Coral growth direction

[Duane Clark]

Sorry if this is a silly question but I am curious. I was looking at my zoa colonies and thinking/wishing to myself that some of them would grow or spread in the opposite direction from their current growth patterns.

So now I am wondering. Is coral growth completely random or are there factors that encourage them to grow in a particular path? Logic would seem that if so, lighting and/or flow plays a part in it. I know monti's and birdsnest corals will grow in particular shapes based on flow for example. Same thing for zoa, acans, etc.?

 

[John3]

Good question! I don’t know for sure but I have noticed with my zoas and Palys they kinda drip new heads down the fastest. Of course I have had them spread up as well but they seem to spread faster down or across flat surfaces.