Just sharing - Bug out stylo

[X-37B]

Little hard to tell in the pictures but this is August 14th and today. If you pick a paint and compare the two you can definitely see noticeable growth

After looking at the bug out on his website yea it does look like one.
Either way its responding well to your system.

 

[PPBlimpy]

After looking at the bug out on his website yea it does look like one.
Either way its responding well to your system.

I am excited with how it’s growing!

 

[fish_collector]

I've never seen any species of Stylophora look like that.
It is most likely deformed from lack of proper light and flow.
They need strong intensity and proper spectrum to thrive.

This is what Stylophora should look like:

I don't see that pink stylo too often anymore.

So for the sake of a friendly conversation about this "Bug Out" stylo and how it's growing, and my similar unidentified stylo too for that matter, I have to agree that it is an oddity in the way it is growing. Without going down the rabbit hole and saying it is for sure because of LED light, something we don't know for sure is the cause, what about the milka stylo I have that is growing 100% normally in the same tank under the same light? >>> If I had to guess why a particular coral morphs into something strange, I'd lean more towards a flow issue than lighting <<<

My reefing buddy has a stylo of the same lineage as mine, it was from another club member who has the parent colony, and his is growing in the same manner, kind of moundy and bumpy. This is the same tank that had the Cali tort spawn, I posted a photo of it in another thread I'm sure you had seen it.

So perhaps this particular species of stylo is a form that naturally grows in this manner and is not deformed because of illumination with LED light? I'm open to other ideas, I just don't know. What I do know is that we have 3 corals in 3 tanks growing in the same manner, could this possibly be normal? I have not seen a giant colony of this, but the photo on Jason Fox's website shows a coral with short stubby branches if that means anything.

https://jasonfoxsignaturecorals.com...s/products/sps-22?_pos=4&_sid=c26127b5d&_ss=r

Here is a page from the website "Corals of the World" that has an image of a coral with normally upright branches that has morphed into something unusual because of flow. It may not be the same species but rather just an example. Click on the thumbnail photos it's easy to find that one.

https://www.coralsoftheworld.org/species_factsheets/species_factsheet_summary/stylophora-pistillata/

Here’s mine viewed from the side that gets LESS flow

And the same coral viewed from the side that gets blasted from the wavemaker

And the milka in the same tank under the same light

It’s limited data for sure, but I believe the growth is from flow and not from being illuminated by LED light. I’d welcome any other ideas though

 

[fish_collector]

It looks more like a Pocillopora than a stylo to me. I have never seen one flatten out like that.
Mine sits right in front of a Tunze 6255 and is thick but still retains the shape.

That appears to be a Milka stylo.

 

[X-37B]

That appears to be a Milka stylo.

Here it is 2 years ago when I mounted it.

 

[fish_collector]

Yeah they do grow fast. I took a big colony of it to our club’s “frag-o-ween” event last year and made about 20 mountings from it to give away. The color makes it one of my favorite corals.

 

[fish_collector]

The colony that I posted a picture of grew back from some postage stamp sized pieces that were encrusted on a rock.

Now that we’re talking about stylos I may move both of my smaller colonies to an area with less turbulent flow and see if they change form.

I also want to weigh the biggest one to be able to gauge future growth. It’s on a tile but I can weigh an empty tile and subtract that. Might be interesting to know just how much calcium carbonate it’s laying down.

 

[PPBlimpy]

The colony that I posted a picture of grew back from some postage stamp sized pieces that were encrusted on a rock.

Now that we’re talking about stylos I may move both of my smaller colonies to an area with less turbulent flow and see if they change form.

I also want to weigh the biggest one to be able to gauge future growth. It’s on a tile but I can weigh an empty tile and subtract that. Might be interesting to know just how much calcium carbonate it’s laying down.

I would be interested in following your findings.

I would like to find more stylos also.

I have this bug out and a purple. I like how they look and they seem to be doing well in my system.

I have been out of town for 3 days and getting home in about 2 hours. I know it’s only 3 days but sure I will see a difference

 

[fish_collector]

I have another color variation that is pinkish under totally white light but is yellow to just look at it regularly. It was grown from a frag the size of a corn kernel over the last several years. It’s just now big enough to do something with. You can see it in one of the photos I posted.

I’ll weigh my rainbow stylo when we get back from dinner.

 

[A. grandis]

I don't see that pink stylo too often anymore.

So for the sake of a friendly conversation about this "Bug Out" stylo and how it's growing, and my similar unidentified stylo too for that matter, I have to agree that it is an oddity in the way it is growing. Without going down the rabbit hole and saying it is for sure because of LED light, something we don't know for sure is the cause, what about the milka stylo I have that is growing 100% normally in the same tank under the same light? >>> If I had to guess why a particular coral morphs into something strange, I'd lean more towards a flow issue than lighting <<<

If you have no experiences with the same coral growing under metal halides, or even under T5, you don't have that experience and unfortunately can't compare. To lean towards flow without having the experiences with halides or T5s to compare results is just an opinion based in what you want to lean on. Do you agree with that? Not to push anything, just to clarify what is as a fact. You choose not believe that LEDs can't be part of the problem with the coral growth and that's it. Ok, then.

My reefing buddy has a stylo of the same lineage as mine, it was from another club member who has the parent colony, and his is growing in the same manner, kind of moundy and bumpy. This is the same tank that had the Cali tort spawn, I posted a photo of it in another thread I'm sure you had seen it.

