Duncan care

jgvergo · Mar 12, 2020

I've had my Duncan for a couple of years. It has one large head. It seems very happy, eagerly eating when I target feed it. The polyps are plump and nicely extended as you can see in the picture. I feed a combination of Mysis, Hikari Marins S pellets, Coral Energy A&B. Flow is medium around it. Any theories why I'm not seeing more heads develop?

Alk 8.4, Ca 478, Mg 1400, Phos 47ppb, Nitrate 2

sde1500 · Mar 12, 2020

My Duncan seems happiest on the rock I have it on currently, up along with the SPS. I had it lower for quite a while and it was stagnant. Moving it up got it more light and flow and it took off.

Ook Sag · Mar 12, 2020

That is surprising to me that after a year or more it still only has one head growing. I would have thought it'd be at least 4 or 8 heads by now. I'd recommend moving it to a little more flow and higher light. But make the change very gradual you don't want to shock it after being in the same place for so long.

jgvergo · Mar 12, 2020

sde1500 said:
My Duncan seems happiest on the rock I have it on currently, up along with the SPS. I had it lower for quite a while and it was stagnant. Moving it up got it more light and flow and it took off.

Thanks!

jgvergo · Mar 15, 2020

I moved it to a spot on the bottom that has more light and flow. I think I see a head sprouting!!! Is that one on the right hand side of the stalk?

Ook Sag · Mar 15, 2020

That definitely looks like a new head sprouting, always a good sign!

uhgster1 · Mar 15, 2020

This Duncan colony is two years old. I started it from one frag. By the one year mark it had 12 heads. I think there’s about 50 now. I feed it twice a week. It’s the only reason I can think of for your Duncan frag to be that old with no growth.

John Dean · Mar 15, 2020

My Duncan was the first coral I added to my new tank, started with 5 heads, after a year has about 25. Its probably the only coral in my tank that is doing fine. Its sitting in a front corner with low to medium flow, not sure about light as I don't have a PAR meter.

Bryknicks · Mar 15, 2020

Decent flow, light and feed more. I've grown 8 heads in ~1 year.

jgvergo · Mar 30, 2020

My original post was March 12th. It's now the 30th and I can count at least 5 new heads (there are 2 on the other side)!!! Apparently, posting to R2R is essential to Duncan propagation