Gil&Fin Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 I have several frags where the coral is only growing down over the plug rather than up and out. Any idea why this is happening and what I can do to encourage upward growth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattv Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Very common for them to encrust before starting any vertical growth, some species will not shoot any vertical growth for months. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badxgillen Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Yes, it really depends on the species in question, just look at red planet. Sometimes you can trim a lower branch and get more growth of a different area but that also varies from species, and it sounds like you have no side branches as of yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earthbound Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Yes, it really depends on the species in question, just look at red planet. Sometimes you can trim a lower branch and get more growth of a different area but that also varies from species, and it sounds like you have no side branches as of yet.My red planet has encrusted a 4x5" area and not so much as a single branch over 1/2" I am begining to think I have some special species of encrusting acropora Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badxgillen Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 But once it does start to branch out it will be out of control, coralites shooting up from every direction! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefnjunkie Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Very common for them to encrust before starting any vertical growth, some species will not shoot any vertical growth for months. +1 ^^^^^^^^^^^ I've got pieces that have moved off the disc and are encrusting the bottom of my frag tank with little vertical growth. FWIW I've found cutting the frag will cause new growth/branching, similar to pruning a tree which will cause branching. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackice Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Yep can't have a skyscraper without a good foundation otherwise it will just blow over in the wind!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gil&Fin Posted December 24, 2015 Author Share Posted December 24, 2015 Thanks, guys. I have two frags in particular where the coral is about 1/2 to 3/4 inch and the frag plug is completely encrusted. I keep waiting...waiting...waiting... I've sung them songs, given them inspirational talks, charmed them with a king cobra flute, and even dosed with a little Viagra. Nothing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LC Scott Posted December 25, 2015 Share Posted December 25, 2015 I was hoping this one would branch off the plug. :( Sent from my SM-G928T using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gil&Fin Posted December 25, 2015 Author Share Posted December 25, 2015 I was hoping this one would branch off the plug. :( Sent from my SM-G928T using Tapatalk Oh my gosh. That is hilarious! I thought I had it bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caolewis Posted December 25, 2015 Share Posted December 25, 2015 Thanks, guys. I have two frags in particular where the coral is about 1/2 to 3/4 inch and the frag plug is completely encrusted. I keep waiting...waiting...waiting... I've sung them songs, given them inspirational talks, charmed them with a king cobra flute, and even dosed with a little Viagra. Nothing. That's the problem. The frags got spoiled with viagra and they just stay as is to get fed more of that stuff. If you torture them with heat gun or bleach them out once a while, they might snap out to grow faster??? IDK 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LC Scott Posted December 25, 2015 Share Posted December 25, 2015 The branching has happened in the last three weeks, its been sitting on the rack for a little over a year now. Sent from my SM-G928T using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joehuaseals Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 just like a tree it needs strong roots before it can take off, have some patient Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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