Why are some SPS mounted this way?

[wicked demon]

there are other reasons to mount flat as well, more area can be glued, decreasing the risk of being knocked off the plug, also gives the coral more places to attach to, also most acros will encrust long before they will branch, giving the coral a naturaly stable base that can handle the rough leverages that are put on a branching coral in the wild.

 

[aerius007]

I agree with mounting them sideways. You will get more big branches vs one main branch. I think it takes a bit longer for the coral to adjust and start growing off the side but its well worth the wait.

 

[WT INC]

With our observation ( from fragging in quantity on weekly basis, we have about 1,000 plus frags in stock ) we do noticed that mounting flat gives faster encrusting , coloration and growth.
They actually grow into colonies faster.

 

[returnofsid]

Mounting flat also leaves the cut end exposed to flow, which allows faster healing.

 

[stylaster]

if you think about it in the wild most broken pieces will end up laying on their side. Its about 10,000 to 1 odds that a coral frag would actually end up sitting up

 

[ibefishy]

if you think about it in the wild most broken pieces will end up laying on their side. Its about 10,000 to 1 odds that a coral frag would actually end up sitting up

I read this whole thread and the last post was the answer I was going to give. You beat me to it. That was the explanation I was given...except for the 10,000 to 1 part.