SPS keepers.....question fer ya!

[concept3]

Hey guys....for those of us who keep SPS's and the like, what have you noticed as far as the growth in your tanks? I mean, my montipora capricornis is more of a cup, but the frag I gave my friend (same colony) is turning into more like plates....what's going on? My Acro's also seem tall and skinny, rather than thick as I've seen in another friend's tank. Does light have a major correlation to growth, as well as the water flow? I use 2-250watt 10,000K Halides 15" above the corals if this helps any, and uh yeah, my tank's water parameters are near perfect.

[tdwyatt]

Current, lighting, and sedimentatiion: All three affect the plasticity of coral morphology.

Read Eric's book, pages 92-94 on ecomorphs and ecotypes for a brief summary of these effects. If you have access (I believe it is out of print) get Veron's Corals in Space and Time which deals extensively with the subject.

It is this plasticity and adaptability of species that accounts for the success of corals in tropical seas for so long.

[wanareef]

The more flow it has to "live in" the thicker it will grow.