Mature tank vs immature tank

[Stephen8169301]

Competition for available resources comes to my mind. Maybe if you had ONE gsp you'd see the fast growth others espouse... just my theory...

@TokenReefer The gsp I have is not really doing much maybe too new to tell? In tank for 1.5 month

 

[TokenReefer]

@TokenReefer The gsp I have is not really doing much maybe too new to tell? In tank for 1.5 month

Rather than "new" I'll say too "soon" to tell perhaps My gsp did squat for a while (months maybe) but I slowed down on wc's and now I see measurable daily growth and its trying to escape it's rock island. I think once it finds its footing and it has what it wants/needs (at a stable rate) it can really take off

Edit: added at a stable rate just to perhaps drive that home...

 

[Stephen8169301]

Rather than "new" I'll say too "soon" to tell perhaps My gsp did squat for a while (months maybe) but I slowed down on wc's and now I see measurable daily growth and its trying to escape it's rock island. I think once it finds its footing and it has what it wants/needs it can really take off

Awesome thanks for the input !

 

[The_Skrimp]

They definitely grow much faster with age in my experience. Not only because a more mature tank will have the sort of stability to help a colony grow healthier and faster but once your frags gets to the point where they have several heads or have encrusted onto the rock, that’s usually when you’ll see an explosion in growth.

 

[Pankney72]

I upgraded my several years old 125 to a 250 about 6 months ago, transferred all rock, livestock including coral and a good amount of water. I couldn’t kill coral in the old one. growth is currently still pretty stagnant in the new one.

nothing to do about it other than keep doing the right stuff…

 

[Charles Zinn]

In my limited experience, YES. Corals that “grow like weed” still grow very slowly until the tank becomes established.

I added this digitata and stylo on day 1.

I believe my tank was established at around the 8 month mark. It went through 2 dino outbreaks and several cyano/other algae outbreaks until that point.

Here are the same two corals at 8 month after tank start. Almost no growth in 8 months.

Fast forward to 18 month after tank start, they are growing like weed. (Apologies for the bad pic).

On the other hand, I added this Cali Tort ,10 months after tank start, when I consider my tank to be established.

This is 17 months after tank start (7 month of growth). It is significantly bigger now even after I took a couple frags.

Thus leading me to the conclusion that even “grows like weed” corals (at least SPS) will grow slower in a new tank vs an established tank.

I think there is a rule that until the frag covers the plug and starts to go on rock growth will be slow. Or is at leat 3 to 5 inches tall.

 

[Charles Zinn]

@TokenReefer The gsp I have is not really doing much maybe too new to tell? In tank for 1.5 month

Its just getting acclimated at that amount of time to your tank. Parameters trace elements stability patience and things will grow

 

[Stephen8169301]

Its just getting acclimated at that amount of time to your tank. Parameters trace elements stability patience and things will grow

@Charles Zinn yeah it’s just crazy cause when I first got into this beginning of the year I was reading up on corals on what to get and I really liked Xenia but everywhere said they grow like crazy take over tank yattah which I’m sure it does so that kinda pushed me from buying it I finally purchased it with my tank it’s maybe grown a little in 2 1/2 months

 

[Charles Zinn]

@Charles Zinn yeah it’s just crazy cause when I first got into this beginning of the year I was reading up on corals on what to get and I really liked Xenia but everywhere said they grow like crazy take over tank yattah which I’m sure it does so that kinda pushed me from buying it I finally purchased it with my tank it’s maybe grown a little in 2 1/2 months

Just wait. When I st up my 310 gal with live rock one of the rocks came with some yellow rock and clove polps which were almost dead. Recently?, before Hurrican Ian took out about 6 grapefruit si?e chunks and a few months later it's grown back in the green star polyps we're on 2 other rocks but ypu couldn't even see them 2 years ago. Now the 3 rocks are covered and kept away from the main rock formations

 

[tigre44]

Very much matters. Nothing thrived when my tank was young. After the years now things grow like weeds as you said.

I totally agree

 

[jl002837]

I find it interesting that people talk about "established" as a point in time, 6 months, 1 year and such. In my mind its more of a continuum, every progressing. Sure, a two year old tank is more mature than 6 months. But my tank at year 12 was vastly different than at year 2.

