SPS growth question

[DracoKat]

about 2 or 3 months ago I got a frag of SPS acro (not sure what kind exactly). The person fragged it and glued it on the SPS's side, not at the base, so it's laying down (if that makes sense)

It has grown since I got it, but it's growing horizontally, I don't see any signs of it turning upwards to grow vertically. New branches forms on the side and grow horizontally.

Will it learn to grow vertically?

 

[DracoKat]

It's the green one- and Id would be great too

 

[Humblefish]

Moved to SPS Discussion thread.

#reefsquad for SPS experts

 

[Diesel]

Yes it will
Once it start growing out branches you will have in no time a mini colony.

 

[DracoKat]

Moved to SPS Discussion thread.

#reefsquad for SPS experts

thank you.. I could've SWORN I posted to SPS. I must'ved clicked the wrong link.

and thank you @Diesel - it's a peeve of mine when frags are glued on its side.

 

[120reefkeeper]

+1 @Diesel

A lot of times people do this intentionally to stimulate multiple branch growth vs just vertical height.

It does work

 

[Dingo]

I see at least 3 branches starting that will progress vertically very soon.

 

[twilliard]

+1 @Diesel

A lot of times people do this intentionally to stimulate multiple branch growth vs just vertical height.

It does work

agreed I have done this a few times. It allows more light photosynthesis across the surface.

 

[DracoKat]

I didn't know that. I thought they were just being lazy. Didn't think about it encouraging multiple branch growth. guess it makes sense.

What kind of Acro is it? I didn't get names for any of my acros so I am not sure, lol. I will have to do an ID thread for all of them one of these days

 

[Dingo]

Hard to tell without branch structure to base it on. But probably some type of staghorn.
Does it slime up a lot when touched?

 

[120reefkeeper]

Looks like a Bali green slimer to me.

Looks like this one...

 

[DracoKat]

based on photos, it looks like a Bali green slimer.. I agree we'd need to see its branching structure to determine.

I never touch my acros, so I am not sure. I rarely touch my corals unless I have to. I guess I can test it next time I stick my hand in the tank

 

[Diesel]

Yep Green Slimer.
Keep hands out of the water as much as possible.
It's the secret nobody knows.
I have had my hands in there since Sept and today I had to, in order to frag my volley ball size Space Invader.

 

[DaveRaz]

I have grown a lot of across in the past couple years but two were very stubborn. Very smal, frags of BC Hyperberry and Somewhere Over the Rainbow Mille. They were colored up nice but just wouldn't grow. After moving them around to try and find their happy spot I finally cut them off the bases and glued them horizontal on the plug. I'm glad I did as both are growing much better.

 

[alten78]

Mounted my slimer on its side as well, it encrusted the rock like crazy before shooting several branches...

 

[Garrett W.]

I glue most acro frags on their sides as well. especially if one side wasn't getting any light to ensure maximum light exposure to the side that will flourish. I'm hoping to eliminate that problem on my next build by using more than one light.

 

[reefwiser]

The hardest lesson to learn for a SPS keeper. "It takes time"[emoji3] When you see people post a mature reef as an example they don't show the 2 years it took to get it to that point.
Give it time and if you are lucky and keep things going in the right direction it will grow. Good things happen slowly in a reef tank. Only bad things happen fast. [emoji3]