Acro Growth Rate

[ReefGeezer]

I'm getting old. The realization that time is limited has started to creep into my conciseness. So, how long does it take to grow the typical 1" Acro frag into a baseball sized colony? For the sake of discussion, let's assume that all parameters for growth are optimum.

Are there still places where bigger frags or small colonies can be purchased?

 

[mtraylor]

Unfortunately there is no defined answer to your question. Some corals are fast growers and some are slow growers. From my experience it can take from 6months to 2 years depending on the coral. This is just a ball park and any coral can fall outside of it. Hope that helps.

 

[Stickboy15]

every tank grows coral at a different pace, I have some acros that are having as much growth as ones I've had for 5 months for example I got a home wrecker and rr op in october they both are encrusting really fast and good but I have a bc lemon hammer that I got in august and its pretty slow just some encrusting. I also have a arc fireworks that looks like the day I got it.

 

[Reefpuck]

I have a monti that is almost the size of a softball...that started from a quarter size frag. Been about 14 months.

I also have a Oregon tort that has grown maybe a 1/4" in the last 6 months.

Just depends on the piece. But there are plenty of pieces that can grow quickly. You can also look into maricultured colonies...they're usually good size.

 

[Reefpuck]

Here's Diver Den's selection (WYSIWYG)

https://www.liveaquaria.com/divers-den/category/2/sps-corals

 

[ReefGeezer]

Thanks everyone. I have a few test SPS pieces in the tank and have noticed the difference in growth rate. I've also noticed that the growth seems proportional to the colony's overall size. The growth of tiny little frags is hard to see, bigger pieces seem to expand more noticeably. As compared to the tiny little frags being advertised, the maricultured stuff looks interesting due to its size & cost but I wonder how it does in the DT. The Divers Den stuff looks interesting & some is even reasonably priced. Would I be correct in thinking that starting with small colonies instead of frags would help the cause? I think I would rather invest in fewer but larger colonies rather than a bunch of small frags.

 

[Reefpuck]

Absolutely would help starting with smaller colonies. The maricultured pieces don't have the fancy names or that unique "lineage"...but I think some of them look awesome.