why the puddle effect

[Canadian]

I have exactly the same "problem" and I was just about ready to ask if there was any parameter I could manipulate to facilitate more branching and vertical growth instead. All my SPS seem more interested in developing a wide base or thickening their branches than growing vertically - they must be the offspring of siblings like yours

I also have the same apparent lack of coraline growing and any other algae that you do. The corals expand at their bases and add mass at a decent rate but I don't really have any algae growing (including coraline). And before anybody asks - yes my Mg, Ca, Alk, pH, temp, PO4, NO3, SG are within optimal ranges (with the exception of NO3 being 0 with testing using Elos and Salifert kits).

[Ya Dude]

Ive found through experience that newly added corals are some times stunted by the new conditions and never recover.Only by encrusting and growing from the sides they regrow.But I have had lots of success by clipping all the tips.They regenerate from there and look really good after awhile.Ive done that about 10 times,worked every time.It may look ugly at first but youll thank me in 3 months. That is if you try it. just do it

[Doug]

Nothing wrong with those corals. They grew up here.

I wonder if when you see larger colonies of someones acro, the base is not larger than one thinks. I thought I once read that a healthy acro is one that encrusts a good base first? If the coral just grew vertical and not horizontal, I doubt it would last for long in the wild.

I think the one your most concerned about Mike, has decent vertical growth also, at least, IMO

[blaster]

Mike you have anice clean looking tank good job

[theredben]

Flow can also have an effect on the stucture of stony corals, not sure what yours flow is like, but that could explain it.

[Skimmerking]

that Josh the tank has been staying pretty clean I don't know why thou..

the flow is pretty good in there with the tunze's and the wave box that i'm going th have in there .

[untamed]

I've got SPS that have formed HUGE colonies (12" high) that grew down from the original frag...out...then up. Right in the middle of the mass of coral is the original frag, which has not grown even a bit.

[Delphinus]

I would expect flow is probably the largest contributing factor but if starting off as frags, sometimes they just encrust out first to establish a solid foundation before growing upwards. A lot of folks mount their frags horizontally to establish more base at first to even encourage more encrusting first.

[Skimmerking]

ahhhhhhhhhh, but i have soem sps that are colonies and still soem are pretty skinny thou.