Quick sps question

slate55 · 02/27/2015, 07:46 AM

Hoping for a little help so I figured I would ask the question here I've noticed over the past few months for my SPS corals for the most part have been growing well but seeing kind of stubby and I have a friend that has the same colonies and the branches grow kind of skinny and nice and long I have reefbreeders leds and he has mh lights
I'm thinking that I may have the LEDs cranked up to high most the corals are fairly high in the tank and the lights run mostly at 100% with the exception of the ramp up ramp down feature have any of you guys had experience like this?

Wazzel · 02/27/2015, 08:52 AM

Generally SPS will grow thicker the higher the flow. Not a light issue.

b7fig · 02/27/2015, 09:06 AM

Generally it is a flow issue, but having spent a lot of time in the LED forums, there have been several people say the same thing. However, I didnt experience that myself when I ran LED's.

Houndsbayman · 02/27/2015, 09:14 AM

So many variables come into play when trying to compare SPS growth in 2 different systems, but I agree with both replies about flow being a factor.

slate55 · 02/27/2015, 09:37 AM

Hm so should I lower the mp40's or embrace the thicker corals?

Wazzel · 02/27/2015, 09:40 AM

Thin SPS are more likely to brake than thick. High flow is better for the overall heath of an SPS reef tank. Embrace the thick corals.

Rowdie · 02/27/2015, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wazzel

Thin SPS are more likely to brake than thick. High flow is better for the overall heath of an SPS reef tank. Embrace the thick corals.

+1.

Agree that it is a result of flow. I personally love the look of thick coral colonies and it's what they look like in nature. Long skinny corals look malnourished to me.

b7fig · 02/27/2015, 09:50 AM

My 8" Imperator angelfish has a permanent scar of his forehead from constantly running into my corals and breaking them off, so I'm a fan of thick corals. He is constantly fragging for me!

Eastone · 02/27/2015, 05:03 PM

thin branches imply that the flow is too low, the coral spreads out to ease the passing of water through it's branches, in a higher flow setting corals produce dense thick branches.

Reef Bass · 02/27/2015, 07:32 PM

+1 for good flow and thick branches.

AdamNC · 02/28/2015, 09:50 AM

In my tank I have 2 green birdsnests, same type and color. One on the left of the tank and one on the right. The one on the left is in more direct flow of the powerhead and the other is slightly off set. What I've noticed is the one closer to the power head has thicker more full branches whereas the the one more offset to the powerhead has much thinner branches. Can't be the light as they are both almost directly under an LED cluster. The one closer to the powerhead also seems more colorful.

slate55 · 02/28/2015, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamNC

In my tank The one closer to the powerhead also seems more colorful.

nice ! Thanks everyone for your input . !!

02/27/2015, 07:46 AM	#1
slate55 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Irwin, PA Posts: 181	Quick sps question Hoping for a little help so I figured I would ask the question here I've noticed over the past few months for my SPS corals for the most part have been growing well but seeing kind of stubby and I have a friend that has the same colonies and the branches grow kind of skinny and nice and long I have reefbreeders leds and he has mh lights I'm thinking that I may have the LEDs cranked up to high most the corals are fairly high in the tank and the lights run mostly at 100% with the exception of the ramp up ramp down feature have any of you guys had experience like this? __________________ My wife and I were looking at some amazing exotic reef Aquarium pictures online and then she said "can you get color like that?" and followed it with "I would love for your tank to look that colorful Current Tank Info: Marineland 220G REEF w/75G SUMP/REFUGIUM... Led lighting

02/27/2015, 08:52 AM	#2
Wazzel Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Houma, LA Posts: 4,743	Generally SPS will grow thicker the higher the flow. Not a light issue. __________________ Mark Beware the light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes it's a train. Current Tank Info: 120, LED, Bare Bottom, SPS/LPS

02/27/2015, 09:06 AM	#3
b7fig Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Newburgh, IN Posts: 250	Generally it is a flow issue, but having spent a lot of time in the LED forums, there have been several people say the same thing. However, I didnt experience that myself when I ran LED's. __________________ What, not again! Current Tank Info: 40g Innovative Marine. Mixed reef. Radion XR30 Pro. Vortech 10 Quitedrives. Reef link. Apex controller. 180 gal acrylic. FOWLR. 30g sump. K1 Kalk Stirrer. LifeReef SVS@2-24 protein skimmer. Carbon dosing

02/27/2015, 09:37 AM	#5
slate55 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Irwin, PA Posts: 181	Hm so should I lower the mp40's or embrace the thicker corals? __________________ My wife and I were looking at some amazing exotic reef Aquarium pictures online and then she said "can you get color like that?" and followed it with "I would love for your tank to look that colorful Current Tank Info: Marineland 220G REEF w/75G SUMP/REFUGIUM... Led lighting

02/27/2015, 09:40 AM	#6
Wazzel Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Houma, LA Posts: 4,743	Thin SPS are more likely to brake than thick. High flow is better for the overall heath of an SPS reef tank. Embrace the thick corals. __________________ Mark Beware the light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes it's a train. Current Tank Info: 120, LED, Bare Bottom, SPS/LPS

02/27/2015, 09:14 AM	#4
Houndsbayman Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Salisbury, Maryland Posts: 27	So many variables come into play when trying to compare SPS growth in 2 different systems, but I agree with both replies about flow being a factor.

02/27/2015, 09:50 AM	#8
b7fig Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Newburgh, IN Posts: 250	My 8" Imperator angelfish has a permanent scar of his forehead from constantly running into my corals and breaking them off, so I'm a fan of thick corals. He is constantly fragging for me! __________________ What, not again! Current Tank Info: 40g Innovative Marine. Mixed reef. Radion XR30 Pro. Vortech 10 Quitedrives. Reef link. Apex controller. 180 gal acrylic. FOWLR. 30g sump. K1 Kalk Stirrer. LifeReef SVS@2-24 protein skimmer. Carbon dosing

02/27/2015, 05:03 PM	#9
Eastone Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: London Posts: 129	thin branches imply that the flow is too low, the coral spreads out to ease the passing of water through it's branches, in a higher flow setting corals produce dense thick branches. __________________ I run a DIY 1.5 Gallon SPS Reef (6 incl. sump) Current Tank Info: 1.5gal micro-reef

02/27/2015, 07:32 PM	#10
Reef Bass colors and textures Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Petaluma CA Posts: 6,301	+1 for good flow and thick branches. __________________ The human desires for instant gratification and immediate problem resolution cannot be satisfied with this hobby. Former president and co-president of the Wine Country Reefers. Current Tank Info: 60 gallons of Scleractinia and Zoanthidae lit w/ LEDs

02/28/2015, 09:50 AM	#11
AdamNC Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Winston Salem, NC Posts: 849	In my tank I have 2 green birdsnests, same type and color. One on the left of the tank and one on the right. The one on the left is in more direct flow of the powerhead and the other is slightly off set. What I've noticed is the one closer to the power head has thicker more full branches whereas the the one more offset to the powerhead has much thinner branches. Can't be the light as they are both almost directly under an LED cluster. The one closer to the powerhead also seems more colorful.