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Normal for this coral in conditions for closed systems. low to moderate (i.e., non-wave action) makes this a fragile coral in captivity. This will have no long-term effect on healthy specimens. This is normal.So i have this digitata coral, and the last two nights i have nocked it accidentally against the glass and every time i do one of the tips breaks off. I'm not really too concerned, it just seemed to break abnormally easy...
low Ca (within minimal range of 300-to 350 PPm Ca++ and alk no less than 5-7 dKH) will not affect the strength of the skeleton, more likely it affects the rate of clcification and skeletalization if it get too low. C & S deposition is rate-limited rather than a qualitative issue within these (low to normal) ranges.My calcium did accidently get a little low, but i am slowely raising it back up. So what are your guys's opinions? should i be concerned? will it just grow back natually?
This is how fragmentation occurs in the wild, and many aquarists get their first frag via this route. Glue them down to a calcium-based substrate, and consider gluing the length if the frag horizontally to encourage branching of the growing specimen.and if i keep the broken tips will they grow into new corals? because that would cool. I have never fragged so i don't know if these would live or not.
All this is very normal with stony corals in general, and M. digitata in particular.
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