'Bonsai' Effect with SPS Coral

ca1ore · 03/27/2015, 08:22 AM

I used to keep Bonsai trees, before realizing that it was a poor hobby choice for someone like me with immediate gratification issues. But, I have observed on my travels that conifers, for example, when located on bluffs exposed to strong winds tend to 'dwarf'. What does this have to do with reef tanks, you might rightly be asking yourself?

Well, I have also observed, after a great many years of both keeping and killing SPS, that it grows similarly. Namely, that growth patterns seem to also 'dwarf' in the presence of high flow. I imagine many folks have observed how different a coral can look under various forms of lighting, and perhaps it's equally obvious to most that flow can have a similar impact, but it is fascinating to me. I've got a large bali green slimer in my tank that is growing into the main flow path of my Vortech MP60 and the growth pattern is quite different. Much shorter, and thicker branches. Makes perfect sense if you think about it (I grow tomatoes from seed each year and blow them around as seedlings with a fan to thicken the main stalk), but it's still cool

Top and right side of the colony is in moderate flow; bottom left is in high flow.

cleverbs · 03/27/2015, 08:30 AM

Well that is because coral grows based on the flow. If you plast them with flow they will grow thicket tighter branches to insure they dont break from high flow. In lower flow they will grow taller and thiner and branch more. High flow will cause dense branching.

billdogg · 03/27/2015, 08:53 AM

That they grow differently depending on the flow patterns of the tank is the exact reason I purchase only small frags and let them grow in to the tank, rather than trying to place a larger specimen in a way that seems natural. You also get to watch the tank evolve as it grows into it's own little biotope.

The fact that the cost is waaaaaay cheaper for frags over "show" pieces is just icing.

hth

ca1ore · 03/27/2015, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

That they grow differently depending on the flow patterns of the tank is the exact reason I purchase only small frags and let them grow in to the tank.

Completely agree! Also implies that capricious changing of pumps and flow patterns is unwise, and should be done carefully and with forethought.

jminick2 · 03/27/2015, 09:01 AM

You have some nice looking corals there Simon.

hart24601 · 03/27/2015, 09:04 AM

The cool thing about stony coral is it's really easy to break off a piece and glue it back on in a different spot in pretty much any orientation and in a few days or a couple of weeks they have fused so you can really experiment with bonsai(esq) growing. I used to do this a bit in my nano since it was so size limited stags could fill it up fast, but making super think trunks or branches off the branches was fun.

PhaneSoul · 03/27/2015, 11:06 AM

I read something on this once, related to feeding. Lower flows provide less food per square inch so corals grow thinner and taller/wider to cover more area for prey capture and thicker more dense in high flow because there is more food per square inch. The same is true for euyphilla. I don't remember seeing anything about strength of the coral vs flow but it would make sense it's apart of it

DSMpunk · 03/27/2015, 01:23 PM

The only thing I have killed faster than coral is bonsai trees.

hlaalu · 04/02/2015, 09:55 PM

How long does it take for a frag to grow into that? And what kind is that? Love it.

03/27/2015, 08:22 AM	#1
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	'Bonsai' Effect with SPS Coral I used to keep Bonsai trees, before realizing that it was a poor hobby choice for someone like me with immediate gratification issues. But, I have observed on my travels that conifers, for example, when located on bluffs exposed to strong winds tend to 'dwarf'. What does this have to do with reef tanks, you might rightly be asking yourself? Well, I have also observed, after a great many years of both keeping and killing SPS, that it grows similarly. Namely, that growth patterns seem to also 'dwarf' in the presence of high flow. I imagine many folks have observed how different a coral can look under various forms of lighting, and perhaps it's equally obvious to most that flow can have a similar impact, but it is fascinating to me. I've got a large bali green slimer in my tank that is growing into the main flow path of my Vortech MP60 and the growth pattern is quite different. Much shorter, and thicker branches. Makes perfect sense if you think about it (I grow tomatoes from seed each year and blow them around as seedlings with a fan to thicken the main stalk), but it's still cool Top and right side of the colony is in moderate flow; bottom left is in high flow. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

03/27/2015, 08:53 AM	#3
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	That they grow differently depending on the flow patterns of the tank is the exact reason I purchase only small frags and let them grow in to the tank, rather than trying to place a larger specimen in a way that seems natural. You also get to watch the tank evolve as it grows into it's own little biotope. The fact that the cost is waaaaaay cheaper for frags over "show" pieces is just icing. hth __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

03/27/2015, 01:23 PM	#8
DSMpunk Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Des Moines IA Posts: 1,064	The only thing I have killed faster than coral is bonsai trees. __________________ -Sean Current Tank Info: SPS Dominated 150

03/27/2015, 08:30 AM	#2
cleverbs Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Nebraska Posts: 1,041	Well that is because coral grows based on the flow. If you plast them with flow they will grow thicket tighter branches to insure they dont break from high flow. In lower flow they will grow taller and thiner and branch more. High flow will cause dense branching.

03/27/2015, 09:01 AM	#5
jminick2 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 1,226	You have some nice looking corals there Simon.

03/27/2015, 09:04 AM	#6
hart24601 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 633	The cool thing about stony coral is it's really easy to break off a piece and glue it back on in a different spot in pretty much any orientation and in a few days or a couple of weeks they have fused so you can really experiment with bonsai(esq) growing. I used to do this a bit in my nano since it was so size limited stags could fill it up fast, but making super think trunks or branches off the branches was fun.

03/27/2015, 11:06 AM	#7
PhaneSoul Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 949	I read something on this once, related to feeding. Lower flows provide less food per square inch so corals grow thinner and taller/wider to cover more area for prey capture and thicker more dense in high flow because there is more food per square inch. The same is true for euyphilla. I don't remember seeing anything about strength of the coral vs flow but it would make sense it's apart of it

04/02/2015, 09:55 PM	#9
hlaalu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 122	How long does it take for a frag to grow into that? And what kind is that? Love it.