Sps branches growing downward?

[nova65ss]

Any ideas as to why this one grows downward? It is the only one that does this. I have a friend that bought the same piece from same person when we were at Macna his grows straight up?

Thinking maybe flow or lighting? I feel I tend to run my lights on the lower par range so kind of dont think that. I guess it could be flow but what is it about the flow? He runs 2 mp40 on a 75 I have 3 Jaebos all on different settings all in different directions.

Mine notice most of the ends grow down some straight down.

His

 

[JBNY]

Probably a combination of both, but most likely started to grow in that direction because of flow. One of the things I like about acros is the interesting growth patterns you get in different tanks.

 

[TJ's Reef]

That's pretty interesting and in all the years and corals I've had only one colony has done this in my system. Have a 'Sour Apple' Birdsnest that while in my old 75g lit with VHO's grew down and out instead of the typical Seriatopora shape. Same coral in my current 125g is back to normal.... or what I believe to be normal growth. Below is a old pic of a grown out frag that continued the 'down and out' growth pattern, grew several inches below the base attachment level. I never did figure out if it was light, flow, a combination or ???

Cheers, Todd

 

[JBNY]

Flow patterns can be pretty strange in tanks, I wonder if the flow is being direct by rocks or something so that it is getting more flow on the underside of the coral and that is why it is growing that way. hmmm

 

[HugoPerez]

following

Interested in this thread. I've wondered the same question

 

[ahmed.boomer]

I've heard some say really high light can cause it. I've had montis that plate upward when in the middle part of my tank and plate laterally or slightly downward when in top quarter of my tank. Very interesting for acros though. The branches still seem to be getting light. Also is the light source by any chance to the upper left of the colony?

 

[nova65ss]

This one is in the very front just left of center. Under an 8 bulb t5.

 

[ahmed.boomer]

Hmm. T5's have a pretty even light distribution throughout, so it's not the lighting. Really cool piece though. See if it keep growing downwards long term.

 

[Tek]

Hmm. T5's have a pretty even light distribution throughout, so it's not the lighting. Really cool piece though. See if it keep growing downwards long term.

Sooner!

 

[reefndude]

I have a 2 pieces that grow downward. Stuck one on bottom to see if changes. Only been a week since I've moved it.

 

[Big E]

Could be flow, but I'd guess intensity plays a bigger role. If the coral needs/wants more light it will grow sideways to expose more of the colony to light..........straight up it wants or need less only exposing the tips to the most intense light.

 

[Keithcorals]

It's flow I've had it happen and done it intentionally in high and low light in the same system with the same corals. I tend to have a downward current at the end of my tank and if something has downward flow it grows downward I've had it happen to caps and acros. I have a green slimer in the same spot right now and it is starting to have the downward branches. I have a cap in the same system but different tank (2 tanks same sump) that is also effected the same way and that tank has less light.