i had an idea that came up after seeing some hydroponics experiment in popular science where they put plants on a rotating wheel and they apparently grow faster. I guess the theory is that they\'ll be growing with gravity constantly and be able to grow faster. They already have something similar for tomatoes but for different reasons.

A possible setup, i would imagine, would be having a MH placed under a bare bottom tank and some sort of rack with frags hanging downwards.

has anyone tried growing SPS downwards?

I've personally met Anthony Calfo, and he confirms to me that growing corals upside down enhances growth greatly.

cool beans
call me ignorant, but whos anthony?

Make sure you use either a) Starfire glass or b ) acrylic so light doesnt get filtered out.

o, i wasnt planning on doing it anytime soon
just shooting some ideas

I’m not that knowledgeable on SPS but, corals in general resemble plants in some aspects. Plants that grow fast or are encourage to grow faster tent to be weaker due to the accelerated cell growth. Also some plants and plants cell (algae) have in their being to grow against the gravitational pull. i think it might work but it will compromise the overall stability of the piece, specially with acros and birdnests.

Go for it and keep us posted.

you could hold the frags on pieces of fishing line upeside down (they do this in coral growing for reef growing) and switch the light from top to bottom every 3 months or so to get a really cool growth patter because the corals should grow towards the light. also i dont think growing corals upside down doesnt comprimise the structure as much and that is why they are able to do it in coral farming.

thinking exactly the same thing with the stability issue
might end up growing too fast and being too brittle

sorry, definitely dont have the means to start a prop tank
i was hoping someone would steal this idea ^^

You are thinking about this the wrong way. Put a light over, under, and side to side...Front, back, and side to side. Then I let the Alpine play...

Gravity plays a very reduced role underwater.... I don't think there will be a significant increase in growth for coral...

I've read that it helps.

hey... thats not a bad idea... xD
is it possible to have too much light for sps?

Yes, it is. If you had light on all parts it would grow more radials (I think thats what theyre called). Thats why people frag SPS and glue them down on their side. I cant stand that though.