LPS Growth Question

[ltkenbo]

So I was wondering how common walled, non branching LPS corals grow exactly. For example, I know with branching corals like candy canes, or hammer, they form separate branches off the main one. But with things like favia, brain corals, and acans/lords that share common walls, how do these things grow? Like when I see a big colony of these like brain corals, is the shape determined by the surface, do they just grow along the rock like zoanthids do (but connected)? Or do they actually define their own shape?

 

[Rcpilot]

Usually if you put a favia or acan in the sand bed, they will grow into a baseball shape. Flat on the bottom and boney, but round on top with all the fleshy polyps.

But if you put the frag on a rock and let the polyps touch anything, they will eventually spread over and encrust that rock too. In that situation they will grow out like a carpet - encrusting like some SPS corals do - but still with the fleshy polyps of an LPS.

 

[bjohanson1234]

That explains alot RC... Thanks:Cheers:

 

[yote]

+1 Rc