SPS Growth pattern(s) Poll

[dhoch]

First let me set up my scenario:
In my tank (T5 lit) I have seen much more branchy growth of my SPS corals that I have seen in other tanks.

What do you think is responsible:
T5 lighting vs MH lighting?
Higher/Lower Flow than other tanks?
Something different? (i.e. mixed reef, DSB, the time of day I feed, who knows... please clarify more).

Some examples of what I'm talking about:

This mili compare that first pic with later on:

http://www.danj.com/reef/corals_detail.php?coral_id=41

This stylo: much bushier than I've seen exact coral in other tanks:

http://www.danj.com/reef/corals_detail.php?coral_id=17

This blue purple acro is the same, but I don't have a recent pic:

http://www.danj.com/reef/corals_detail.php?coral_id=42

Thanks,

Dave

 

[dvanacker]

YOur corals look good....not too sure what you are tying to point out.

What T5 bulbs are you running. I'm running Geisemann aquablue and actinic+ and I have had some coral lightening?? Have you always experienced good color and polyp extension with your T5's??

 

[dreaminmel]

From what I understand the space between branches is usually in direct relation to flow. Low flow = wider spacing to allow waste removal and high flow = more compact growth.

I voted flow as yours seem to be growing more compact... I've seen corals grow either way in either lighting scheme so don't think the lighting affects the spacing, more the color.

 

[dhoch]

The "compactness" or more banches in growth...

I see many SPS that look "branchy" to me... Mine I often find it hard to figure out where to trim if I'm going to frag...

I was wondering if it was a flow or lighting issue...

While I have good flow in my tank, it's not huge: 2 Mag 18 retursn ~2000 gal + 2 Tunze 6000s ~2500 GPH (based on how they are ctontrolled

thats only 25x or there about...

Dave

Dave

 

[Michael Mota]

I also noticed that when I added more flow to my tank the branches started to grow thicker and closer together.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

re: SPS growth pattern

re: SPS growth pattern

read this thread:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=720669&highlight=allocation

 

[143gadgets]

Dave. I have to agree with dreaminmel. I have the same stylo that you got from Eve. It looked just like yours when I first got it, but now it is just about as compact as yours currently is. I have over 90x turn over though. I really think it has to do with flow.

 

[twon8]

its all ball bearings these days.


ball bearings = flow

 

[Philwd]

Read up on bansai gardening. You can prune your corals to fill in more.