How much SPS growth are you getting compared to other reefers?

[revhtree]

How much SPS coral growth are you getting compared to others? The answers will vary based on certain types sps but let's play along and see how we stack up. Don't go by your fastest or your slowest growing corals. Let's average it out and see how we do.

1. On average how long does it take to you to get an inch of coral growth on the following coral types:

Acropora - (example) 3 Months
Montipora - (example) 1 Month

2. What do you think is the biggest contributor to your positive SPS Growth?


image via @SuncrestReef

 

[elorablue]

I'm assuming you mean vertical growth and not encrusting growth or is growth, growth?

edit: on the Acros I mean

 

[revhtree]

I'm assuming you mean vertical growth and not encrusting growth or is growth, growth?

edit: on the Acros I mean

No, any way you can get it!

 

[Dolphins18]

New ones usually encrust for me before growing vertically, once encrusted they grow fairly fast.

 

[elorablue]

No, any way you can get it!

1” per month would be 1 FOOT per year!
For those who voted that way I know a lot of pro Acro coral farmers who would like your secrets!! Lol.

 

[Pistol Peet]

My acro's died

 

[Gtinnel]

I answered other because it changes so much from species to species and even individual coral to individual coral. I have some that I would say an inch every few months, but others that I've had for months and haven't noticed any growth.

As for what helps with growth my best answer would be water parameter stability.

 

[BCSreef]

Depends on Acro. Some can grow 1" in 2 month or less. Others take 2 years! All in the same system.

 

[RMS18]

Encrusting happens much quicker and "larger" than vertical or new branch growth. I have some Milli's that have encrusted 1.5-2 inches from frag plug but have not grown vertical at all, about a year in system. IMO encrusting doesn't count when it comes to SPS growth. On average it takes me 4-5 months to get 1 inch of vertical growth on the average acro. Some more some much less.

 

[Sold4jc7]

My growth is different for each coral. Some explode and some are stagnant.

 

[Boloyong]

March 26, 2021

September 19, 2021

according to my observations
the growth rate is primarily affected by a constant temperature and a stable KH

 

[i cant think]

The Only acro I got to grow was a Staghorn (It bleached from an overdose of melafix) and it grew around 3” in a span of 2 weeks

 

[N.Sreefer]

Tried my first tester sps grew 1/2 inch in 2 weeks then the flesh flaked off it guess I'm in the cant grow sps camp for a bit.

 

[Fourstars]

Some take off, others not? I have a WD that’s a year old and still just a nub with minimal encrusting. but then my universal grew to fist size in six months. I don’t get it?

 

[Sold4jc7]

I think the size of the frag you start with plays into growth. A 1/4" nub that grows to 1/2" doubles in size but its still only a 1/2". The larger the coral the more potential.

 

[cocoReefer]

Sps need to be content.... like when in a relationship and you can see the “happy weight” starting... thats acro growth. Needs to feel secure and stable

 

[Sshannon]

It depends on the morph and species imo.

Superman Monti -May 2021

July 2021

PC Rainbow Acro, June 2021

September 2021

 

[acropora4u]

cant grow acropora, have all the best equipment and stable parameters but zero growth

 

[James_O]

Here’s my forest fire digipora progression:

4AUG2021:

20AUG2021:

27AUG2021:

30AUG2021:

9SEP2021:

12SEP2021:

Today:

——

Sorry for all the pictures, but I think that if you show multiple photos with the dates, it really helps it sink in!

—-

Just as a top shot, this was on 30AUG:

And this is today:

Huge growth in my book.

(I apologize for all the algae… I’m constantly battling it. )

And in case any of you guys were wondering why it lost so much color since day one, is because it got bleached in my tank crash. :/

 

[flyfisher2]

Starting to see growth on the “higher end”
Acros just recently. No changes in parameters or lighting. System, meaning rocks, are a year plus. Tank was transferred twice in the last year but used the same water and rocks
Didn’t see I’ll effect
My Green Mille and Blue and other entry level acros are literally weeds and some are now annoying since ‘spores’ turn up everywhere and I need to scrape them away.
Never thought I’d see the day that I’d be trying to get rid of an sps like a weed.
My biggest change since previous attempts with acros has been stability.
Not chasing numbers, MAINTAINING numbers.
Bare bottom is working well for me and makes it much easier in my opinion