Suggestion on what to do with SPS.

[jonathan9573]

So I’m questioning what I should do with this long stick of SPS. It has been growing this one long stall ever since I got it and just recently it has started branching but in very weird directions and places.

Amazingly enough I have smacked into it a few times doing maintenance and it has survived but I’m wondering, should I cut it shorter or just leave it or what? Also it seems like my other SPS are encrusting the rocks they are on but not beaching or growing from their tips. Is there anything a can do to get then to branch more? I’m defiantly not complaining because I have struggled with my tank and things are doing well at the moment.

 

[Tahoe61]

What lighting fixture are you running?

 

[DarthSimon]

Did you accidentally drop a Viagra in your tank? lol JK
That is really cool....

 

[jonathan9573]

What lighting fixture are you running?

I am running a DIY LED setup from rapid led.

 

[happyhourhero]

IMO it has earned its right to stay long. Probably has a Lorax guarding it.

 

[jonathan9573]

Did you accidentally drop a Viagra in your tank? lol JK
That is really cool....

I see all these SPS that have branching all over and I got the corn stalk kind I guess.

 

[biomek]

thats awesome! my vote is to keep it as it. don't see many oddities like making it a keeper in my book

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

 

[Greybeard]

Leave it... Different is good

 

[jonathan9573]

Very nice!! Lol

 

[jonathan9573]

Thank you everyone for your input. I will leave it be. I think the tip is actually going to split in a few different ways. Do SPS grow thicker or is their thickness dependent on how thick they are from the start?

 

[Tahoe61]

Growth pattern is influenced by lighting and flow, coloration is influenced by lighting and nutrient levels to a certain degree. If it were mine I would snap off about half way and remount the frag to another location. I am not familiar with the fixture sorry.

 

[Denisk]

Some sps just encrust a lot before growing upwards. However I was having the same issue before. I ended up checking my light with a lux meter and was getting almost 800par at the water surface. I raised my light up and things started almost reaching for the light rather than encrusting. Just an advice but your corals may be trying to just get a really good base.

Good luck!

 

[BigJim]

What powerheads are you using? It looks light you need stronger/ more random flow to me.

 

[jonathan9573]

I have four korillias. 2 of the new version and two older ones plus the return. I have a power head pointed at the SPS.

 

[needbiggertanks]

Growth pattern is influenced by lighting and flow, coloration is influenced by lighting and nutrient levels to a certain degree. If it were mine I would snap off about half way and remount the frag to another location. I am not familiar with the fixture sorry.

I decided to do this with a few of my frags as well. Essentially fragging my own corals and mounting them elsewhere. However, to each thier own. It is kinda cool to see that. Good luck and great encrusting on the other frag, i wouldnt worry about that little guy.

 

[jhuntington12]

I had a slimer like that once and it just reached for the sky. I think flow patterns have a lot to do with how it branches out and what not. I had a vortech on it and always randomizing its flow and in no time each of those stalks grew out several others. Thing grew so fast! I would leave it as is until it gets too close to the waterline. The base will eventually catch up.

 

[kevinl]

My vote is to cut it, if you want a more full bushy colony. Where you cut it, it should push several new growth tips and become bushier.
I got a long stick of green slimer couple years ago, I cut it into 4 pieces and and glued them flat on their sides. They spread and encrusted for over a year with little short nubs sticking up about an inch or two, in a total of 2 and half years had a colony 20 inches wide 10 inches high.

 

[jonathan9573]

I think I will leave it for the time being. It is actually starting to put out a lot of new branches. I’m sure I will knock into it during cleaning or something and break it off. At that point I will drag it.