Spurring new sps growth

[ScubaSteve]

Corals for many years in the old days were thought to be related to plants, and with just cause. Sometimes I have a hard time believing they're animals when I see so many similarities with plants. I do also find a lot of my gardening techniques apply in my tank as well.

I do break off branches and tips to start new growths and to keep the colony in a healthy shape (important for birdsnest and pocci's). Now, trimming a single coralite and getting a new branch? That's cool!

Did you just trim a radial coralite? If so, how did you do this?

To answer your question, I don't necessarily think forming branches down low will stunt the growth of the main branch. It may slow the growth for a short time as energy is diverted toward growing new branches but I think that will be short lived, especially once the new branch comes "online" and becomes a producer for the colony. Now, if you regulary pruned the colony to form new branches this technique might work. Only one way to find out, right?