Why is my montipora digitata growing upside down?

[Arsenix2001]

Not a fan of how this looks, any idea why it continues to grow downward only? The single vertical stem was the frag, all other growth is new since January

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Initial thought is too much light, second is too much flow.

 

[Arsenix2001]

Hmm never thought about too much light. Its spot lighted under a kessil 160 about 10" from the light. I have it set to 80% and its finally actually turning purple after a year. Its a purple monti digi. Seemed like it was craving more light. Theres flow but nothing crazy, my birds nests are colored up and growing like crazy. I just re glued it at another angle and fragged my blue monti cap to another rock in the front.

 

[MightyMO]

Yeah, my answer is it likes it better in that direction...

 

[Arsenix2001]

Yeah, my answer is it likes it better in that direction...

Haha cant argue with that logic

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Yeah, my answer is it likes it better in that direction...

Haha FTW

 

[emilio365]

It’s following better Flow? I had one that did that, I changed it and now it’s going up, with multiple fans developing. I pretty sure it’s a flow issue.

 

[legrunt]

I'm really sorry to laugh, but that looks like a really cheesed off old man giving you an obscene gesture...

 

[Arsenix2001]

It’s following better Flow? I had one that did that, I changed it and now it’s going up, with multiple fans developing. I pretty sure it’s a flow issue.

You know I cant believe I forgot but I have a hob cheato reactor fed by a sicce 185 gph pump and the return is blowing in that direction about 10"-12" away. Do you think the constant flow is forcing the growth downward? Wondering if i should turn it to the back wall. I just figured sps would enjoy the higher flow. The birdsnests seem to be happy.

 

[xtremeyolks]

I have a frag of forest fire digi doing this same thing and came to post this same question haha. I do have flow blowing at it with a VCA random generator. I'll try and change the flow going to it

 

[Isabel’s Hobby]

I can not help you I wish mine would grow at all but Infact my birds nest just got white and that’s it

 

[PranK]

It might be Australian.

 

[Waynerock]

Mine is growing straight towards the front of the tank. They do weird things sometimes but flow can dictate direction

 

[neiltus]

I'm really sorry to laugh, but that looks like a really cheesed off old man giving you an obscene gesture...

My thoughts, fix it into three frags....lol.

 

[Graffiti Spot]

I agree it’s probably low flow and or adjusting to light. Birdsnest do the same thing in that situation.

 

[Waters]

It isn't often you laugh when you look at a pic of a coral...........that one caught me by suprise lol. Unfortunately they grow wherever they want to....you can always frag and replant next to the good piece.

 

[blasterman]

I have tons of the things. My biggest german blue looks like a pair of moose antlers. Go figure.

My experience is they grow horizontal when presented with strong, directional flow lacking random turbulence. It's not lighting. If left alone it will eventually curve back up after branching like a hand.

 

[snowhite]

Turbulent flow > constant flow

 

[Dburr1014]

Did you glue the top to the rock? It's upside down. LOL

 

[monti mike]

If you figure it out let me know! I have a plating monti growing down!