SPS Propogation methods to promote growth

[ViciousDlishus]

Im just getting started with my new tank so I have a few 1 inch sticks that I want to encourage growth on (who doesn't). Ive been investigating methods of propagation to promote growth, and have come across some comments but cant seem to find detailed information or communication on the same.

Encrusting
Ive found the most evidence of growth (visually) is usually found on the plugs where a base is developed. There are likely a number of reasons for this. 1) flat surface for full light exposure and little shadowing 2) develop strong base 3) fresh glue doesn't have a lot of gunk on it that the coral needs to out compete.

Can this be exploited? encrust, break, glue, repeat? This could be used to make multiple frags or to promote growth prior to combining frags.

Combining
As were aware corals of the same type in close proximity will grow into one another if they come in contact. Benefits of same are 1) more points of contact for sturdier corals 2) bigger corals grow exponentially faster.

Could one chop a 1 inch frag or use the encrusted method above to space frags lets say 1/2 inch apart with the goal of thicker stronger coral bases and faster growth?

Mounting
Ive seen sticks mounted sideways and upside down to promote new branches, could this be exploited?
if one had the appropriate tools is there a high survival rate for slicing a stick down the middle and mounting sideways so you don't lose half the coral under glue?

Fragging
Ive heard fraging results in new braches at the point of the cut, is it advantageous to strategically cut at certain spots to encourage this? Is there truth to this?

Interested in everyones experiences and thoughts! I would think if there was a benefit coral farms would be way ahead of the curve, however maybe protective of these techniques.

 

[Ranjib]

I think all the things you have mentioned here are more or less same, except combining.
Once you frag, almost all sps sticks will have to be mounted, and once you mounted , almost all of them will encrust on the base first before growing barnches.
I wont call combining a propagation technique. It happens when two sticks of same or other type gets fused during their growth phase.

There are two basic ways of coral propagation. Asexual (fragging,) and sexual (spawning). Almost all of us do fragging (this include almost all captive propagation). In ocean and recentaly in some of the captive efforts coral propagation happened by spawning (Sexual).

When we discuss about growth promoting propagation, we are mostly talking about controlling nutrients (better food) , and environments (water chamistry, light , flow etc) to control asexually propagated coral's growth.

 

[Ocean Lotion]

Take a syringe and squirt wet Reef Roids on them with your flow shut off. Sps does have a mucus it catches the food with and then consumes the food.