sps frag

[Kitta]

I have one (don't remember the name but it has a blue tip) that has double in length since I got it. The problem is it's only one branch and it's growing longer but not branching out. Is there a way to make it grow other branches?

 

[Anonymous]

I don't know if there's a gauranteed way to get your coral to grow bushier, rather than elongated.

I do have one observation that may be of help...

I keep a few different kinds of Acropora frags growing. One of them was placed horizontally on the live rock near the front of the tank. That one kept growing longer, and didn't branch. Finally it got too near the glass, and one day while I had my hand in there cleaning, I knocked the coralite right off the growing tip.
Since then the coral started branching like crazy.

I have accidentally done the same with a Montipora digitata, but it did not branch out in response.

So I don't know whether the branching in my Acro is just an aberation, or maybe a specific reaction in this particular species.

But it may be worth experimentation.

 

[monkeyboy]

If it is healthy and the tank is doing good, just go in and crush the terminal corallite. I do this to branches that stop growing and lose color and they color right up and begin growing again. Doing this also increases the chances of getting it to branch, i usually get 2-3 new branches out of 1 crushed tip. Give it a shot.

 

[aesop]

You can try cutting the top off the branch. if the lighting is strong enough it will branch out into two or more. Everytime I've done this its budded of three or more branches.

This is what I've been doing to my blue tip acro.
http://www.pbase.com/image/7232057

I've also found that when I accidently scraped the side off, it caused the SPS to grow out where the damage is. (Thought I wouldn't recommend it).

I have one (don't remember the name but it has a blue tip) that has double in length since I got it. The problem is it's only one branch and it's growing longer but not branching out. Is there a way to make it grow other branches?