how to grow tiny duncan frag?

[dandoozled]

Hi! I just bought a tiny duncan frag from my LFS, I was looking at duncans for a while but they were for sale for like 60$ at my LFS, then I stumbled upon a tiny frag that they sold me for $10!! Couldn't pass up on the deal, I just wanted to know if anyone has some tips to enrich the coral growth, I have him placed right in the middle of my tank, mid level at the front, the flow is decent it actually helped open it up some. I'm just wondering how long does a duncan usually take to grow/ multiply heads? Right now, I currently have the stock lights that came with fluval evo 13.5, so I'm just wondering what kind of growth I should expect, would feeding small amounts of LRS be ok, it's mouth is crazy tiny lol. Thanks!

 

[Flowering Reef LLC]

Might be a rather slow grower in that particular system as long as your parameters are good and stable you can expect pretty optimal growth for your system.. that being said you can try spot feeding them, they like that and it could boost their growth and coloration a little...

 

[sbash]

Duncans are one of my favourites for sure. Funny story; I had a small piece, like yours but two heads. It was happy where it was, every now and then it was get bumped and I would put it back. One day, I noticed it was missing, but was not on the sandbed (this in in my 220 gallon). I poked around a bit and couldn't find it. Several weeks later, I saw the butt-end sticking out of the sand. I thought it was toast, but the little guy lives on. Right now it is still bleached out, and it actually upside down, but at least one polyp still opens up every day (that I see it anyway).

Anecdotes aside, I find duncans are slow growers. You can spot feed to speed up growth, but don't go overboard. Keep your nutrients stable a it will live a long, healthy life.

 

[chowwil]

I found them very flexible with lighting and water flow. I 2 frags, one in 20g and one in 75g. The 75g frag started out with 2 heads and now about a year, it has 20 heads. the other one has only been about 6 months and started with 2 heads also, now doubled in size.

 

[MrObscura]

I got a single 5 dollar head back in August. It's got like 4 smaller heads now. It really took off after I upped the nutrient levels in my tank.

 

[shred5]

Very hardy and can be a fast grower for a lps.

They prefer lower light levels and being placed lower in the tank..

Feeding them small meaty foods can really speed up growth.

They also like medium current, nothing to hard as with most lps.

 

[cain720]

Here's my duncan's growth over 5 months from a single head to 10+. They grow very quickly with regular spot feeding, and mine tolerates pretty much any placement in the tank. It's also a pretty good indicator coral and will be one of the first to let know if something's off. Mine will even start closing up if I put a finger in the tank.

 

[dandoozled]

Here's my duncan's growth over 5 months from a single head to 10+. They grow very quickly with regular spot feeding, and mine tolerates pretty much any placement in the tank. It's also a pretty good indicator coral and will be one of the first to let know if something's off. Mine will even start closing up if I put a finger in the tank.

that's an awesome duncan! Can't wait to hopefully see similar progress in the future!

 

[dandoozled]

I got a single 5 dollar head back in August. It's got like 4 smaller heads now. It really took off after I upped the nutrient levels in my tank.

what exactly did you increase nutrient wise? or how I guess

 

[MrObscura]

More feeding

 

[Dpate]

Feed with LPS pellets using a piece or rigid airline tubing like this...

Drop the pellets in the top end and target the heads, you can also use the tube to fend off hungry fish! Here is a piece I dug out from my sand bed, had only one head.. with feeding regularly (twice a week) it now looks like this!

 

[MrObscura]

That's too involved for me. I just turkey baste a reef roids/rods food mix over mine 2x a week.

 

[BadPanda]

I bought a three head 10 months ago. Lost one head after three months but is currently with 12+heads. Reef roids twice a week with some mysis leftovers if any. Mine prefered more flow and more light.

 

[abet]

Hi! I just bought a tiny duncan frag from my LFS, I was looking at duncans for a while but they were for sale for like 60$ at my LFS, then I stumbled upon a tiny frag that they sold me for $10!! Couldn't pass up on the deal, I just wanted to know if anyone has some tips to enrich the coral growth, I have him placed right in the middle of my tank, mid level at the front, the flow is decent it actually helped open it up some. I'm just wondering how long does a duncan usually take to grow/ multiply heads? Right now, I currently have the stock lights that came with fluval evo 13.5, so I'm just wondering what kind of growth I should expect, would feeding small amounts of LRS be ok, it's mouth is crazy tiny lol. Thanks!

My has 7 heads now. I also have a fluval. Can you share pics of your tank?! I have more live rock and no idea what to do or where to put it

 

[abet]

Here's my duncan's growth over 5 months from a single head to 10+. They grow very quickly with regular spot feeding, and mine tolerates pretty much any placement in the tank. It's also a pretty good indicator coral and will be one of the first to let know if something's off. Mine will even start closing up if I put a finger in the tank.

Mine is growing well and my sons clown fish are hosting it. So I spot feed here and there since I know they feed it as well.

 

[yoyohead]

Spot feed them...After 2 months, my little 2 head Duncan has 2 new little heads

 

[Mr Cypher]

I love mine I feed mine daily which I know is overkill but I think it works out well I also have mine in a bit higher flow than you would expect but they love it good luck awsome coral here is the before
and after