Sticks and Flow

[ReeferRob]

I was curious to see how flow and current influences SPS growth?

I've heard people say "oh wow, look at the branches on that monti or acro, mine is just a nub"

Hopefully you have photos to share as examples!

[Manoj's Reef]

My experience has not been very vast in SPS but I have had SPS for about a year now and I have found that a more random flow helps the sps grow more upwards as there is no one constant direction.

If there is a constant direction of flow then the branches start to move and grow in the direction of flow.

Hope it helps.

[Sir Patrick]

Tagging along- havnt experianced enough growth to contribute.....yet!

[schminksbro]

When I added Vortechs growth exploded.

[thefishgirl]

I removed my urchin and turbo snail and have found that their growth is much better now that they are not face down in the sand every day.

I'm having some really nice growth in my 20g long. I have only the one Koralia for flow, along with the HOB filter. The position of these do create somewhat of a cross flow.

I've attached 2 pics of the growth on a green birdsnest:

Feb 7, 2010


April 20, 2010

[reefermadness]

Thickness of your SPS corals is increased with flow...Much like the strong winds do to trees, it promotes stabalization. More flow, the stronger the base of that coral has to be. I added a Tunze 6105 and my new growth is much better...