If SPS Encrust - Is that Calcification?

[tutmatt3]

Been wondering about this for a while. I have a bunch of SPS that only encrust. Going on 1 Year with HUGE encrusted bases, and others with not so huge bases.

The only coral that give me vertical branches are birdsnest & a stag, plus some montis. All my other acros only encrust, and it lead me to think - do I possibly have a calcification problem.

So before I can dig into that more - does SPS use calcification in order to encrust? Since in my eyes, its more tissue rather than actual skeleton. If that is indeed the same growth they need in order to go vertical, then I'll stop messing with my tank and just wait for them to finish covering all the rocks before going up. lol

(I am aware that tons of encrusting = lots of slow in the tank, so they need a firm base)

 

[reeferfoxx]

does SPS use calcification in order to encrust? Since in my eyes, its more tissue rather than actual skeleton.

Yes and yes and no.

The symbiont, zooxanthellae, in the tissue receives light and converts that energy into carbs. All the while absorbing carbonates and bicarbonates, nutrients, and calcium to form the calcified base through calcification.

However, what you are experiencing has to do with water flow. Too much flow will prompt the coral to encrust more at the base rather growing vertical. Also light intensity could have some effect on growth height as well.

 

[tutmatt3]

Yes and yes and no.

The symbiont, zooxanthellae, in the tissue receives light and converts that energy into carbs. All the while absorbing carbonates and bicarbonates, nutrients, and calcium to form the calcified base through calcification.

However, what you are experiencing has to do with water flow. Too much flow will prompt the coral to encrust more at the base rather growing vertical. Also light intensity could have some effect on growth height as well.

Thanks! Would you say too much light would restrict them, while too little may encourage them to 'reach for the light'?

I have a tort in the epic shadows of the tank, doing the best compared to all other acros. Had vertical/horizontal growth, and great PE.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Thanks! Would you say too much light would restrict them, while too little may encourage them to 'reach for the light'?

There is a point at which too much light can inhibit growth. I can't say too little light will encourage them to reach. Typically, coloration will help dictate if lights are to bright or too dim. Many corals can adapt to different lighting but won't retain the coloration and too much shadowing on SPS can cause slow tissue necrosis. I would look at flow and make sure polyps aren't flat against one side of the coral and try for turbulent and random flow.

What lights are you running?

 

[cilyjr]

too much shadowing on SPS can cause slow tissue necrosis

Not to hijack but I'd live to see some more documentation on this! Maybe you could pm me some reading?

 

[reeferfoxx]

Not to hijack but I'd live to see some more documentation on this! Maybe you could pm me some reading?

Sorry. I never wrote any papers on the subject.

 

[tutmatt3]

There is a point at which too much light can inhibit growth. I can't say too little light will encourage them to reach. Typically, coloration will help dictate if lights are to bright or too dim. Many corals can adapt to different lighting but won't retain the coloration and too much shadowing on SPS can cause slow tissue necrosis. I would look at flow and make sure polyps aren't flat against one side of the coral and try for turbulent and random flow.

What lights are you running?

Some programmable blackboxes, which I also swapped out some diodes on my own.
They're now 12" above water. The peak was 40%b/10%w, which par was mid 200s on my acro rock

I now have them at 30%b/3%w. Lowered the peak intensity for a few reasons

• Observation compared to some LFS stores like Vivid aquariums, and a few others. Their tanks looked much less intense
• My birdsnest up top is just a white skeleton, even though it has good green expanded polyps. A frag of that was on my fragrack in the very back and had a nice more 'brown' skeleton, and more green polyps.
• Good amount of acros up top are on the paler side
• I have 2x torts on the bottom of the tank, especially 1 in the shadowwwwwwwws. Under a ledge, bottom of tank, etc. This coral has the most branch growth (aside from birdy), and has great coloration, as well as wonderful PE. If that lil guy thriving down there, for sure had to be to intense up top (or a flow issue)

 

[reeferfoxx]

especially 1 in the shadowwwwwwwws

I'm curious, the coral grows under a ledge where no light can get to it?

which I also swapped out some diodes on my own.
They're now 12" above water. The peak was 40%b/10%w, which par was mid 200s on my acro rock

I now have them at 30%b/3%w. Lowered the peak intensity for a few reasons

I think when you discover a happy medium for lighting and tank conditions, your acros will begin to grow.

 

[Mark Gray]

Yes and yes and no.

The symbiont, zooxanthellae, in the tissue receives light and converts that energy into carbs. All the while absorbing carbonates and bicarbonates, nutrients, and calcium to form the calcified base through calcification.

However, what you are experiencing has to do with water flow. Too much flow will prompt the coral to encrust more at the base rather growing vertical. Also light intensity could have some effect on growth height as well.

Interesting I only have 3 pieces of SPS a birds nest and 2 Acro's I have really heavy flow I have a 55 gallon with a trigger 39 sump with a sicce 7 ratted at 1900 an hour wide open and a gyre at 250 at 50% my few SPS's are growing up but the birds nest is for sure growing dense

 

[tutmatt3]

Very difficult to see in the picture, but its now in complete shadow, but honestly I estimate the par in this area ~50. All branches it has are growth from this spot. Coloration of course is much better with a more legit photo

Those millies on top of the rock encrust and do indeed have growth, but no where near as rapid as this badboy, nor as fast.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Interesting I only have 3 pieces of SPS a birds nest and 2 Acro's I have really heavy flow I have a 55 gallon with a trigger 39 sump with a sicce 7 ratted at 1900 an hour wide open and a gyre at 250 at 50% my few SPS's are growing up but the birds nest is for sure growing dense

Yep, I have two PP-4's with AQlink SL1 controllers alternating reef and nature mode at around 100% or 2,000 gph in my 30 gal. My sps grow horizontal and vertical

 

[reeferfoxx]

Very difficult to see in the picture, but its now in complete shadow, but honestly I estimate the par in this area ~50. All branches it has are growth from this spot. Coloration of course is much better with a more legit photo

Those millies on top of the rock encrust and do indeed have growth, but no where near as rapid as this badboy, nor as fast.

FWIW Torts are hardy compared to Milli's. Once the Milli's get settled they will grow like weeds. As for the torte, I think it will be fine starting its base there. As it grows more it will reach the 100 par range. Funny how coral can adapt to different intensities and can have different growth and coloration with those intensities. Seems you chose a wise spot to get those deeper blues. I did something similar with my tri color valida for the purples.

 

[tutmatt3]

FWIW Torts are hardy compared to Milli's. Once the Milli's get settled they will grow like weeds. As for the torte, I think it will be fine starting its base there. As it grows more it will reach the 100 par range. Funny how coral can adapt to different intensities and can have different growth and coloration with those intensities. Seems you chose a wise spot to get those deeper blues. I did something similar with my tri color valida for the purples.

What's interesting is - I was going through a ridiculous period of RTN/STN on newly introduced corals. When I was trying to determine my reasoning for it - I had a tort that I kept repurchasing as my 'tester' coral.

This tort died on me over 6+ times before it decided to live. At the same times, millies would last much longer (3+ weeks) while the tort would perish within 1-3 days.

But anywho, i agree with you. They'll find a way to adapt & thrive - but much easier when 'underlit' rather than 'overlit'.

In better news, a milli who had 0 PE is showing 10% PE today , being the first day I lowered lights to 30/3. May have found my sweetspot