coral spawning and growth

[erky]

I had a green pocillopora spawn in my tank a few months ago, and WOW the growth these little guys have done is impressive.

Why do smaller corals grow faster than their larger parents?

would cutting a tiny frag give faster growth?

at what point would that growth slow down?

I will post some pics when I can.

 

[Tahoe61]

And this is the reason I do not introduce Pocillopora to any tank.

It's interesting that you mention that young colonies or pieces grow faster than the adults or more established. Biologist are using this type of thinking or idea to re-populate reefs.

I do believe there is some truth in the theory that trimming Acopora much like when you cut back plants like roses stimulates a growth spurt.

Looking forward to your images and I hope you like Pocillopora.

 

[clover128]

I had a green pocillopora spawn in my tank a few months ago, and WOW the growth these little guys have done is impressive.

Why do smaller corals grow faster than their larger parents?

would cutting a tiny frag give faster growth?

at what point would that growth slow down?

I will post some pics when I can.

would love to see somes pics of the babies!! Congrats!

 

[Naoxyn]

I second this, pictures would be awesome!

 

[jda]

In my tank, the corals grow faster as they grow... increasing at in increasing rate. For example, it might take nine months for a 1" frag to get to the size of a baseball, but in the next nine months that baseball might be the size of a grapefruit. Growth has been incremental to me with adequate lighting (colonies are harder to light than frags) and keeping up with the elements.

I have a no Poci rule, as well. The spawn still haunt my dreams.

 

[Kmsutows]

Id argue it was more a polyp bailout as opposed to spawn but it is interesting. Too bad acros don't do this as well!

 

[erky]

sorry for the delay on posting pictures, my basement where my tank is, is getting finished and I have the tank covered up with all kinds of junk that we store in our basement. I will attempt to take some pics tonight between framing. There are probably 15 areas I can count that are going to be new colonies, yes it is annoying to have these everywhere, but it is still neat.

I wouldn't think polyp bailout as there was never a bare patch on the mother, it is one healthy large looking coral. I cant remember exactly when I started seeing the babies in the tank, but some are actually pretty large now with 4-5 branches coming off of them.

In an unrelated event, who needs a frag lol...

 

[happyhourhero]

I had this happen with a birdsnest. Worked out for me because I lost the mother in a crash but now have 4 babies around the tank. They took a long time to grow but now they are larger than golf balls and growing quite quickly.

 

[erky]

Here is the tank with babies