Do You Keep Only a Grow-Out System Instead of a Display System?

[nickkohrn]

I have anxiety of letting corals grow onto rocks because I like to be able to move them around, if necessary. I don’t have commitment issues in any other area of my life, but I don’t like to commit to letting corals grow onto rocks. I prefer to have a grow-out system from which I can frag corals for sale or trade, including an entire colony, if desired. Therefore, I’m completely content with having only a grow-out system and not a display system.

Do you keep only a grow-out system? If so, what reason(s) made you decide to do so?

 

[Triple.T]

Interesting topic, following.

 

[EMeyer]

Interesting topic, I can relate in a way.

I have 4 systems in my home, consisting of 10 tanks (some would say I have a problem, I prefer the phrase "dedicated hobbyist"). Of those, two systems (4 tanks) are displays and the rest are growout.

This has improved my enjoyment of the hobby exponentially. Not because of the growing out itself per se, but because its led me to set up systems with different conditions to best grow the different corals. So I can finally grow all the corals I want, just not all in the same tank. When I have a coral thats unhappy, I almost always have somewhere I can move it where it will thrive. I used to have to watch corals die, now I just move them.

Except NPS corals, I still havent set up a system for them. Someday!

 

[hyprc]

your anxiety is well founded. I would say avoid encrusting corals as they are really good at smothering other corals . I will be keeping a growout only system in the future!

 

[Daddy-o]

I have 6 reefs and they are set up more like reefs than growout/frag tanks. I like to set up the tank with larger rocks. Then each coral gets glued onto its own smaller rock. The smaller rocks are just sitting on/in the larger rock base. This way the coral can encrust like crazy and if I want to move it or frag it, I can just pull out the smaller rock. I also take rocks to my tile saw and slice them like a loaf of bread. I use these slices as bases for frags that will end up for sale.
Cheers! Mark

 

[nickkohrn]

Interesting topic, I can relate in a way.

I have 4 systems in my home, consisting of 10 tanks (some would say I have a problem, I prefer the phrase "dedicated hobbyist"). Of those, two systems (4 tanks) are displays and the rest are growout.

This has improved my enjoyment of the hobby exponentially. Not because of the growing out itself per se, but because its led me to set up systems with different conditions to best grow the different corals. So I can finally grow all the corals I want, just not all in the same tank. When I have a coral thats unhappy, I almost always have somewhere I can move it where it will thrive. I used to have to watch corals die, now I just move them.

Except NPS corals, I still havent set up a system for them. Someday!

That’s exactly what I’d like to have some day! I’m currently SPS-only because I like having an environment that’s suitable for a specific subset of corals. However, I’m a big fan of the Lobophyllia species, so I’d love to have an LPS-only system as well.

your anxiety is well founded. I would say avoid encrusting corals as they are really good at smothering other corals . I will be keeping a growout only system in the future!

I have a few friends that have systems in which corals have encrusted their rocks, and as much as I admire the beauty of those systems, they give me a slight feeling of anxiety because the corals need pruned so often.

I have 6 reefs and they are set up more like reefs than growout/frag tanks. I like to set up the tank with larger rocks. Then each coral gets glued onto its own smaller rock. The smaller rocks are just sitting on/in the larger rock base. This way the coral can encrust like crazy and if I want to move it or frag it, I can just pull out the smaller rock. I also take rocks to my tile saw and slice them like a loaf of bread. I use these slices as bases for frags that will end up for sale.
Cheers! Mark

That’s a great idea — being able to have a more natural reef aesthetic with the ability to move corals.

 

[X-37B]

I have a 120 display and currently setting up a 45, 36x24x12 frag/ growout system with 40 breeder sump. I like the full grown in look of mature reef tank. The 45 will allow me to add frags to grow and keep current frags from the 120.
I like both but the main reason is to keep backup corals in case I have a tank crash due to unforseen issues.
Just have to hang the lights and its ready to go.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

I have anxiety of letting corals grow onto rocks because I like to be able to move them around, if necessary. I don’t have commitment issues in any other area of my life, but I don’t like to commit to letting corals grow onto rocks. I prefer to have a grow-out system from which I can frag corals for sale or trade, including an entire colony, if desired. Therefore, I’m completely content with having only a grow-out system and not a display system.

Do you keep only a grow-out system? If so, what reason(s) made you decide to do so?

the corals I'm trying to raise and hopefully thrive are a little different from the majority of what's out there. These corals need a dedicated tank that's designed for them compared to what's out there today.
So we have a grow out tank

 

[nickkohrn]

I have a 120 display and currently setting up a 45, 36x24x12 frag/ growout system with 40 breeder sump. I like the full grown in look of mature reef tank. The 45 will allow me to add frags to grow and keep current frags from the 120.
I like both but the main reason is to keep backup corals in case I have a tank crash due to unforseen issues.
Just have to hang the lights and its ready to go.

