Can Coral Bases Grow?

[Manny]

I have had the base of a red planet acro and red montipora digitata since June of last year. The branches were cut off and I was given the base of the coral to throw in my tank. They have since then been growing. The red planet has doubled in size and the montipora has grown 5-6 times in size but neither of them have sprouted any branches. They have essentially become plating corals. Will these coral eventually put out new branches or is this a lost cause?

[Manny]

Here is the red planet. The monti is 3 times as big as this. And it's not bleached. It has a very rich hue that reflects green and red depending on which angle you see it from but the LEDs never allow me to accurately capture this one.

[jestep]

Give it time, it should take off eventually. A really well encrusted base is usually better than a poorly encrusted but taller branched coral.

[FarmerTy]

I've always experienced red planets basing out a bunch before putting up stalks... more so than any of my other acros.

[Sascha D.]

I have a purple digitata that encrusted a 7x3" piece of LR before growing branches.

[Manny]

All good news.

[+KimP]

I had the same experience with my red planet. Encrusted for nearly a year then finally started growing upright. It covers a large spot on a rock.

[Manny]

I guess this all makes me feel confident.