I don't recall know what the species of that stag is I got it from DiversDen, not a slimer it's very smooth. I've had a lot of trouble with it. Though it will do great have growth spurts then start receding from the bottom right now there is white fungus/algae that is growing up over it from the bottom up I need to remove

 

[Dog boy Dave]

IF they have good current and good light they will grow out horizontaly as far as they can. They will tend to cover any flat surface and develop branches when they reach the edge. Thnk about it, on the reef the coral wants to claim as much flat space as it can before it grows upward. If you want to see your coral grow up instead of out flat crowd them in masses. They will sense the corals around them and grow up towards the open area instead of out into the corals next to them. Given suficient current and light, the corals are very good about sensing open areas and growing into them. I have even seen many of my corals put branches out and down into open areas. They only reach towards light if they are shaded or the light provided isnt intense enough for their needs.

 

[Dog boy Dave]

Another way to encourage a coral to develp branches is to leave it on the plug. Often, not always though, the coral will see the edge of the plug as a vertical drop and develop branches when it reaches that edge.

 

[MammothReefer]

ya kinda bummed a bout that my piece has been having a VERY hard time getting off the plug since I mounted it like a pedestal it shades it self.