I think the more new school idea of biome diversity might be a more defined concept of what we have called maturity.

I find it interesting that people talk about "established" as a point in time, 6 months, 1 year and such. In my mind its more of a continuum, every progressing. Sure, a two year old tank is more mature than 6 months. But my tank at year 12 was vastly different than at year 2.

I think the more new school idea of biome diversity might be a more defined concept of what we have called maturity.

My tank is also 12 plus years old. I’m that time I have seen several algae outbreaks some that I still fight.I have had a complete tank (which is 360 gallon's) of coral crash not once but twice. I accidentally have several of the coral’s that died in the last crash coming back. Wish I would’ve left a skeleton’s in to see recovery.
I have always had challenges to battle.
What I would like to see is 5 plus year old tanks in perfect condition. 2 years still new to me

 

[Mortgaged Reefs]

I think it really depends on the tank and experience. I have seen brand new tanks thrive immediately and And be able to hold any coral. On the other hand, I have seen new tanks that take a year to get through the ugly phase.

 

[Paul B]

At first I thought my corals grew like weeds......Then I realized they WERE weeds!!!!!!!

 

[ClownSchool]

6 months is nothing. My ugly phase hadn't even really kicked in at 6 months. Over a year is when the shift started.

Being new to the hobby, I used a hybrid approach.
Started with a 16 gallon BioCube in 2021. After a year, I moved the live rock and corals over to a 55 gallon where I added about 30 pound of dry rock. Added more corals over the next year with little growth.
Two months ago, I moved everything except the sand over - including the water - to a 90 gallon system and added fresh live sand plus a few more corals.
So, I have a two month-old system with most elements 18 months-old, or older.
I’m hoping to see results soon.
The only things that have thrived is a neon green Nephthea, neon green stag horn Montipora, and a few Zoanthid/palythoa colonies. everything else has shown modest growth.

 

[Jekyl]

Being new to the hobby, I used a hybrid approach.
Started with a 16 gallon BioCube in 2021. After a year, I moved the live rock and corals over to a 55 gallon where I added about 30 pound of dry rock. Added more corals over the next year with little growth.
Two months ago, I moved everything except the sand over - including the water - to a 90 gallon system and added fresh live sand plus a few more corals.
So, I have a two month-old system with most elements 18 months-old, or older.
I’m hoping to see results soon.
The only things that have thrived is a neon green Nephthea, neon green stag horn Montipora, and a few Zoanthid/palythoa colonies. everything else has shown modest growth.

You're definitely starting each tank with an advantage. New rocks will go through the same as the original as far as algae and maturation goes.

 

[Crafish_ig]

Very much matters. Nothing thrived when my tank was young. After the years now things grow like weeds as you said.

Hi Jekyl what year mark did you find you were at the 'grow like weeds' stage. Tia

 

[Crafish_ig]

N

 

[Jekyl]

Hi Jekyl what year mark did you find you were at the 'grow like weeds' stage. Tia

After a year

 

[SimplyFishy]

With these “grow like weeds” coral will they be slower growth in a newer tank and faster in a more mature tank? Or does tank age not even matter?

Typically....'with age comes faster growth!' That being said your less fussy corals will enjoy less than perfect water and we are enjoying mostly LPS and Softies so I have elevated the nitrates and phosphates.

They are loving it! The key is 'regular DT maintenance' in addition to all the other fun bits (sump)! This is my reef garden and I treat it like all the plantings around the house.

Watch your growth and be proactive which is advice I follow NOW and wish I had with my first tank. It is awesome to watch the rapid growth when some of your other specimens are 'slow out of the gate!' There in lies the rub, given most folks want a full tank, thus you can end up with runaway growth...fun to see, a pain to let get out of control.

Have fun and enjoy...you might just become a fragging" pro! Many LFS give monetary credits if it is something they need or can sell quickly.

The blur of Orange in front of the barnacles is Gladys Kravits, the Midas Blenny. She will let me know when Zoas need fragged if blocking the opening by having a FBF (fish bit@$ fit)! She does the same with any growing Fimbriaphyllia buds that need to be removed obstructing her view.

A Coral Crackhead here so enjoy these wonderful animals and your maintenance! Oh, and the second pic shows how Mrs. Kravits likes things maintained!