Since the most affected corals were acclimated to a very stable temperature and constant high water flow environment, the corals did not have to acclimate to minor stress events so they were less able to tolerate an anomalous high temperature event. The ecologically dominant corals which suffered the most bleaching due to this temperature anomaly were Acropora and Montipora species.
The effect of water flow on growth rate is a multi pronged affair. Growth rate overall is a reflection of how well corals can photosynthesize, catch food, resist bleaching, avoid disease and predation.
Although this transplantation experiment by Dr. Ilsa Kuffner 10 seemed more concerned about the effects of ultraviolet light on the photoprotective pigments of corals, one of the factors which was varied was water motion.
Kuffner transplanted replicate branches of nine different colonies of Porites compressa. The fragments were distributed between an ambient normal water motion area and a low water motion area. Corals transplanted to low flow showed decreased concentrations of photopretective pigments compared to the samples which were maintained in the normal flow environment.
Additionally, the study determined that the only significant factor affecting calcification rate was water motion. Corals transplanted to areas of high water motion showed significantly higher rates of calcification than those which were part of the low water motion treatment.
The aforementioned study by Dr. Fabricius 8 also showed than on a longer time scale the growth rates of D. The Sebens et al 2 paper which studied Agaricia also performed measurements of Agaricia growth rates under different flow speeds. As expected, corals which grew in high flow environments also showed higher growth rates than corals which grew in lower flow environments; those which grew in sheltered concavities showed greatly reduced growth.
On a long time scale of weeks, months and years, the effects of water flow still include growth and calcification but the discussion of growth and calcification shifts away from measurements of length, area, volume and mass and we can begin to observe and discuss morphology, asexual reproduction, competition and survival.
Illustration 5: Acropora cervicornis is a native acropora which was recently listed as a threatened species. Corals are very adaptable animals and different morphs of the same species were often thought to be new species. Because corals live in a range of habitats, their skeletons have to grow into shapes and textures which will best suit the physical environment which is primarily governed by water flow. An older study by Dr. David Bottjer describes some interesting characteristics of Acropora cervicornis morphologies under high and low water motion environments For this research project, Dr.
Bottjer selected a low flow back-reef area and an adjacent high flow reef-crest area to investigate the branching density, angle and orientation of A. Colonies growing in the calmer back reef area exhibited relatively upright branches with a great deal of spacing between the branches and no significant orientation with water flow.
By contrast, the branches of colonies occurring in the high flow reef crest area were markedly different; the branches were much more densely spaced, they tended to be more horizontally inclined and the branches were mostly pointing away from the oncoming flow.
The author concluded that the branch characteristics of high water flow colonies were well suited to reducing the transfer of momentum from flowing water to branches to reduce breakage. However, it is unclear whether this morphology is the result of a genetic response to water motion or the result of strong flow pruning branches and colonies which grew into ill suited shapes for the environment or both. Although any aquarist or scientist will concede to the fact that water flow has a profound effect on the morphology of corals and other benthic organisms, very few explanations of the mechanisms which govern this flow-dependent property have been proposed.
One exception is the paper by Rinkevich and Loya 12 on the branching pattern of S. The paper cites previous work by the authors that showed that S. The authors were primarily interested in the curious fact that branches of S.
The authors proposed that an isomone type of hormone is responsible for preventing the fusion of branches of S. To test this hypothesis the researchers attached upward growing branches of S.
Although the Millepora samples simply fused, the Stylophora samples grew very close to each other but then they simultaneously began to grow away from each other. If there is indeed a hormone which proportionately governs branch spacing, then water motion would have a profound impact on coral morphology; In low water flow the substance would be in higher concentration leading to widely spaced branches and in high flow the isomone would be less concentrated which would cause the coral colony to grow more closely spaced branches.
Although it is quite possible that there are one or more hormones which control branch patterns in Stylophora , other Pocilloporids and other corals, I believe that polyp extension is a more plausible spacing control for this group.
Since polyp extension can be largely explained by water flow as well, the physiological-repellent effect might be a factor of polyps touching each other when branches grow closely to one another, thereby stimulating the branches to grow away from each other.
Here is one for the zoanthid lovers. Koehl 15 produced a thorough investigation of the relationship between water flow and the morphology of zoanthid colonies.
The species used were Palythoa caribaeorum and P. These two carribean species of zoanthids are usually found in environments with different amounts of water motion. It appears that the smaller polyps and more rigid colonies of P. As water flow becomes reduced, corals like zoanthids which grow close to the substrate start to experience difficulties with catching food, gas exchange and sedimentation.
First of all, the taller polyps of P. The longer tentacles and larger oral disc of P. How do clove polyps do under high flow?
I really like those too, can I put them in that spot or would something else be better Any Montipora sp. I have a powerhead directly facing my white star polyps. Its literally 3 inches away from it getting blasted. Pulsing xenia like it too. SPS like high flow as well. If you can find a small yellow Fiji coral, that would be a nice addition. Plus, you can manicure it on a regular basis without any problems. Originally Posted by squishifishi.
Ok, I'll put cloves elsewhere then. Is this a Fiji coral by any chance? I think it is some type of toadstool which may be he same thing. It is at the top of my tank though and seems to really like th high light Attached Images image. That looks like a leather, a softie. It will not like high flow. The area in question is high flow, low light, right?
That's a tough combo. Lots of coral that can withstand high flow, but they also like bright light, like SPS coral. An LPS may be your best bet. I have two colonies of Acan lord Acanthastrea lordhowensis , both sitting in very high flow areas with moderate light and seem to be doing well. Acan lords also do not have long sweepers. Another option for high flow low light areas are NPS, non-photosynthetic coral, but they can be quite a challenge since they require high nutrient levels.
One of many in this hobby. Find More Posts by Palting. Well, it is probably more medium light. The tank is so small that the lighting from one place to another really can not vary that much. I think GDP is going to be my best bet though. Unless someone has a better idea I guess I will be going with that.
They can overrun a tank. You can try isolating them to an island, but they can still migrate to another and end up smothering other coral. Here is a list of common ailments these corals face. If your coral is bleaching, it is likely due to too much light. This is common in new additions as many wholesalers and local fish stores keep corals under low light and hobbyists often forget to acclimate them to their brighter lights.
Try moving your coral down and in a more shaded are. Many soft corals can survive in very low light conditions. If you are using a weaker light, it may be time to upgrade if you wish to keep these corals. Try moving the coral upwards on your rocks or turn up the intensity of your light fixture. Many times this is caused my too low of nutrients in a tank that causes the Zooxanthellae to starve or lose color. If your levels are too low or at zero, raise your nutrients.
This is typically caused my too little, or too high flow. If your new coral seems closed up in an area of high flow, try moving it to a calmer area or vice versa. Euphyllia can be quite particular about what flow it likes, so it is important to watch new additions for signs of distress!
Tissue or flesh issues are caused by a number of things. First, check your parameters. A sudden swing can induce tissue necrosis. If everything checks out here, make sure the coral is in a proper flow and lighting area for the species. If those both check out as well, pull the coral out and dip it in a coral dip. I prefer to use iodine. This will show you if there are pests like flatworms in your tank that could be potentially eating or irritating your corals.
Angels, Toby puffers, wrasses, and crabs are the usual suspects. Sit further away from your tank than usual and observe for an hour or so to see if you can identify the culprit! If the tissue appears to be falling off extremely quickly, frag off healthy areas and dispose of the dying parts as there are some diseases that will kill an entire colony within a few days, and fragging is the only method of saving the coral.
They are beautiful corals that can easily bring life to an aquarium.
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