New to SPS, is this dying or growing?

So I got this little guy for free three weeks ago and I'd like to keep it alive.
I can't tell if this is growth or death. The white looks longer than it did when I first got it. What do you guys think?

Pic 1 is when I first got it
Pic 2 is three weeks later (now)

 

Could be either. I would want to know more like parameters but specifically, what is its position in your tank?

 

growth. hence why it looks longer. its white because the zooanthallae hasnt had time to color up.

 

It's on the sand in a medium flow.

1.025 SG
11.2 ALK
1400 Mag
490 CA
0 Phos
0 Ammonia
0 Nitrate
0 Nitrite
78.5 F

 

In pic 2 I would say there is some tissue lose on the branch on second from the bottom pointing to the right.

All the others look like there is some growth

J

 

definately growth with those CA and MG levels. just keep em stable and watch her grow. then frag and spread the love! lol

 

Wow I just felt a bite!!!! The SPS bug just got me! Here I have been watching my LPS grow like a snail and this SPS comes in and grows that fast in 3 weeks.

I was afraid to loose it. It's turning a neon green with purple "buds" under my LEDs.

 

Any ideas why? My CUC has tipped it over every night and I forgot about it for two days. I'm assuming that branch was on the sand for those two days.

 

Very hard to see, but looking at your first pic, you can see the polyps in full extension in the white area. That shows it as new growth to me. If it was dying, the polyps in that area would be dead.

Welcome to the fold. Once you are bit.... there is not turning back.

 

That was what I was going to ask. Was it sitting in the sand?

I'd bet that's what did it