SPS Acropora Help - no vertical growth

[Flippers4pups]

What weird is that they are German corals

Lol, Diesel, I did not name them, my friend! Lol

 

[jda]

Everybody has one or two like this... is this just one or two, or the majority?

New growth going sideways or down is a good sign that it is light. Just getting fat and encrusting can sometimes be too much flow - yes, you can have too much flow but your three MP40s don't seem like too much offhand.

If the majority and they are growing down, then what do you have the LEDs set to? The only times that I have seen this is from HQI bulbs when folks took the glass off, or from LEDs with too high of whites, reds, greens and yellows which can hurt coral - both have bad spectrum that can do damage it too high of quantity.

 

[Diesel]

Lol, Diesel, Ich habe sie nicht genannt,
mein Freund! Lol

You better change that into English as that's a forum rule my friend. and I'm not kidding

 

[Flippers4pups]

You better change that into English as that's a forum rule my friend. and I'm not kidding

I forgot! Was having fun. Changing now. I spent two years in Germany in the army. My German is Rusty. Lol

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Everybody has one or two like this... is this just one or two, or the majority?

New growth going sideways or down is a good sign that it is light. Just getting fat and encrusting can sometimes be too much flow - yes, you can have too much flow but your three MP40s don't seem like too much offhand.

If the majority and they are growing down, then what do you have the LEDs set to? The only times that I have seen this is from HQI bulbs when folks took the glass off, or from LEDs with too high of whites, reds, greens and yellows which can hurt coral - both have bad spectrum that can do damage it too high of quantity.

I dunno. I've had all 3 types of light though. Two tanks some of the same corals in each.
I'm a Brancher.

 

[29bonsaireef]

I have noticed frags from the same coral encrusting way more in a tank with higher par than in another tank with lower par. In the wild acropora will encrust a decent portion of rock work before sending up any branch work. IME, hitting them with high par they can take time encrusting and grow a nice base. Where as in a lower par system they start growing towards the light right away. High flow will cause thick branching patterns, low flow more spindly/skinny branches. If they are growing steady let them encrust, when the time comes they will explode into colonies.

 

[Diesel]

You know guys, Dana had a thread going on some point.
I need to find it as flow and light goes hand in hand though.

 

[mcarroll]

If the majority and they are growing down, then what do you have the LEDs set to? The only times that I have seen this is from HQI bulbs when folks took the glass off, or from LEDs with too high of whites, reds, greens and yellows which can hurt coral - both have bad spectrum that can do damage it too high of quantity.

...and basic B+B+W led's in a moderate flow system. I can't see a pattern to be honest. My birdsnest in the low light tank grows straight down on most branches. My M. digitata grew in huge HUGE plates with only a scant few "fingers" poking up, none of which were longer than 3" in my low light tank AND in my brighter tank. Flow is different in each.

My guess, but without enough evidence to really know, is that lens angle plays a bigger role than we think about....lenses do shape the light, so it could make sense.

You better change that into English as that's a forum rule my friend. and I'm not kidding

I know you said you're not kidding, is there really a R2R rule that says that? Sounds so odd it's hard to believe.

 

[Diesel]

...and basic B+B+W led's in a moderate flow system. I can't see a pattern to be honest. My birdsnest in the low light tank grows straight down on most branches. My M. digitata grew in huge HUGE plates with only a scant few "fingers" poking up, none of which were longer than 3" in my low light tank AND in my brighter tank. Flow is different in each.

My guess, but without enough evidence to really know, is that lens angle plays a bigger role than we think about....lenses do shape the light, so it could make sense.



I know you said you're not kidding, is there really a R2R rule that says that? Sounds so odd it's hard to believe.

Am I ever kidding......

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hej-från-sverige.319111/#post-3947231

 

[Scorpius]

Some Acropora take forever to branch out. My Pink Floyd is a bulldozer of an Acro that refuses to branch out. Beautiful encrusted base though. lol

 

[jda]

My guess, but without enough evidence to really know, is that lens angle plays a bigger role than we think about....lenses do shape the light, so it could make sense.

Any idea what type/kind/angle of lenses? Anything anecdotal is fine and could be a starting point to turn other anecdotes into trends.

 

[reefer1]

I have a standard/unmodified Maxspect R420R LED unit. I think it's 300W. I don't know what type of the lenses it has.
I also have two T5 blue+ bulbs

 

[scchase]

Something I have had great luck with over the years when they are encrusting like this has been to cut the starter branch off just leaving the encrusting part, frequently they will put out a bunch of new growth tips shortly after doing this.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

My guess, but without enough evidence to really know, is that lens angle plays a bigger role than we think about....lenses do shape the light, so it could make

Mmmm. That's just blending.
It would effect half a colony. Or one frag and not the one next to it.
I think we not observe all these differences in The tank.
So one of my frags should encrust , the same coral right next to it or close would.
But right now they are not.

(Good and bad I had to frag my big vileda colony and now have 1,40374938 frags of it)

 

[Peng]

high flow -> thicker, denser branching.
higher nutrients (NO3 1 - 2 and up) -> thicker branching but more intense coloration

 

[Salty1962]

high flow -> thicker, denser branching.
higher nutrients (NO3 1 - 2 and up) -> thicker branching but more intense coloration

Is this in a study or just your experience?

 

[rockstarta78]

Me: I hate SPS
Also Me: no you don't, stop lying,
Me: whatevs

 

[scchase]

Some examples of ones that I cut that have started branching out like crazy after being cut
Vivid Rainbow Delight in the back
P9180149 by Scott Chase, on Flickr
Gonzos Cookie Monster
P9180145 by Scott Chase, on Flickr
Paletta Pink Tip
P9180141 by Scott Chase, on Flickr

 

[madcanary]

My Acros seem to encrust forever. I actually got to internet searching all I could find really was time was the answer.
Stability is key, as with any coral mine seemed to take almost a year to show any vertical movement some still haven’t but they are newer but my oldest stuff has finally started it’s almost a daily change on some stuff.
I run triton and measure alk everyday. I’m holding 7dkh that’s where the magic seemed to happen at 8 the colours where not as vivid.
I run 3 xr30pros and 4 mp40qds on a 150 par is around 250-350 on my acro ‘shelve’

 

[Diesel]

My Acros seem to encrust forever. I actually got to internet searching all I could find really was time was the answer.
Stability is key, as with any coral mine seemed to take almost a year to show any vertical movement some still haven’t but they are newer but my oldest stuff has finally started it’s almost a daily change on some stuff.
I run triton and measure alk everyday. I’m holding 7dkh that’s where the magic seemed to happen at 8 the colours where not as vivid.
I run 3 xr30pros and 4 mp40qds on a 150 par is around 250-350 on my acro ‘shelve’

You got that right.
I have ran my ALK on many levels but between the 7 and 7.5 is where my corals had the best color and grew the best.
Not to mention my nutrient levels.
You run the Radions and I did had them for 3.5 years from gen 1 through the gen 3 pro, awesome results.
But must say nothing replaces a well thought and designed color combo on the T5's.