How long do corals live.

[Pewmichael]

Hi All,
I was wondering how long do corals live if you didn't add any suppliments but did weekly water changes with a good brand of salt and good lighting.

 

[MOPAR]

Interesting question. It would depend on many factors like what size tank, what coral type, how large of a water change and even how sensitive each coral is as not all even of the same genus are made equal? You could likely get away with water changes only with a softie based tank. Once you get into LPS and SPS the demand for supplements will go up as they grow. Sure you could keep them alive for awhile on frequent large water changes, but usually the demand will out weight the gain from a water change. Dosing what ever the method will be easier in the end than trying to battle calcium and alk uptake with water changes alone. The corals may live, but will not thrive and I think that is the goal to keep a healthy thriving tank not just keep it alive. I have gone long periods without dosing in the past and it was way harder trying to play catch up then just dosing supplements in the first place. Hope this helps. There is alot more that could be discussed on the subject and there are many ways to tackle this hobby successfully. If water changes alone worked then dosing wouldn't be the norm, but that isn't the case. I don't think my current water change schedule could even keep up with just my coralline growth.

 

[Anthony kolodziej]

in theory, corals can live forever . the oceans water is perfect for them , the earths weather , and other factors limit the life span . like fish or other predators eating them . waves crashing and destroying them .

 

[ReeferReefer]

They have very long lifespans. They can outlive us given the right conditions.

 

[Kungpaoshizi]

The way they grow, the better question would be 'how long does a single portion live'. A coral continually grows, though if you studied polyps you might find different stories. I know anemones live an amazingly long time. Though this has all changed now that humans have taken over and pollute so much..

 

[Tegridy Reef]

I believe those giant claims are like 100s of years old saw this awesome Google view thing and was the largest coral in the world was just a wall of a huge monti

 

[Pewmichael]

Interesting question. It would depend on many factors like what size tank, what coral type, how large of a water change and even how sensitive each coral is as not all even of the same genus are made equal? You could likely get away with water changes only with a softie based tank. Once you get into LPS and SPS the demand for supplements will go up as they grow. Sure you could keep them alive for awhile on frequent large water changes, but usually the demand will out weight the gain from a water change. Dosing what ever the method will be easier in the end than trying to battle calcium and alk uptake with water changes alone. The corals may live, but will not thrive and I think that is the goal to keep a healthy thriving tank not just keep it alive. I have gone long periods without dosing in the past and it was way harder trying to play catch up then just dosing supplements in the first place. Hope this helps. There is alot more that could be discussed on the subject and there are many ways to tackle this hobby successfully. If water changes alone worked then dosing wouldn't be the norm, but that isn't the case. I don't think my current water change schedule could even keep up with just my coralline growth.

Thanks for your thoughts.
As I have a small tank 90 liters, I don't nessesary want then to grow, but to survive. The reason why I posted the question was someone from an aquarium shop told me that corals will only live for 8 months with out supplements. As I've kept corals for many years know that's not the case but do agree with what your saying if you want them to grow.
Regards

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Some of the folks here have had corals for a couple decades. If that's what your wondering. Yes. In theory They will live longer than you.
Good luck with that.

Yes a coral needs supplements. Dosing is about depletion. They absorb food and minerals from the water. In an enclosed system they will use all of it. So the vitamins and minerals need to be replenished by doing. Cal alk and mag being the big three.we all know so well. In more advanced Reefing many micro nutrients and other elements need to be replenished as well. This is usually not for the everyday reefer a huge concern as the dosages are small and replenished by consistent water changes.

 

[that Reef Guy]

Thanks for your thoughts.
As I have a small tank 90 liters, I don't nessesary want then to grow, but to survive. The reason why I posted the question was someone from an aquarium shop told me that corals will only live for 8 months with out supplements. As I've kept corals for many years know that's not the case but do agree with what your saying if you want them to grow.
Regards

Depends on the Corals.

Keeping Acros is much much different than Keeping Mushrooms.

To say Corals will Die after 8 Months of Not Dosing is Silly.

I know a Zillion people that do not Dose.

Yes, they have a higher than average Die off than those that are on top of things but it is not like their Corals Die 8 Months after getting them (And some Die Much Much Quicker).

 

[revhtree]

What's the longest living coral you guys have had?

 

[Nano sapiens]

What's the longest living coral you guys have had?

True coral = Leptastrea (15 years)
False coral (Corallimorph) = Ricordia yuma (18 years)

 

[stevo01]

Using premium salts and never dosing additional elements? My guess would be yeeeeeeeears.

 

[stevo01]

True coral = Leptastrea (15 years)
False coral (Corallimorph) = Ricordia yuma (18 years)

without ever dosing additional supplements, as OP asked?

 

[Nano sapiens]

without ever dosing additional supplements, as OP asked?

Rev was asking "What's the longest living coral you guys have had?", so I replied

I do use Kalkwasser since the Ca and Alk demand in my mixed reef tank can't be satisfied by WC's alone.

 

[Pewmichael]

What's the longest living coral you guys have had?

Hi
I've kept various types of corals for many years without suppliments. Agreed they didnt grow, but they looked good and survived ok. I guess my point is do you really need to supplement, I don't think so. The same can be said for fertilizing your garden, this will still grow and flower dut maybe not as well. I think many people could be trapped in thinking that they must suppliment their systems, just remember that shops will sell you products you might not necessary need to keep corals.
Regards.

 

[Mikemccafe]

I had a gorgonian that I had for more than 20 years survived a fire in my business, and a frog spawn coral that I had over 15 years and this was in my early years of reef keeping they survived while I learned through the early years when reef keeping was relatively new in the early 90's. Unfortunately I lost these coral due to equipment failure when establishing a new set up heartbreaking

 

[pagoda1958]

Pagoda, 12 years old. Started at 6" across and now 13" across and 5" deep. Brancing hammer, 7 years old and about 8" across

 

[Pewmichael]

Wow, thats sounds great. Do you use suppliments .

 

[DanConnor]

What do you mean by supplements? If you are including those to maintain calcium and alkalinity, then the person from the shop might have a point. You probably can keep soft corals just through water changes, but for stony corals water changes can never keep up with their demands, once they attain some size and start growing.

 

[FMF0331]

What's the longest living coral you guys have had?

green slimer acro frag ( 1 hour )

just kidding .. milka stylo ( 5 years )