How far do you experts space new acro frags?

[mrpontiac80]

For all you successful Acropora reefers out there… how far apart would you maintain between frags if you plsn to grow them out? I am finally seeing growth on mine and as a guy starting my 3rd year in the hobby I just upgraded tanks and have more space. I don’t want to wish I spread them further apart in the future.
thanks!

 

[backbayreef]

I personally leave frags 3” apart, more for fast growers. However, most of mine are glued down with their existing plugs so very easy to move in the future.

 

[mrpontiac80]

I personally leave frags 3” apart, more for fast growers. However, most of mine are glued down with their existing plugs so very easy to move in the future.

I’ve placed mine about 3” apart but I was starting to think they would be too close.

 

[Lavey29]

For all you successful Acropora reefers out there… how far apart would you maintain between frags if you plsn to grow them out? I am finally seeing growth on mine and as a guy starting my 3rd year in the hobby I just upgraded tanks and have more space. I don’t want to wish I spread them further apart in the future.
thanks!

I made the mistake of putting my acros to close together. I was new to SPS and was anticipating having frags die off while I learned more about keeping SPS in the tank. Well out of 38 small frags I only lost one due to shipping stress. I now have mini colonies growing all over each other and I can't really move anything around because they are well encrusted.

I would allow at least 6 inches between frags. I went about 3 or so. I'm pretty sure there will be some coral infighting and I'll lose pieces eventually that way.

 

[backbayreef]

Depending on species though — for example, some of mine just shoot up but don’t encrust. Most smooth skin species (e.g. Hawkins Enchinata) fall in this camp. I’ve found 3” apart from another smooth skin is more than enough.

However, the PC Rainbow and Green Slimer are very fast growers and very intrusive. That’s why I said “…more for fast growers”. So yes, 6”+ apart might be warranted. Otherwise, be prepared to frag more often (which is a First World problem, IMO).

 

[mdb_talon]

I agree it depends a lot on what it is. Some grow very compact and bushy...other wiry and all over the place, etc. When I do a display with acro I always tell myself I am going to put things 8+ inches apart on average. Then about 2 weeks later I have lost all willpower to not add more and just start plopping them in everywhere....so in other words I probably shouldn't have even answered this thread lol

 

[Dburr1014]

I agree, 6".
You can also mount on a rock face. This will push the colony to grow out and away. It may give you more room.
Bad pic of my, Oregon tort mounted sideways.

 

[biecacka]

Also depends on how big you want to grow your coral. Baseball or softball size, then 3-6 inches is fine. Basketball size, then you need more space.


corey

 

[mrpontiac80]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the feedback

 

[reefrun]

Take into consideration how they grow, a stag will go more vertical than a table for example.

if possible, I’d go more than 3”.. I put these 3” apart and after one year they’re crammed in together lol

 

[X-37B]

If you have a growout system like mine then just make sure they dont touch.

For reef scapes most tend to put them to close.
Tha hardest thing to do is see your reef in 1-2-3 years.
If you know what your doing your reef will fill in faster than you think.
My 80g for reference.

 

[flyfisherman]

Have a plan to keep them on moveable rocks, or 3inch plates. Spread them out if you can, with good flow around them. But eventually there is nothing wrong with putting slow growing pieces within 1 inch of eachother.

The dirty secret vendors don't tell you is some pieces will take 2 years to flood a 2 inch tile or more...

Also, get to know the growth characteristics of the corals. Some have encrusting personalities, some don't. If you noticed, many people try to grow certain pieces off the bottom of a 3/4 plug. Why??? Think about it.

