SPS - Horizontal and Vertical growth test

maxalmon

maxalmon

Active Member
Some research shows that frags mounted horizontal will produce more visible growth because there will be multiple growth sites. If mounted vertical, growth is focused on a single area. I thought this would be an interesting, measured growth test over a period of 1 year with updated photos every 2 weeks.
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Frags are from the same mother colony, both were fragged from newer growth that was at the top of the colony, both had white growth tips with deep pink polyps
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Both were fragged onto Boston Aquatics reef disk from the same batch/bag
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Both frags will be left side by side under for the entire test period.
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Super Glue gel was used to mount frags.
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If one frag is moved then the other is moved so that I keep everything identical.
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250w Phoenix MH with 2-65 actinics
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Frags are 10" from light source
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Tropic Marin salt - calcium 425 - dKH 9-10 - pH 8.15 - Temp 79
.
Both frags as of 7-1-07 were almost identical in size, shape, thickness. Both were .75" in length

 
tx reef

tx reef

Active Member
I have actually started mounting my acro frags horizontally and they do indeed grow faster.
You will be amazed at the difference in growth.
 
maxalmon

maxalmon

Active Member
I love the phoenix bulbs, but it makes every image I take with my camera come out bluish, these frags are a vibrant, deeper colored pink. For reference the coral frag behind them is neon lime green
 
maxalmon

maxalmon

Active Member
Originally Posted by TX Reef
I have actually started mounting my acro frags horizontally and they do indeed grow faster.
You will be amazed at the difference in growth.
Have you noticed any type of growth pattern that is unique to mounting them horizontal....More table like growth vs radial growth, guess I'm trying to ask, did your corals respond in a different manner besided the increased growth?
 
trillyen

trillyen

Member
how do u get those frags to stick to those little white things like that? and where do you get those lil things you stick them on??
 
stanlalee

stanlalee

Active Member
I watched something with eric b saying when reefs are torn down by natural disasters the broken fragments responsible for rebuilding the reef are lying horizontal not verticle so its natural for them to grow quicker mounted horizontally. I'd do it if I had a frag tank but in a(my) display tank anything other than display is secondary and frags look better verticle.
 
maxalmon

maxalmon

Active Member
Originally Posted by trillyen
how do u get those frags to stick to those little white things like that? and where do you get those lil things you stick them on??
You can use just about anything as a substrate base for fragging, these are Boston Aquatics reef disks, I've cut up, old dead corals heads, LR rubble, white marble tile, just about anything.
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Superglue gel was used for attaching frags to the disk
 
maxalmon

maxalmon

Active Member
Stanlalee said:
I watched something with eric b saying when reefs are torn down by natural disasters the broken fragments responsible for rebuilding the reef are lying horizontal not verticle so its natural for them to grow quicker mounted horizontally.QUOTE]
I also watched this video and it's where I got the idea for this project
Click to expand...
 
maxalmon

maxalmon

Active Member
Originally Posted by azfishgal
Oh, this will be fun to watch. (I want my popcorn smiley!)
Yeah, sit back and relax, this one is going to take a while......... Like a 6 year old child I was at the tank this morning checking out the frags to see if anything had happened or there was any growth,.LOL... good grief I really need a life..
 
gatorwpb

gatorwpb

Active Member
Originally Posted by TX Reef
I have actually started mounting my acro frags horizontally and they do indeed grow faster.
You will be amazed at the difference in growth.
After hearing about maxalmon planning to do this test on another thread, I mounted two of my new acros sort of at a diagonal so that more of the polyps will get direct light.
This really makes sense to me, and I think in the two weeks since Ive mounted the first one, I feel like Ive seen more growth along the horizontal branch than the others. Of course, my setup isnt anywhere at all as controlled as maxalmon's.
Good luck, and I will be following this test closely.
 
grumpygils

grumpygils

Active Member
Originally Posted by maxalmon
Some research shows that frags mounted horizontal will produce more visible growth because there will be multiple growth sites. If mounted vertical, growth is focused on a single area. I thought this would be an interesting, measured growth test over a period of 1 year with updated photos every 2 weeks.
.
Frags are from the same mother colony, both were fragged from newer growth that was at the top of the colony, both had white growth tips with deep pink polyps
.
Both were fragged onto Boston Aquatics reef disk from the same batch/bag
.
Both frags will be left side by side under for the entire test period.
.
Super Glue gel was used to mount frags.
.
If one frag is moved then the other is moved so that I keep everything identical.
.
250w Phoenix MH with 2-65 actinics
.
Frags are 10" from light source
.
Tropic Marin salt - calcium 425 - dKH 9-10 - pH 8.15 - Temp 79
.
Both frags as of 7-1-07 were almost identical in size, shape, thickness. Both were .75" in length
Bump
 
teen

teen

Active Member
ive done it before as well. they seem to branch quicker if mounted horizontally, but lay down a base quicker if mounted vertical.
my thoughts are that if the coral is already laying down, the coral feels it doesnt need to be as secure, so it doesnt really feel the need to lay down a base. the coral concentrates more on branching out.
if its vertical, it has the potential to fall over, so it lays down a base first so it feels secure before branching out.
 
maxalmon

maxalmon

Active Member
I kinda see what your saying, but ont he flip side wouldn't a horizontal fragged coral need to put a base down faster so that it doesn't tip over from all the branching?
 
teen

teen

Active Member
i suppose in the wild it would, because it may be rolling around, but if its superglued down, it doesnt move. idk if the coral realizes this or not, just a theory of mine.
its sorta like if you put 2 frags of the same coral in the same tank at the the same level (so that the lighting is equal) but you put one in moderate flow, and the other in HEAVY flow.
the one in heavy flow will put down a larger base faster, before it starts to branch because it can feel the crazy amount of flow, and its sorta gearing up for life under those conditions.
the coral in the moderate flow will put down a base, but will start branching at the same time because its not being blasted with flow, and doesnt need a huge base because its in only moderate flow.
 
maxalmon

maxalmon

Active Member
Originally Posted by teen
i suppose in the wild it would, because it may be rolling around, but if its superglued down, it doesnt move. idk if the coral realizes this or not, just a theory of mine.
its sorta like if you put 2 frags of the same coral in the same tank at the the same level (so that the lighting is equal) but you put one in moderate flow, and the other in HEAVY flow.
the one in heavy flow will put down a larger base faster, before it starts to branch because it can feel the crazy amount of flow, and its sorta gearing up for life under those conditions.
the coral in the moderate flow will put down a base, but will start branching at the same time because its not being blasted with flow, and doesnt need a huge base because its in only moderate flow.
Very interesting, great observation....I may have to rethink this little experiment..
 
grumpygils

grumpygils

Active Member
Originally Posted by kidreef
what was the out come of this experiment or is it still in progress
We will know in 6 months to a year. True patience!
mc
 
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