Birdsnest growing downwards

Big Larr · Dec 17, 2014

My pink birdsnest is growing downwards is there a good way to help it grow upwards again

Big Larr · Dec 17, 2014

Sorry for the bad pic only have a cheap smartphone for camera

Arcsenic · Dec 17, 2014

I think that may have something to do with your flowers growing toward where it's comfortable or something maybe try making your flow point at it a little better

Arcsenic · Dec 17, 2014

I mean flow lol stupid auto correct

Keithcorals · Dec 17, 2014

It is the water flow. If you change your flow pattern (move circulation pump) it will stop growing down. Corals grow with the flow.

Big Larr · Dec 17, 2014

Have already changed the flow 2 times now I'm thinking maybe too much light

Big Larr · Dec 17, 2014

The flow is directed at it and still

seargentslice · Dec 17, 2014

I agree with the above statements it has to do with your flow Lighting would cause it to bleach or brown out. You can hold a piece of braided fishing line to see flow patterns. In my experiance most corols do not like being hit by direct flow from a powerhead.

Big Larr · Dec 17, 2014

I am pushing around 1800gph in a 20H tank. So you don't think it could be just at the amount of light to not bleach but it knows to grow away from light so it won't bleach itself

seargentslice · Dec 17, 2014

If that were the case I am not aware of it would be great if the were able too respond that fast because I would still have corals that I bleached due to error on my part.

Big Larr · Dec 17, 2014

If it were flow then how come most people's powerheads push horizontally across the tank and their birdsnest grow vertically towards light

jzaso · Dec 17, 2014

Keithcorals said:
It is the water flow. If you change your flow pattern (move circulation pump) it will stop growing down. Corals grow with the flow.

Very right on that fine branched seritopora very current driven

seargentslice · Dec 17, 2014

Try moving the coral to a spot with gentle flow that has an upward type of pattern and wait four to six weeks to see how it responds.

Big Larr · Dec 17, 2014

No room to do now but I am currently in the process of getting my 57 rimless up and running so will have the space then and will definitely try that thank you all very much and please keep any thoughts coming

Big Larr · Dec 17, 2014

I personally have only seen one other birdsnest type coral that was growing down also but it was high in the tank as well but also badly bleached

Keithcorals · Dec 17, 2014

I've managed to get a handful of Corals to grow down with downward flow including red planet, pink birds nest and green slimer not only do SPS grow down with downward flow but will grow in the direction of flow if it is constant from one side. I at one point had circulation pumps creating a constant flow pattern in my SPS tank and all the corals started growing in the direction the water pasted over them. I changed to a more random pattern (mp10s) and things started to grow in a more natural shape. I'm really surprised this isn't more common knowledge. Light can effect how they grow but in my experience not nearly to the extent that flow will.

Lazys Coral House · Dec 17, 2014

That is normal pattern for many birdsnest coral to grow down. It will grow up as well but will first grow down to attach it's brances at multiple points.