Torch corals and their tentacle length

[QPWithCheeseQP]

Ive been doing some research and I cant seem to find out how people get even small colonies of torch coral to have long and dramatic tentacles. As I understand it torch corals prefer moderate light and flow, but what encourages them to extend out so far? Ive seen people say lower light/flow makes them stretch out and others say more light/flow really makes them stretch. So which is it? Really I ask because I have a torch coral that has been sitting in the middle of my tank with enough flow to just make the tips dance but not get push all to one side and its tips just seem stubby. Maybe an inch? So I could use some advice on how to coax it into fully extending. (I do feed it about once or twice a week as a guilty pleasure haha)

I know these questions were coming sooo..

I have a 4 bulb t5 with 2 ati blue plus a coral plus and a purple plus. The torch sits about halfway down in the tank approx 15in. from the lights.

Parameters.
ammonia/nitrite/nitrate/phosphate. All 0
Ph 8.1
Calc 430ish
Mag 1250
Alk 10.5

 

[akitareefer]

How long have you had it? I had a lemon lime torch that took a month to fully extend. I also have another green torch that doesn't extend more than an inch. I believe it will never extend further and I've had it 2 months. Lastly with gold torch I have amazing extension and have had them for a few weeks.

I believe there are different varieties out there that just don't extend as long. Some of my torches even appear to have slightly different skeletons, have different polyp size and split differently.

I suggest finding the best flow for it and leaving it alone for the next month and see where its at

 

[Terrance]

I have almost the same torch as you, same length as well.
At my LFS, they have the same kind of torch as me but its tentacles are much longer.

I prefer the short tentacles over the longer ones.

 

[accordsirh22]

i have that exact same torch, high flow (~8 inches from a 425gph powerhead) and halfway up in the tank which is very heavily lit. so mine is in high light/flow