Ridiculous Question
 

Well, as the title says, this seems, perhaps, like a bit of a ridiculous question. Maybe not. But does anyone have any pictures of SPS at the very beginning stages of new growth? Does it begin as a little bump or what?! See, I feel ridiculous even asking. But as my foray into SPS is only a month old (new?), I want to make sure that what I'm seeing is growth and not something more...sinister. :twised:

Edit: And by "SPS", I'm obviously referring to branching SPS, not the plating/encrusting forms.

I'm pretty new to SPS as well but any bumps on the birdsnest frag I've got turned into branches.

http://www.kicbak.com/pictures/ListP...ID=&nGroupID=7
http://www.kicbak.com/pictures/ListP...ID=&nGroupID=5


There are a few other on there as well

RC thread with new growth pictures
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1210780

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1212219

Thanks, guys. I guess a picture would be helpful. This is the frag I got from Greg (Snappy). Polyp extension seems pretty good all the time, and I honestly don't recall if these little bumps are new or were there the whole time. Bad bad reefer, I know.

http://xd7.xanga.com/7c8d842a7823014...m111120075.jpg

I have a few bumps on sps that grew into branches and into new stalks? from the base...so I beleive its normal

Find branches start as a little bump the size of a polyp.

another link with pictures http://www.reefcorner.com/growth_sequences.htm

I have the same birdsnest. Take a look in my tank journal for growth on it. It grows really well, its a fantastic piece.


**edit**
This is why I don't type and chat about corals at the same time....I ment digitata.

Here is the correct url: http://canreef.com/vbulletin/showthr...t=32184&page=2 middle of the page is the purple digi.

I'll take a pic of mine and show you what I mean....it has about 10 bumps starting from the base....the base grew over the entire rock and is now branching....its pretty cool....I have no idea what it is though....lol

Thanks for all the pics, links and tips, guys and gals! So from the photo, it looks to all of you like there's new growth, not some sort of ailment?

Its definitely new growth! :D

Definitely future branches. Ailments are easy to identify ... the coral usually just recedes.

Heres my birdsnest growth diary. This sequence represents about 5 months of growth.
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...e/IMGP0490.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...e/IMGP0526.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...e/IMGP0552.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...e/IMGP0592.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...e/IMGP0637.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...e/IMGP0686.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...e/IMGP0927.jpg

Drew,
it is new growth on that frag of montipora digitata and it was already starting when I sold it you. Looks great and very healthy. Good job. Great looking frag if I say so myself.:wink:

Doug,
great growth on that frag you got from me as well, if you place that particular birdsnest in a lower light area it will turn a cool green colour and looks awesome.:mrgreen:

Post a good clear picture and I'll see if I can ID it for you.

wow that birdsnest looks so nice, i wanted to go for a smaller colony but it seems to grow at a pretty steady rate, think i'll just go for a frag, what kind of lighting do you keep it under?

You guys are definitely right. New growth! One week comparison:

http://xd7.xanga.com/7c8d842a7823014...s111120075.jpghttp://x56.xanga.com/fb983634d507915...s112157278.jpg

That is great growth!
Are you going to keep taking photos of its growth?

I hope to, Catherine. If I can remember to do it every week, that would be awesome!

4x24w HOT5s

ahh 4x24's..i guess i should be ok with my lighting then, wasn't sure if it was enough light for a birdsnest, i've heard that there one of the hardier sps, as are digitatas, is this true?

That piece is colouring up nice for you Drew.:mrgreen:

I agree, Greg! It's a great little piece. I'm thinking I might have to get some of the green digitata and maybe that monti samarensis as well :)

Very nice frag! Excellent growth!

Still seems to be doing well. :biggrin: I plan on taking a photo each week to track the growth, because I've never done it before with any of my other corals:

http://xd7.xanga.com/7c8d842a7823014...s111120075.jpghttp://x56.xanga.com/fb983634d507915...s112157278.jpghttp://x60.xanga.com/f2ec14441763315...s113383332.jpg

That looks really awesome!

How are you taking the photos? Do you have a tripod set up and marked out?