How Long Does It Take This Stuff To Grow Already.........like Watching Water Boil

drrich · #1 09/24/2007, 06:45 PM

I dont know what I am doing wrong, maybe looking at my tank on a daily basis, I cannot see a change.

I run a 250 geisemann 13.5K over an 18" deep custom 45 gallon tank.

I have great flow, and my parameters are excellent with no phosphates, nitrates or nh4.

My acros have white tips, which I have been told means that they are growing, but it is insignificant to me.

What SPS grows fastest, and how fast. I'm tired of having "frags", and have had them for for almost 7 months.

What's going on, should I change bulbs?

Rich

Treg · #2 09/24/2007, 06:58 PM

I wouldnt. Unless they are old.

It's Not my favorite bulb for color but That is a great bulb for growth IME.

Look up some bleaching photos and make sure that isnt what the white is. If a coral is bleached it wont grow much if at all.

I've got all frags in my new tank, Some I have had for over a year and they are also slow going. After they get a good base laid down they can take off. Some corals are just very slow growers and thats why you see the high price for frags.

A lot of monties tend to grow quick, Caps are probably the fastest.
Milliporas can grow rather quick also.

And sometimes growth sequence photos will help...

ScubaTC · #3 09/24/2007, 07:10 PM

How old are your bulbs?

What is your CA and ALK levels?

How often do you perform water changes?

What type of SPS do you have?

As Treg said, caps are probably the fastest.

Also highly recommended, take pics at least once a month of each frag. It's hard to notice growth on some without having a reference.

drrich · #4 09/24/2007, 07:42 PM

The only possible problem could be water changes. They are done sporadically, about once every two to three weeks, and then about 20percent.

Should I do a solid 10 percent weekly?

Kurt03 · #5 09/24/2007, 07:48 PM

whats the rest of your parameters

Help us help you

JB NY · #6 09/24/2007, 07:50 PM

Maybe your expectations are too high. 2" a year is normal on many acros. 5" per year is fast growth.

drrich · #7 09/24/2007, 07:52 PM

2" per year?

I don't have that kind of time!!!!!!

sfsuphysics · #8 09/24/2007, 08:13 PM

Yeah but if the acro branches off each branch could go 2", many are quite a bit faster, I had a blue tort .. notorous slow grower grow from a 2 inch frag to a multi-armed beast atleast 8 inches from root to stem in about a year and a half.

Lighting helps, but there are so many other factors which contribute to growth that I wouldn't peg it on one thing.

SPS is like bonsai a very patient hobby

gasman059 · #9 09/24/2007, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by drrich
2" per year?

I don't have that kind of time!!!!!!

LOL Patience my friend

fishfanatic06 · #10 09/24/2007, 08:36 PM

Look at my signature. That should give you some guidance.

reef 'n ale · #11 09/24/2007, 08:50 PM

2" is huge...just ask my wife!

Rob

hansonfam · #12 09/24/2007, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by reef 'n ale
2" is huge...just ask my wife!

Rob

ROFLMAO to funny

Even my wife thought that was good

TomRep · #13 09/24/2007, 11:11 PM

lol that was really good!! How long is your tank set up? In my experience, everyone has better growth success with different corals in their tanks. I myself seem to have the best growth out of Milli's in my tank. I seem to get better colors out of them compared to the people I get them from. I have a frag of a pink with purple tip Milli that completely encrusted my rockwork and started budding new branches all within a week and a half. On the other hand, I have Birdsnests and digi's (fast growers for others) that I barely see any growth in a weeks time. Like everyone else is saying, SPS are definitly a patience coral. Good luck!
tom

HBtank · #14 09/24/2007, 11:22 PM

Makes it all worth it!

I have GSP that grow a 1/8 inch a day. Not quite as satisfying.

fatrip · #15 09/25/2007, 08:09 AM

if you don't like watching frags grow or just need them to be big fast why don't you just buy colonies??? Also you have not told us your tank parameters that are crucial for coral growth.

JB NY · #16 09/25/2007, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by drrich
2" per year?

I don't have that kind of time!!!!!!

You could grow button polys and/or mushrooms?

jcgso · #17 09/25/2007, 08:33 AM

Rich, it can be frustrating, especially when you see each TOTM, with all those huge colonies. My tank is now mainly filled with SPS frags, most 1"-2". I can't wait for growth! My green slimer seems to grow faster than anything else and I have seen decent growth in a birds nest frag. Like others have said, watching the tank every day is misleading, take photos once a month. I will probably start buying a colony here and there to fill in a bit.

Ewan · #18 09/25/2007, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by drrich
2" per year?

I don't have that kind of time!!!!!!

Some frags just grow faster than others. Others take-off after a long time of little to no growth. That's what makes this a challenging and rewarding hobby. If you're looking for some fast growers, ask some local frag growers for some of their recommendations for fast-growing frags. I find that hobbyists that spend time propagating corals know far more about the specific pieces than places that receive shipments from various warehouses.

And of course, frags that are 2nd, 3rd generation captive-raised (frags from hobbyists) will ALWAYS grow faster than pieces acquired online, broken from colonies during shipment and sold as frags. The source of your livestock makes a huge difference, IMO.

check out www.greghiller.com -- years ago my wife and I visited Greg and I asked for some fast growers. I came home with some pieces that I swear grew in the bags while I was driving home on the interstate.

-E.

Horace · #19 09/25/2007, 09:23 AM

Dude, it takes a good 2-3 years to have a tank grow from frags to decent size colonies. There is a reason that fully grown SPS tanks are so prized....they take alot of care/patience to create a mature tank. If you need to see growth, my suggestion is to take LOTS of pictures. Trust me they are growing, but you just dont notice it. Every time my parents come see my tank (once every 3-4 months) they always note how muich stuff has grown, but I dont see it....I have to refer to pictures to see it.

kev apsley · #20 09/25/2007, 10:28 AM

get some green and purple slimmers, most stags are fast growers

drrich · #21 09/25/2007, 10:43 AM

Thanks for the advice.

I'll take lots of pictures.

Canarygirl · #22 09/25/2007, 01:33 PM

The absolute SLOWEST grower in my tank is a frag of "blue monster" which I believe is an austera. It has grown maybe a quarter inch in 5 months. Second slowest is "LE Ultimate Blue," which also seems to be doing nothing. Red Hyacith, third slowest.

The fastest are all the milleporas, the Cali tort, and the purple-tipped stag. Monti-caps are fast too.

There is a really huge difference between the slow ones and the fast ones.

Johnsteph10 · #23 09/25/2007, 01:48 PM

It sounds like this may not be the hobby for you if you aren't willing to be patient.

Nothing good happens quickly in a reef tank.

drrich · #24 09/25/2007, 02:48 PM

If I knew they were in fact growing, then I would be fine with waiting.

Canarygirl · #25 09/25/2007, 02:51 PM

Quote:

If I knew they were in fact growing, then I would be fine with waiting.

Yeah--that's exactly how I feel about my blue monster and alleged LE Ultimate Blue (doesn't look like one at all...dark grey- blue skeleton with green coralites)