Growth rates?

solereef50 · Feb 24, 2014

Hey guys, I have a general question about coral growth. I am new to the hobby and am currently stocking my 50 gal rimless tank with frags. I have no idea how long most of these take to grow out or mature. I am running AI Hydra lights. I will be dosing Red Sea Foundation ABC weekly. Here is a little list of what I have. Any input would be appreciated.

Torch
Hammer
Frogspawn
Branching gsp
Kenya tree
Red Monti cap
Garf bonsai
Birdsnest
Chalices
Paly/zoa

Thanks

WhoKnew · Feb 24, 2014

:welcome:
It sounds like a nice setup. I like your choices of corals together. Looking forward to some pictures.

Genesis Corals · Feb 24, 2014

solereef50 said:
Hey guys, I have a general question about coral growth. I am new to the hobby and am currently stocking my 50 gal rimless tank with frags. I have no idea how long most of these take to grow out or mature. I am running AI Hydra lights. I will be dosing Red Sea Foundation ABC weekly. Here is a little list of what I have. Any input would be appreciated.

Torch (3 heads to 30 heads in 18 months)
Hammer (3 heads to 15 heads in 18 months)
Frogspawn (5 heads to 15 heads in 18 months)
Branching gsp
Kenya tree (these grow quick and drop babies all over your tank)
Red Monti cap (one of the fastest SPS growers, with stable params you could see a 1" x 1" frag be 6" within a year)
Garf bonsai (mine likes lower light, can't give growth as I had some tank issues)
Birdsnest (1" frag to 6" colony within 18 months)
Chalices (most a slow growers)
Paly/zoa (all depends on the zoa, so grow like weeds and others take months to pop a few babies off)

Thanks

The answer most will give you is "It all depends on your tank". Stable parameters go a long way to helping better growth and color. Dosing daily if not hourly will assist with stable parameters. See above for my experiences with the some of the corals you mentioned. Good luck with your new adventure.

Bradsreeeftank · Feb 24, 2014

I've asked this qustion and got same crappy answer, "it depends". And even when you tell them every little thing they still say it depends. ( never did I understand) with your lights, it won't be too slow of a growth process. GPS, monti cap, palys/ zoas, Kenya tree and birds nest, they will all grow fast esp the gsp! Torch, hammer and frogspawn will grow at a good rate as well. As for chalice and bonsai, I'm not sure. If you have any qustions Lmk.

GnarleyMarley · Feb 24, 2014

Everyone will say it depends, because it does. U could have the exact same setup as I do, and the tanks would still not be the same. If u keep stable parameters and low phosphates, and nitrates u should have good growth. But if it were me I would focus on keeping everything alive and happy, growth will happen on its own in time.

Just remember only bad things happen quickly in a reef tank

but from what u have prepared, it sounds like it has the potential to b an awesome setup.

xthunderx · Feb 24, 2014

It depends...lol.

When I started my reef, I was very much into growth and as a result I used 14k Phoenix bulbs. Overtime as my frags turned into mini colonies I switched to 20k radium. No question that 14k was for growth, but the 20k radiums made all the corals pop with color. Just another variable contributing to growth out of many in our complex hobby.

xthunderx · Feb 24, 2014

PS. I am referring to SPS corals mostly. In terms of growth LPS and softies has to do more so with nutrients than light. In other words, if I wanted to growth LPS and softies I would keep a higher nutrient tank to get the most growth.

solereef50 · Feb 24, 2014

Thank you all for your input. I expected to get "it depends" a lot lol. I realize every tank is different. Thank you genesis corals for actually providing time frames as that is what I was looking for. Here is a quick picture, can't seem to get a decent one with my iPhone...

ImageUploadedByREEF2REEF1393296576.569093.jpg

Bradsreeeftank · Feb 24, 2014

Nice looking!

EW_Fish · Feb 24, 2014

Your noting going to get great growth rates unless you have good lighting and stable conditions. Keep up on water changes and alk / cal If you don't want your tank over run with kenya tree then toss it now.
Heres my .02
Torch - Med
Hammer - Med
Frogspawn - Med
Branching gsp -Fast
Kenya tree - Weed
Red Monti cap - Fast
Garf bonsai - Slow / Med
Birdsnest - Fast
Chalices - Slow
Paly/zoa - Depends on the paly / zoa Some of my zoas I can get 2-3 polys a month some I cant get 1 per 2 months

cheezybuda · Feb 25, 2014

I pretty much agree with every one else on growth rate except my birdsnest grows faster than my Kenyan

Daniel@R2R · Feb 26, 2014

Remember that "it depends" is because we aren't talking about something that is strictly mechanical or mathematical. You're dealing with living organisms that have varying metabolisms bc of their DNA. It's the old "nature" vs. "nurture" question. You can help them grow fastest by keeping them in a tank with solid and stable parameters, good lights, good flow, etc...but in the end it depends. LOL As an example, if I have 2 kids, and they both eat the same foods and they both live in the same environment, their growth rates may still vary bc..."it depends."

Daniel@R2R · Feb 26, 2014

EW_Fish said:
Your noting going to get great growth rates unless you have good lighting and stable conditions. Keep up on water changes and alk / cal If you don't want your tank over run with kenya tree then toss it now.
Heres my .02
Torch - Med
Hammer - Med
Frogspawn - Med
Branching gsp -Fast
Kenya tree - Weed
Red Monti cap - Fast
Garf bonsai - Slow / Med
Birdsnest - Fast
Chalices - Slow
Paly/zoa - Depends on the paly / zoa Some of my zoas I can get 2-3 polys a month some I cant get 1 per 2 months