hammer growth pics

[davejnz]

I was doing some night time viewing the other night and realised how many branches/heads(24) my branching hammer(Euphyllia parancora) has.Since when its expanded i never get to see the base/skeleton its been a while since i've actually got to see the new skeletal growth.Here's the growth sequence pics,enjoy

[dakar]

Holy ^#&#^! From 3 to 24 branches in under a year, that's some fantastic growth. You got some secret Miracle Grow your dumping into your reef or what?

[Reef_Angel]

Wow Dave, that is beautiful and I'm jealous! Tell me your secret so I can talk mine into growing like that. I think I have 2 or 3 heads. The 3rd is one that surprised me during a night viewing as well. I lost a head on it though too. I have no idea why, but it's doing it's best to replace it. I don't think I could cut that! I'd rather see how many more keep popping up for you! Awesome! ....Angel

[davejnz]

No,no secrets,just kalk24/7 bi-weekly feedings of the corals(although I've never been able to get my Euphyllia spp. to take direct feedings,i assume they are eating alot of the particulate foods)My tomato clown pair host in the Euphyllia garden in the tank(hammer,frogsawn,torch)so they might be providing some food.
In fact,this tank rarely gets waterchanges(once every 2 months),is way underskimmed(cheap venturi berlin skimmer),yet its been my most sucessful tank,gotta love DSB

[davejnz]

Here's a bad pic of the tank that I took recently after my daylight bulb had buned out and was replaced with an actinic.My cam just doesn't take good pics under blue light.
Fortunately,my new bulbs arrived yesterday so i'll have to take some better pics with the new daylight bulb installed.

[davejnz]

Right now,the Euphyllia spp. are really crowding eachother.They tend to grow in all directions,even downwards into the LR.I might have to frag those heads off.I cant wait to get the 75 up and running so i can give them some more room.

[dakar]

Dave what kind of levels are you holding your CA/Alk levels at?

I'm trying to figure out what we do differently. Our Euphyllia's (two frogspawn left now after losing the big hammer) do 'okay', nothing spectacular, but other LPS like Caulastrea's (Candy Cane/Trumpets) do very well, each head is splitting to 4-5 new heads. The few SPS we have do well, Fox, Monti;s and my prized little green slimer frag is doing quite well (throwing new branches!). Think we can rule out any chemical warfare from others now. I've got my dosing dialed in to hold Alk at 11dKH+ and Ca at 380-420ppm and holding steady 98% of the time.

Maybe the increased flow overall will make some difference for them....

Any other thoughts/suggestions?

[davejnz]

alk used to be at 8dKH but i've bumped it up to 9 over the last 2 months.Calcium is around 420ppm.
Suggestions,you could try moving it to different locations in the tank and see how it responds.Once a good spot in the tank is found,I like to epoxy the skeltal base to the LR.I
Mine seem to do best in mod light/low to moderate current.If you can find a spot where the polyps will gradually sway back and forth,that would be idea IMO

[jerryc]

Those things do grow i have had one for a while got 2 heads and it has about
10 and gave at least 8 away

[davejnz]

They do seem to grow fast,its actually outgrown my frogspawn which is my oldest coral(5yrs).