Having a separate system that contains frags for backup purposes is something that would ease my mind.

I do agree with you in that I enjoy the aesthetics of a mature reef system. I often think about the beauty that they bring.

the corals I'm trying to raise and hopefully thrive are a little different from the majority of what's out there. These corals need a dedicated tank that's designed for them compared to what's out there today.
So we have a grow out tank

Oh, they are beautiful! I would love to see more!

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Having a separate system that contains frags for backup purposes is something that would ease my mind.

I do agree with you in that I enjoy the aesthetics of a mature reef system. I often think about the beauty that they bring.


Oh, they are beautiful! I would love to see more!

Thread has some videos to, follow my thread

 

[ihavecrabs]

Sorry in advance for the anxiety...

As you can see I do both. My main display I let the corals grow. I don’t mind cutting a colony off the rock and smothering the encrusting area if the coral needs to move (due to growth pattern or space issues) but I also enjoy having corals on disks that are easily frag-able and easily moved. I will say that when I get one that completely encrusts the disk, I move the disk up onto plugs in the center so they can’t encrust on the rack. This works well for most SPS, but zoanthids just don’t care lol.

 

[nickkohrn]

Sorry in advance for the anxiety...

There’s no amount of anxiety that I can’t overcome when seeing gorgeous corals.

I will say that when I get one that completely encrusts the disk, I move the disk up onto plugs in the center so they can’t encrust on the rack.

That’s a good idea. However, all of my corals will be placed onto the bottom, on grow-out tiles, in my new frag tank. I like the idea of letting them encrust the tile but then being elevated to prevent further encroachment onto substrates. I may have to play around with ideas that can have the same effect in my bare-bottomed, rack-less, frag tank. I assume that will have the effect of making them branch sooner rather than encrusting for an extended period of time before branching.

 

[ihavecrabs]

There’s no amount of anxiety that I can’t overcome when seeing gorgeous corals.


That’s a good idea. However, all of my corals will be placed onto the bottom, on grow-out tiles, in my new frag tank. I like the idea of letting them encrust the tile but then being elevated to prevent further encroachment onto substrates. I may have to play around with ideas that can have the same effect in my bare-bottomed, rack-less, frag tank. I assume that will have the effect of making them branch sooner rather than encrusting for an extended period of time before branching.

The reason I elevated them is the build up of detritus around the tiles. Elevating them allows the detritus to move to the side/corner for me to easily remove. Food for thought!

 

[Amado]

Frag tanks are so much easier to light and manage. It’s also very easy to clean and cut corals. If a coral is not happy you can just move it.

 

[nickkohrn]

Frag tanks are so much easier to light and manage. It’s also very easy to clean and cut corals. If a coral is not happy you can just move it.

I agree. I also like the benefit of not having to ensure that the glass is clean more often if it’s not meant to be a display grow-out system.

 

[Wallace180]

I have anxiety of letting corals grow onto rocks because I like to be able to move them around, if necessary. I don’t have commitment issues in any other area of my life, but I don’t like to commit to letting corals grow onto rocks. I prefer to have a grow-out system from which I can frag corals for sale or trade, including an entire colony, if desired. Therefore, I’m completely content with having only a grow-out system and not a display system.

Do you keep only a grow-out system? If so, what reason(s) made you decide to do so?

I’ve considered this and now glue them to a smaller rock and then to reef .

 

[FishDoc]

I have anxiety of letting corals grow onto rocks because I like to be able to move them around, if necessary. I don’t have commitment issues in any other area of my life, but I don’t like to commit to letting corals grow onto rocks. I prefer to have a grow-out system from which I can frag corals for sale or trade, including an entire colony, if desired. Therefore, I’m completely content with having only a grow-out system and not a display system.

Do you keep only a grow-out system? If so, what reason(s) made you decide to do so?

Personally, I’m looking for naturalization in my reef. Encrusting, branching, competing etc. because for me that is what is so interesting about reef formation in natural reef environments. I’m not a fan of a produce display of corals. My 2 cents

 

[X-37B]

Produce display, thats funny! I agree, however, I have seen produce displays turn into some very nice looking mature tanks. The bottom line, run it the way you like it. Your the one thats going to see it every day.

 

[nickkohrn]

Personally, I’m looking for naturalization in my reef. Encrusting, branching, competing etc. because for me that is what is so interesting about reef formation in natural reef environments. I’m not a fan of a produce display of corals. My 2 cents

Regarding this, do you place certain corals away from others so that they don’t get damaged? For example, if you have a coral that you absolutely love, do you keep it away from others to prevent harm to it?

 

[FishDoc]

Regarding this, do you place certain corals away from others so that they don’t get damaged? For example, if you have a coral that you absolutely love, do you keep it away from others to prevent harm to it?

I do typically put quite a bit of thought into coral placement, both from the standpoint of its particular needs as well as what would be adjacent, factoring in grow-out.