Why do some SPS look good on one side and not on the other?

[kmu]

HI there, I got some SPS that on side of them look great while the other there isn't much color or polyp extension.

I have a 48x18x18 rimless with an ATI 6x54 fixture and a PM40 on one side

Could it be flow or is it something else?

 

[29reef]

Do you mean different sides of your tank or different sides of the coral?

I think a photo would go a long way towards finding an answer.

As far as flow. I think that your tank would be fine with 2 or more mp40s for flow. 1 likely isn't enough for a 4' tank.

 

[The_Chad]

I agree, a picture says a thousand words.

 

[Allmost]

Hello,
it is the flow.

I too have only 1 MP40 in the 65G, and the coral growth patterns and .... is just amusing

the side facing MP40 gets GOOD PE, and color and ..., other side not as much.

 

[James404]

The sides of the coral that dont get exposed to much light usually lose their color IME.

 

[tntneon]

hi kmu ,
I know what you mean (i guess ..) , i have a green acro witch is growing very well , the lighted side of the branches is very green and the undersides of these branches are darker colored.

if i look very close , it seems that the lighted sides have less zoax cells / algea in the tissue then the unlighted sides , the very fine mesh of red/brown colored zoox i see less of on the lighted side .

why this is , i don't know for sure , something to do with different lighting conditions...

greetingzz tntneon

 

[kmu]

Do you mean different sides of your tank or different sides of the coral?

I think a photo would go a long way towards finding an answer.

As far as flow. I think that your tank would be fine with 2 or more mp40s for flow. 1 likely isn't enough for a 4' tank.

Yes on one side of the coral...

The SPS are on the side of the vortech MP40

 

[madkeenreefer]

perhaps to much direct flow

 

[adambirk]

what side of the coral looks better? the side with more flow or less. more light or less? pics would really help you get the right answer but from what you have given i would say flow. an i have to agree with other posters that i mp40 is not enough for a tank that size.

 

[OwenInAZ]

Well, of course the side facing light and flow will look better. It has better access to light and nutrients

 

[adambirk]

not allways. it could be to much flow. or too much direct flow. also you have a 6 bulb ati fixture on an 18inch deep tank. those crank out some crazy light. so could actually be too much light. hence the qustion on which side looks better really need a bit more info.

 

[tynman]

If your talking about the under side of a branch then its cause its not getting the same light as the top of the branch..