Coral Growth

[TheSheff]

This might be a question that has no exact answer , but I often feel like my corals are not growing as fast as they should be/at all; Has anyone felt this way and how did you reconcile it?

 

[Jekyl]

This might be a question that has no exact answer , but I often feel like my corals are not growing as fast as they should be/at all; Has anyone felt this way and how did you reconcile it?

Tank age, parameters and lighting are the factors.

 

[Nano sapiens]

This might be a question that has no exact answer , but I often feel like my corals are not growing as fast as they should be/at all; Has anyone felt this way and how did you reconcile it?

What is your expectation for growth? Are you comparing your corals' growth to others and using that as your guide?

Even on different healthy natural reefs growth rates of the same types of corals can be dramatically different. An Acropora species might grow only 1/2" on one reef/yr. vs. 5" on another, but both corals can look similarly colorful and healthy.

In order for strong growth to occur a whole host of factors need to be 'in the zone'. Part of the challenge of reef keeping is gaining a thorough understanding of the interrelationship of all these factors and how they can be manipulated to obtain a desired result (not every reefer has the same goals).

For example, in a small grown-in mature aquarium fast growth is often not desirable (unless one really likes pruning!), but great coloration and overall health are. Manipulating just one or two factors can be the difference between an aquarium that's a chore to maintain and one that's easily manageable.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

How long have you had the corals? Different corals grow at different rates, but everything grows slow. I compare growth in my tank year over year, you cant really judge growth after just a few months.

The corals that do grow quickly are usually the cheaper, less colorful ones. In my experience, the more expensive more colorful corals grow the slowest.

 

[TheSheff]

What is your expectation for growth? Are you comparing your corals' growth to others and using that as your guide?

Even on different healthy natural reefs growth rates of the same types of corals can be dramatically different. An Acropora species might grow only 1/2" on one reef/yr. vs. 5" on another, but both corals can look similarly colorful and healthy.

In order for strong growth to occur a whole host of factors need to be 'in the zone'. Part of the challenge of reef keeping is gaining a thorough understanding of the interrelationship of all these factors and how they can be manipulated to obtain a desired result (not every reefer has the same goals).

For example, in a small grown-in mature aquarium fast growth is often not desirable (unless one really likes pruning!), but great coloration and overall health are. Manipulating just one or two factors can be the difference between an aquarium that's a chore to maintain and one that's easily manageable.

I generally look at other people's tanks. A lot of my Euphyllia just haven't shown any signs of growing lately.

 

[TheSheff]

How long have you had the corals? Different corals grow at different rates, but everything grows slow. I compare growth in my tank year over year, you cant really judge growth after just a few months.

The corals that do grow quickly are usually the cheaper, less colorful ones. In my experience, the more expensive more colorful corals grow the slowest.

I've had a frogspawn and a hammer that haven't split or anything in 5 months. I just hear people talking about how they double in size over the course of a year