 

[backbayreef]

Also depends on how big you want to grow your coral. Baseball or softball size, then 3-6 inches is fine. Basketball size, then you need more space.


corey

Problem is - I want to grow my "high-end" acros to be basketball size and the others at softball size. However, it doesn't work that way as you know. Those acros will be very lonely for years! lol

My "beginner" frags were Purple Stylo, Green Slimer, and a common Secale. I can't stop them from slowing down, taking over prime real estate in the tank! At the same time, they are helping me build a case with my wife to get a bigger tank, so I'm not complaining! ;)

 

[Akreefnewguy]

Depending on species though — for example, some of mine just shoot up but don’t encrust. Most smooth skin species (e.g. Hawkins Enchinata) fall in this camp. I’ve found 3” apart from another smooth skin is more than enough.

However, the PC Rainbow and Green Slimer are very fast growers and very intrusive. That’s why I said “…more for fast growers”. So yes, 6”+ apart might be warranted. Otherwise, be prepared to frag more often (which is a First World problem, IMO).

So my question is. How in the world do these reef of the month people have so much so close together. Are they just that good at knowing what gets along with each other?

 

[nothing_fancy]

So my question is. How in the world do these reef of the month people have so much so close together. Are they just that good at knowing what gets along with each other?

I think so yes haha. Husbandry know how and also a lot of pruning I think is a skill most of those folks have developed over time.

 

[backbayreef]

So my question is. How in the world do these reef of the month people have so much so close together. Are they just that good at knowing what gets along with each other?

Perhaps or I suspect that their colonies are on removable plugs. Most of my frags are on plugs — when I see them encrusting the bottom, I’ll clip and mount on bigger plugs. Most of my rockwork got holes and I can move corals around.

Note to self: drill lots of holes or glue more PVC tubing on all rockwork in the future!

 

[biecacka]

Many of the reef of the month tanks also have very mature tanks. They might not be adding new corals the same way a newer hobbyist might be.
it also comes down to husbandry as stated. Trim some corals back and place new corals in the newly found area. There are many tricks to the trade I guess you would call it. But first is knowing what you have, how they grow, and then getting them to grow! Hahaha
thats the fun part!


corey

 

[Perry]

More the better, even better idea to use a modular approach, individually mounting corals on tiles, small rocks, domes, rubble, etc. This way, you can move them as necessary. All my acros that are multiples per rock, after 1 year, with 4-6" spacing, are now growing into each other encrusting. 3" is nothing when you get colonies :)
Here's an example of my smoothie garden, these are all mostly on domes.
Cheers

 

[Graffiti Spot]

I am only familiar with the older reef of the months which mostly had extra large colonies. Most of these reefers collected their favorite corals (or just whatever they could find) and let things take their course. Yes they were ok with a large space of rock visible for a year. They were not constantly buying new coral fragments and stuffing them where ever they could fit at that moment. Things were not moved around the tank for experiments and things like measuring trace elements and such was not needed.
I am excited to see more people here interested in understanding each type of acropora and how they grow. If your placing corals 3” apart, constantly moving, and fraging things then you won’t learn how they actually grow out. Large colonies (not 3” mini colonies) are better at coexisting together and can be allowed to grow into each other over time. Fragging a fragment over and over will only make the growth form distorted and fragments weak. Let it grow for two years and then cut fragments, you won’t notice they have been touched and the colony won’t have to “recover”. experienced tank raised coral sellers all keep a large mother colony to frag from and not a small 3” mini colony.

On a side note, I can’t wait until people start calling green corals GREEN. They are not yellow! There are very few true yellow corals in this hobby. Somehow now there are fairly few green corals? And don’t get me started on the term rainbow… I feel like these terms have grown popular since the orange filter and blue light fad overtook the hobby. If your curious about true coloration pull a colony that’s colored well and put it in a clear container and take it outside into direct sunlight to view it :o

 

[AKL1950]

Take into consideration how they grow, a stag will go more vertical than a table for example.

if possible, I’d go more than 3”.. I put these 3” apart and after one year they’re crammed in together lol

They may be crammed together, but that looks beautiful and natural. First guy to the surface wins!

mine are 3” apart, but some will have to be trimmed or moved when they grow out, or just get crowded.