Torches and splitting.

[Notsolostfish]

Does torches, retract when splitting? Iv had this torch for couple of months, when i got it it was fully extended. After having it for a while it started to retract, at first i thought its a light issue, so i moved it to higher light, that didn’t help. I inspected the corals for flatworms, theres none.

However i noticed its splitting into 3 heads. Could that be why its not extended? I heard they don’t extend much while building skeleton to split. Its been retracted for a while now.

Should i be concerned? It looks okay however just not as big as it used to be. I know you can’t tell with torches all the time, but i wanted to see your opinion.

First video is when lights off, and its retracted. U can see the 3 head split its doing.



Second video is how its open under the light, but small.



Its getting around 150-180 par if i have to guess in that area.

-Parameters:
Alk: 9.5
Cal:460
Mag:1405
Ph:8.2
Phosphate: 0.11
Nitrate: 12.5
Salinity:1.025

 

[*GAREEF*]

Does torches, retract when splitting? Iv had this torch for couple of months, when i got it it was fully extended. After having it for a while it started to retract, at first i thought its a light issue, so i moved it to higher light, that didn’t help. I inspected the corals for flatworms, theres none.

However i noticed its splitting into 3 heads. Could that be why its not extended? I heard they don’t extend much while building skeleton to split. Its been retracted for a while now.

Should i be concerned? It looks okay however just not as big as it used to be. I know you can’t tell with torches all the time, but i wanted to see your opinion.

First video is when lights off, and its retracted. U can see the 3 head split its doing.



Second video is how its open under the light, but small.



Its getting around 150-180 par if i have to guess in that area.

-Parameters:
Alk: 9.5
Cal:460
Mag:1405
Ph:8.2
Phosphate: 0.11
Nitrate: 12.5
Salinity:1.025

Your parameters are all good.
I keep and recommend 1.026 salinity but yours shouldn’t be a problem.
Sometimes they will retract like that and it’s not a problem that I’ve noticed unless it starts to stay that way in the lights on.
Im not sure about your splitting question because it’s such a slow process when they split and I’ve have grown out from single heads to a dozen or more and they have full to mostly full polyp extension the whole time.
I’ve also have experienced the same with torches that sometimes pinch up at night.
I don’t think one thing has to do with the other.

 

[VintageReefer]

I have noticed with some torches during the splitting phase there is a period where they do not inflate / extend fully. I have also noticed flesh bands receding during this phase and once the split is mostly complete then they regrow

 

[*GAREEF*]

I have noticed with some torches during the splitting phase there is a period where they do not inflate / extend fully. I have also noticed flesh bands receding during this phase and once the split is mostly complete then they regrow

Cool I guess I never paid attention enough.
That is interesting.

 

[crazyfishmom]

It seems to be very strain dependent. I have some that split without skipping a beat and then others that look like they’re going to kick it and recede only to split instead. Right now I have a Rasta that is pinching off from one head into five and looks very angry.

 

[*GAREEF*]

It seems to be very strain dependent. I have some that split without skipping a beat and then others that look like they’re going to kick it and recede only to split instead. Right now I have a Rasta that is pinching off from one head into five and looks very angry.

I’m going to start paying more attention now.
Y’all have convinced me there’s something to this now.

 

[Notsolostfish]

It seems to be very strain dependent. I have some that split without skipping a beat and then others that look like they’re going to kick it and recede only to split instead. Right now I have a Rasta that is pinching off from one head into five and looks very angry.

exactly. At first i wasn’t sure what’s going on with it. So i took it out for inspection, no flatworms or anything that i could find, i didn’t want to dip, and possibly kill it if its splitting, and already stressed just very weird to see

 

[KrisReef]

Branching?

 

[Notsolostfish]

Branching?

I didn’t know branching torches exist to be honest? Not sure

 

[KrisReef]

I didn’t know branching torches exist to be honest? Not sure

Interesting.
Branching is what is happening, over time the skeletal stem of the "splitting" heads will extend and branch out like a tree. Single heads are single branches. As the coral grows the heads split and grow into new branches. Larger colonies folks cut branches off to keep them small enough for one area, or often just to sell or give to someone else in the hobby.

 

[Notsolostfish]

Interesting.
Branching is what is happening, over time the skeletal stem of the "splitting" heads will extend and branch out like a tree. Single heads are single branches. As the coral grows the heads split and grow into new branches. Larger colonies folks cut branches off to keep them small enough for one area, or often just to sell or give to someone else in the hobby.

Is that explain the retraction?

 

[KrisReef]

Is that explain the retraction?

No, the other posters had observations about that aspect. I was discussing the growth activity and form.

I leave my torches to themselves and have not observed the pattern of development that others describe. It’s all interesting! :cool: