How do you know corals are growing?

[stanleo]

That sounds like such a stupid question now that I type it out. I can obviously see my GSP and xenia are bigger and I have only had the hairy mushroom and kenya tree a couple weeks. But I have had the hammer coral as long as the GSP, a few months and the birdsnest for over a month and I can't tell if they are growing or not. Are there tale tell signs if they are? They look good, nice color, full polyp extension every day.

Lighting is 2 Red Sea ReefLED 90
Salinity 35 ppt
pH 8.2
Alk 9 dKH
Cal 500
Mag 1440
NItrate 2 ppm
Phos .03 ppm
120 gallon with sump and refugium. 20% WC biweekly.

Birdsnest is 6 inches from the top of the tank and near a powerhead that goes off and on. Hammer is towards the back, not getting much flow and about half way between top and back.

 

[stanleo]

I might have answered my own question. Just took a pic of the birdsnest and compared to older pic and there is some growth. I think.

October 9

Today, November 1

 

[Seanislav]

Usually, new growth is either lighter in color than the older growth or a different color entirely, depending on the type of coral (this is mostly the stony types)...at least that's what I've noticed.

 

[motortrendz]

Theres definitly growth between the 2 pics

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

Oh yeah theres a bit of growth. Compare the limbs on the left side some single branches now have split to two