Most efficient coral growing process?

[cain720]

Some posts about trimming and micro fragging acropora has me wondering what is the best way to produce the most acropora over time.

Hypothetically, if I have a large colony, and my goal is to maximize the number of frags after 2 years, should I let the large colony continue growing or immediately cut it into 100 frags that would grow out over 2 years?

I know freshly cut frags will take time to start growing again, but how long before they catch up and overtake the large colony? Is there a general consensus or any research on this topic?

 

[jda]

You probably won't find any research or any consensus. For me, colonies grow faster than frags... exponentially. For example, a 1" frag of say Palmers Millepora (random example) might take a year to get to size of an orange, but then get to a canteloupe the next year and then a watermelon the year after that. After about three years stuff needs fragged since they can span a 24" tank back to front, unless you have a huge tank.

Most people don't grow stuff as fast as we used to with elevated levels of building blocks and lesser quality and quantity lighting used today. However, the growth does seem to increase as the coral gets bigger.

 

[Softhammer]

The best way to grow coral is to quit ****** with things. Let biology do it’s thing and ignore most advice without real tangible proof. Elixirs and electronics are not the answer. High quality chemistry (stable), lighting, skimming and water movement has never failed until antsy hands intervene.

 

[dansreef]

The best way to grow coral is to quit ****** with things. Let biology do it’s thing and ignore most advice without real tangible proof. Elixirs and electronics are not the answer. High quality chemistry (stable), lighting, skimming and water movement has never failed until antsy hands intervene.

You literally typed the thought I had as I read the original post... It took me YEARS to figure it on my own. Unfortunately, most will chase magic elixirs, cool new devices, and some new method. Stability, Lighting, Water Quality and Movement. These are the secrets that are so elusive for so many and the keys to growing all corals.

 

[Softhammer]

Amen! The secret that never was a secret is out of the box!!

 

[jda]

The issue is that people think that they are increasing their stability by using media and chemicals, have better lighting by running a windexy-blue LED, have better water quality by increasing N and P above natural levels. At least flow is hard to screw up. If you ask most people who have failed, they think that they did all of those things.

 

[cain720]

The best way to grow coral is to quit ****** with things. Let biology do it’s thing and ignore most advice without real tangible proof. Elixirs and electronics are not the answer. High quality chemistry (stable), lighting, skimming and water movement has never failed until antsy hands intervene.

I agree, but I was wondering more about proportional growth rates of large colonies vs. small colonies instead of practical application in our tanks. For instance, would a 10 polyp colony grow into 100 polyps faster than a 100 polyp colony grows into 1000 polyps, all things equal?

I don't have any intent of really doing anything like this, but the idea of micro fragging got me wondering if there's any research or documentation.

 

[Softhammer]

It may seem to improve things but keep in mind you are injuring a coral by fragging. A larger coral has the metabolic ability to bounce back faster. I would say in my experience the growth rates are exponential. Tiny frags, tiny growth. Big colonies, I can frag dozens of times a year and you couldn’t even tell.