Duncan Corals not growing

Tristan · Sep 3, 2016

So I have a regular branching Duncan and an Aussie Duncan frag. The branching Duncan started out with 3 heads on 3 separate branches and then grew about 9. So there's now roughly 12 heads on that branching frag. Ranging from small to really big.

The Aussie started out with 2 and now has about 4 more new heads. So more or less 6 total heads now.

They have both been like this for a couple months without any skeletal growth. Is this normal? A lot of fleshy growth and no skeletal growth. Nitrates are 4ppm and my phosphates are 0.7.
When I had practically undetectable phosphates my Duncans closed up a bit so I started feeding more. So I'm guessing that Duncans do like a little phosphates?

Roboson · Sep 3, 2016

I have a pretty dirty nano as far as nutrients are concerned and my mini-head Duncan is thriving. It started off as one head and now it has about 8 or so. I also spot feed mine ground up sinking pellets.

Tristan · Sep 3, 2016

Roboson said:
I have a pretty dirty nano as far as nutrients are concerned and my mini-head Duncan is thriving. It started off as one head and now it has about 8 or so. I also spot feed mine ground up sinking pellets.

When you say new heads, do you just mean new heads at the base of an existing ones or new heads with actual skeletal growth?

lion king · Sep 4, 2016

Some duncans are more compact;, skeletal growth will come from your major elements so how is your ca and alk. Duncans also like to be fed, do you target feeding them.

Tristan · Sep 4, 2016

lion king said:
Some duncans are more compact;, skeletal growth will come from your major elements so how is your ca and alk. Duncans also like to be fed, do you target feeding them.

420 ca
9.5 DKH

Tristan · Sep 4, 2016

lion king said:
Some duncans are more compact;, skeletal growth will come from your major elements so how is your ca and alk. Duncans also like to be fed, do you target feeding them.

I feed mysis and LPS fauna Marin. About once a week

ReeferMaddness843 · Sep 4, 2016

Mine has done the same. The fleshy part has exploded in growth, but no real branching yet either. They've pretty much ran out of branches till more develop so I'm following along to see what happens here. I spot feed mine as well. Dkh 7, ca 470, mag 1470.

LetItReef · Sep 4, 2016

How about lighting?
IME Duncan prefers good amount of light.

ReeferMaddness843 · Sep 4, 2016

Top 1/3 of tank front n center.
Dual 160we and 4 ho t5

Tristan · Sep 4, 2016

LetItReef said:
How about lighting?
IME Duncan prefers good amount of light.

165w black box led. 70% blues 60% full spec

Tristan · Sep 4, 2016

LetItReef said:
How about lighting?
IME Duncan prefers good amount of light.

They're in a 25g tall. 24 x 12 footprint. Have it at the bottom front middle. Had it under higher lighting in my 10g but didn't like it too much

DracoKat · Sep 4, 2016

same with mine.. I had mine for over 2 years, started with 1 head, now have about 12. the hard body didn't change much at all. I never put thought into it until I read this board, lol

its been under different lightings over the years

inetjnky · Sep 5, 2016

Started out as one head about 8 months ago. My 165w black box is 14" off my waterline and is running 75 blue 45 white. I feed occasionally pemysis.

Tristan · Sep 5, 2016

Morangus said:
Started out as one head about 8 months ago. My 165w black box is 14" off my waterline and is running 75 blue 45 white. I feed occasionally pemysis.

Nice. Mine is 13" above. So I guess I just need to wait a little longer

inetjnky · Sep 5, 2016

I forgot to mention mine is right off the sand bed too.

incloud design · Apr 17, 2018

Hey guys, I just got a Duncan and found this thread in a search looking for growth information. I'm curious if any of you still have your Duncans and if so how they are doing now. I got a small polyp from Petco for about 12 bucks and it seems pretty happy in my tank, just wondering about how long before it spreads out. I'm also using black box LED's (ViparSpectra 165w X2) over my 65 gallon display. (36"). For now I just placed the frag on a rack about 6" down from waterline and lights are approximately 12" above waterline. I'm running the lights conservative 52% Blue, 5% White until the tank acclimates from my T5's. Any feedback is appreciated!