So here's a question for you SPS folks about encrusting

[Dilan Patel]

So I have been wondering what is your average time for a frag to encrust over a standard 3/4in frag plug to the point it almost touches the rockwork? I know it is different for every frag but i bet you can figure an average out. For me mine takes a month or two from when it is cut and place in the tank to fully encrust on the top and sides of the frag plug. very interested in seeing what yalls timeing might be. i always worried about my frags not encrusting. thinking that 2weeks is about the right time. Boy was I wrong lol it can take a lot of time for a frag to encrust over a plug.

 

[tdileo]

Depends. Something like a monti cap that takes up half the plug would hit the rock in 2-3 weeks for me. A slow acro may take 3-4 months, but more average for me seems to be 1-2 months.

 

[adtravels]

Acro's 1-3 months (roughly)
montis 1-2 months (roughly)

based roughly on a 1/2 diameter frag placed in the middle reaching the outside of of a 1 1/2 inch plug.

with all params stable in a mature system.

Hard to give a definative answer obviously.

 

[Big E]

If you lay the frag on it's side vs standing it up like a tree stick you'll get faster encrusting of the whole plug as well a new sprouts sooner.

It's simply by the fact the whole coral length/surface area is getting full light. Mounting a frag flat on a rock surface or angled down at a 30-45 degrees from a rock ledge used to be standard practice.

Selling of frags online and people wanting there tank to look like something when all they had was frags promoted this upright stick practice.