Where do you get best echinophyllia growth?

[teamdulski]

I've been trying to figure out where to put my watermelon echino for best growth and color. Right now I have the frag in an area that gets about 80-100 PAR, I've been really afraid to bleach him should I move him higher to about 150-200 PAR area or just leave him be? It's coloring up and has a little growth but I know it should be growing a little quicker than it is.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

IMO/IME Echinophyllia growth generally increases with stronger light. In certain cases intense light can also result in superior coloration as well. Many of the more colorful Echinophyllia benefit from subdued lighting as it brings out their coloration best.

 

[teamdulski]

Thank you Gary.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

dinner plate size Echinophyllia (grown from small frag) above blue Haddon's anemone.

 

[teamdulski]

That's pretty good proof.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I experimented with placement of that Echinophyllia (and others). Many factors are critcal to growth rate(s) but (in general) I've found that Echino growth rates increase with more intense lighting.

I've also come to the conclusion that the rarer more colorful Echinophyllia always grow slower than green

 

[pimpinitup6969]

It really depends on the piece. Most i have do really well getting hammered with a 250watt halide. Others look and grow terribly until I moved them into some shade. Anything tye dye looking really likes lower light. My watermelons grow and look best about 10" from the water surface.

 

[gmneil]

i keep mine about 5 inches under my 250 w metal halide

 

[teamdulski]

Thanks guys, I was hoping you would chime in Neil so I could gauge where you had it.

 

[teamdulski]

Thanks for all the info guys. I have more growth on both my chalices in the last 3 days then I have had in the last 2-3 weeks.

 

[kase]

If it Tyree Watermelon then you want to give it some real good amount of light and it will grow at good rate for you. Most pink chalice will love more light than other chalices. I have found that in order to get real nice color from chalice you have to figure out what lighting it likes and how much. Some chalice that come from the wild are harvest under caves and tuck in crevices so they will not like to much light and will have to be slowly acclimated to higher lighting. Tyree watermelon like moderate to high flow also.

 

[teamdulski]

It is a tyree. MP10 on the solana, so flow is not a problem.

 

[museumguy]

I put a frag of purple/blue chalice towards the bottom of my 1700g but in full light right under a 1000w halide. In about 3-4 months its gone from the size of a quarter to the size of a deck of cards.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

there are several different types of commonly called "chalice" corals

there are several different types of commonly called "chalice" corals

is it purple/blue Echinophyllia, Tad?

sounds like it might be Echinopora or something else..........

 

[talon4x4]

I got a half a pinky nail sized piece (had a fragging mishap) of a watermelon chalice from Steve H. I have it about 5" below my 250W halides. In a year it has overgrown a standard size plug, in height and diameter. I just recently moved it down to the sandbed with the other chalices. I actually think it is growing faster down there. I moved it because the chalice was growing straight down the sides of the plug, I wanted it to grow out. In a couple weeks it has already turned and started to grow along the sand bed (inside of straight down), just what I was hoping for!!

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

doesn't Echinophyllia grow along the lines of the substrate it's placed on?

 

[suppressivefire]

Ive found they like it around 150-200 par, good color and growth for most Echinophyllia. Imo

 

[talon4x4]

doesn't Echinophyllia grow along the lines of the substrate it's placed on?

I had mine on a frag rack made of eggcrate and it was growing straight down thru the eggcrate. Once I moved it down to the sand it started growing out along the sandbed.

 

[museumguy]

is it purple/blue Echinophyllia, Tad?

sounds like it might be Echinopora or something else..........

Yeah, I thought about that a little before I posted. I think I have some of each in the big tank, both at roughly the same depth and lighting. The thin stuff (Echinopora?) is growing faster but both are doing well. The Echinophyllia got owned by a green slimer that fell on it but is recovering well.