It doesn't mean anything. Coral spawning doesn't prove that the colony is healthy and growing accordingly. But you choose to believe that. Ok...

So perhaps this particular species of stylo is a form that naturally grows in this manner and is not deformed because of illumination with LED light? I'm open to other ideas, I just don't know. What I do know is that we have 3 corals in 3 tanks growing in the same manner, could this possibly be normal? I have not seen a giant colony of this, but the photo on Jason Fox's website shows a coral with short stubby branches if that means anything.

https://jasonfoxsignaturecorals.com...s/products/sps-22?_pos=4&_sid=c26127b5d&_ss=r

All corals growing under LEDs, right? So... yup, it's normal for that coral to have such shape under LEDs.
Notice that what Jason has there on the web site doesn't look like yours. It's a bit better.

Here is a page from the website "Corals of the World" that has an image of a coral with normally upright branches that has morphed into something unusual because of flow. It may not be the same species but rather just an example. Click on the thumbnail photos it's easy to find that one.

https://www.coralsoftheworld.org/species_factsheets/species_factsheet_summary/stylophora-pistillata/

Notice that the pictures taken in situ you saw on Veron's website shows different shapes under different environments, but nothing like what people have under LEDs.

Here’s mine viewed from the side that gets LESS flow

And the same coral viewed from the side that gets blasted from the wavemaker

You said now that you have a side under low flow and a side that get blasted by the wavemaker. Do you still think light isn't an issue? Your Acros also have distorted growth. That Fox Flame is struggling to say the least. Totally distorted in my point of view. I'm sorry.

And the milka in the same tank under the same light

It’s limited data for sure, but I believe the growth is from flow and not from being illuminated by LED light. I’d welcome any other ideas though

Do you think the "Milka Stylo" looks great? Pale, almost showing dead spots under and distorted. I'm not here to be your friend saying what you want to hear. I prefer to be your friend and tell you the truth. I just hope you don't see me as an enemy telling you the truth.
Your LED is the problem.
BUT... that is a normal problem, though. Unless you really want to change and get out of the "circle of trust" LOL!... and have no friends to talk about the LED settings or so...
I'll leave the full picture of the unusual growth of the Stylophora from Veron's page for you.
I think it's simply amazing!

I hope you don't have any hard feelings towards me.

I wrote all this so people can analyze and consider.

 

[fish_collector]

Yes I think the milka stylo in my tank looks pretty good, as good as any I've seen.

Yes the foxflame has been a struggle.

A coral spawn in an aquarium is not a sign that the corals are healthy? If you say so.

Yes Jason's stylo is a bit more branchy.

My acros aren't any more distorted than anyone else's.

I don't see you as a friend, your just someone on a forum.

If you think my corals are pale, crappy and distorted, my apologies I should have tried harder to impress you A. grandis, I hope not everyone is such a failure at this as I am.

Yes that wild stylo is impressive, but it's not the photo I was referring to.

I made my post with the intent of having a friendly discussion about why these stylos are growing like they do, I posted some photos of why I don't believe it's from being illuminated with LEDs. You obviously disagree with me and insist it is, that's great. It's also apparent that you are not willing to enter into a discussion, all you want is everyone to bow down to you and tell you that you are right. Maybe you are, maybe you aren't, I already said I didn't know. After reading your relatively harsh post I've decided you aren't worth my time to argue with, I don't see it going anywhere. I don't have the drive that other members do to carry on a debate through many pages with you.


Sorry PPBlimpy for clogging up your thread.

 

[A. grandis]

Yes I think the milka stylo in my tank looks pretty good, as good as any I've seen.

Yes the foxflame has been a struggle.

Yes Jason's stylo is a bit more branchy.

My acros aren't any more distorted than anyone else's.

I don't see you as a friend, your just someone on a forum.

Yes that wild stylo is impressive.

I made my post with the intent of having a friendly discussion about why these stylos are growing like they do, I posted some photos of why I don't believe it's from being illuminated with LEDs. You obviously disagree with me and insist it is, that's great. It's also apparent that you are not willing to enter into a discussion, all you want is me to bow down to you and tell you that you are right. Maybe you are, maybe you aren't, I already said I didn't know. After reading your relatively harsh post I've decided you aren't worth my time to argue with, I don't see it going anywhere. I don't have the drive that other members do to carry on a debate through many pages. It's too bad it has to be this way, it was not my intention.

Sorry PPBlimpy for clogging up your thread.

Don't be sorry. It happens all the time in a way or another. Unless it is going the way it always go... When someone like me comes with a new vision, that most people ignore and condemn, it's always like this...
You don't have to believe in me. Everyone has the right to do what they want and think different. Everyone has also the right to post here what they think to help others... the way they want. That's what I did.
In my opinion, if many would start to open their minds to the importance of the actual qualities of light for corals, reefkeeping would get back to what it was. LEDs are the main reason this hobby regressed in my opinion. I'm just someone in the forum.

 

[fish_collector]

If you could just demonstrate with photos why you are so adamant that LEDs are so harmful to acropora I might even be inclined to go along with it, I've already agreed in another thread that I thought MH was the best choice for growing corals. But you never offer up any evidence to support your claims that all of these issues with acropora are caused from LEDs, you just insist that light is the solution, you speak with such authority. The only thing you ever throw out there is MH good, LED bad with nothing to back up your claims, not everyone buys into it.