SPS grows well from the tips, but doesn't encrust!!!!

[skibum9884]

Like the title says, many of my SPS aren't encrusting at the base but are growing well at the tips. In fact, the tissue at the base of many have eroded away.

It doesn't seem to extend much however, just 1/8-1/4".

Any ideas of a cause or remedy? I was thinking it couldn't be AEFW or Red Bugs as I haven't seen any and they haven't STN'd or RTN'd completely on me. Also, I doubt it is a flow issue as I have plenty of flow from 3 vortechs in a small tank!

Thanks for any help!

 

[Faye]

Are the bases dead? If they're dead they wont encrust.

 

[SPSEMPIRE]

If you buy them as larger maricultured colonies, it is common for that to happen due to new flow and light patterns.

If these are aquacultured frags, like 1.5 inch cuts, than I would glue to frag laying down flat on a smaller piece of rock. This will make sure that the coral grows in the correct direction based on your flow from the vortechs. It may take a little bit longer to get the initial frag growing up but multiple branches will pop up at the same time.

I've also seen this happen when frags are glued standing straight up on plugs that are not cured. It usually is just algae growing over the coral and shading it.

 

[skibum9884]

Hmmm, interesting. Good point as this seems to happen mostly with aquacultured frags that I glue straight up and down. The ones mounted horizontally seem to do better. I never noticed the relationship.

Guess I'll always glue them horizontally if possible.

Thanks!

 

[glennr1978]

What kind of croals? None of my birdsnest corals encrust for crap, but they definitely grow fast from the tips.

 

[skibum9884]

That is true, I have several different types, one is a stylo as you mention that I shouldn't expect to encrust, but also some torts and a hoeksemi.

 

[SPSEMPIRE]

Your Welcome.

It is generally species related too. Staghorns, Torts, Birdsnest, and others take a long time to really encrust.

 

[Islander84]

i have an ORA neon green bird about 12 x 10 and it shades the lower section to the point it slowly fades out and wont encrust but when the tips grow out and touch a rock it will encrust to it