SPS Colony vs an SPS Frag

dwref · Jul 2, 2016

Hey everyone, Happy 4th!
Have a general question about SPS Colonies vs an SPS Frag.
At least with me, if I go & buy a healthy SPS colony, within a wk or so it ends up dead, where as if I go & buy a SPS frag, they seem to live longer if not a very long time. Yes I pay attention to where they have the colony at in there tank, low, high, medium, what type of lights they run.
So here is my thoughts, please I welcome any & all input on this.
I feel that buying a colony you run a greater risk of it not living since it grew up in another persons tank, with there lights, flow, water parameters, etc. then you bring it home, dip it, acclimate it to your water & it lasts like a wk or maybe even a month, but sooner or later it dies. When you go buy a frag, I feel it has a much better chance of living & growing since it is growing in your water, Lights, Flow, Etc. What is everyone's feeling on this??
Thanks

SPS_ · Jul 2, 2016

I seem to have better luck with bigger frags/colonies.

rovster · Jul 2, 2016

Most colonies come straight out of the ocean so it's a crapshoot if they do well or not, or better said "if you can meet their requirements".

Frags especially if aquacultured are tank raised so have been prescreened for success in the hobby.

Diesel · Jul 2, 2016

I second the aqua grown frags, more chance that they will survive in your system, that is if your parameters are spot on at balance.

SPS_ · Jul 2, 2016

Are you talking about colonies grown in another person's tank? If so, I would think a bigger size frag or colony would do better. All my corals are growing from frags, even tiny nubs. Aquacultured definitely has the pro of having a proven track record.

DRoth335 · Jul 3, 2016

The only colonies we've purchased have been from folks getting out of the hobby locally and they have tended to do well. Having said that, all other SPS have been frags and we have had good success there as well. I have not had wild collected colonies before but have friends who have and have had hit or miss success with them surviving (many dead within first few weeks as you described).

dwref · Jul 4, 2016

Seems that "Hit or miss" is with colonies even grown in other peoples tanks. I really believe that its to much stress on the corals, esp SPS to be moving around.
My 2 cents worth.
BTW, Happy 4th to everyone!