SPS Question...

[Naoxyn]

I'm curious, why do a lot of these tank shots have the Acro's on top of their scapes? In some cases just inches beneath the surface of the water. Looking at a lot of the DT pictures, it seems like the placing of this kind of coral might be bad in the long run. With the long branching limbs they grow into, it seems like the future growth of these corals isn't taken into consideration when choosing the area for placement. Am I wrong in this conclusion? Is there something I'm missing? Placement at the top of the rock structure seems pretty commonplace for theses corals.

 

[goober]

Because that's where the PAR levels will be the highest. For the most part "most" SPS enjoy high levels of PAR where LPS will thrive just fine at lower levels

 

[Naoxyn]

Because that's where the PAR levels will be the highest. For the most part "most" SPS enjoy high levels of PAR where LPS will thrive just fine at lower levels

That certainly makes more sense. But, doesn't it threaten the... health of the coral if it start breaking the surface and is no longer submerged? Or, wouldn't constant pruning to keep it from that point be damaging as well? It just seems like a lot more of unnecessary work to get it in a higher par value area rather than possibly a stronger light.

 

[GoVols]

That certainly makes more sense. But, doesn't it threaten the... health of the coral if it start breaking the surface and is no longer submerged? Or, wouldn't constant pruning to keep it from that point be damaging as well? It just seems like a lot more of unnecessary work to get it in a higher par value area rather than possibly a stronger light.

High par and high flow up top for sps.
If you get the right lighting and flow for sps, you can grow a lot of species any where in the reef.