New to torches

[MattPLaw]

Hello all, I am new to this all and looking for advice. Below I have attached a quite messy, but informative picture mapping the par in my tank at 70% intensity. I have circled a ledge that is a bit isolated, it is roughly 7" round.

I am thinking of starting my first torch garden on this ledge.
I have heard mixed reviews about allowing torches to touch each other, but my understanding is that it's fine as long as you monitor them and move if needed.

What do you all think about this location and how far should I space my frags?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello all, I am new to this all and looking for advice. Below I have attached a quite messy, but informative picture mapping the par in my tank at 70% intensity. I have circled a ledge that is a bit isolated, it is roughly 7" round.

I am thinking of starting my first torch garden on this ledge.
I have heard mixed reviews about allowing torches to touch each other, but my understanding is that it's fine as long as you monitor them and move if needed.

What do you all think about this location and how far should I space my frags?

They’re best higher up in moderate to medium light and water flow and calcium no less than 400

 

[MattPLaw]

They’re best higher up in moderate to medium light and water flow and calcium no less than 400

The flow is moderate to medium there, and the calcium is steady around 450. So you think they would need more light?

 

[vetteguy53081]

The flow is moderate to medium there, and the calcium is steady around 450. So you think they would need more light?

Unlike hammers, they require more light and feed them Mysis shrimp

 

[VintageReefer]

Torches are adaptable. I keep mine in 160 par on shelves and rockwork. I keep them in 100-120 on sandbed. I see no difference in health

100-120 par



150 par


160-175 par

 

[MattPLaw]

Torches are adaptable. I keep mine in 160 par on shelves and rockwork. I keep them in 100-120 on sandbed. I see no difference in health

100-120 par



150 par


160-175 par

Wow those are very pretty! And they have no problem being that close? I'm planning to get two or three one head frags. I was thinking of putting them about 2 inches apart. What do you all think?

 

[MattPLaw]

Unlike hammers, they require more light and feed them Mysis shrimp

Will they grab the mysis shrimp? Also I have been trying to feed my duncan mysis, but the cleaner shrimp rushes over and steals it all. Is there any way to stop this?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Will they grab the mysis shrimp? Also I have been trying to feed my duncan mysis, but the cleaner shrimp rushes over and steals it all. Is there any way to stop this?

Ahh , the striped burglar shrimp. I had this and I placed my pump in feeding mode (off for 5 minutes) and squirted some shrimp in the corner and shrimp went after it. Then in turn I squirted into the coral and they got their meal then pumps went back on

 

[MattPLaw]

Ahh , the striped burglar shrimp. I had this and I placed my pump in feeding mode (off for 5 minutes) and squirted some shrimp in the corner and shrimp went after it. Then in turn I squirted into the coral and they got their meal then pumps went back on

Lol, I did something similar this morning with general feeding. It kinda worked, I'll have to try the corner.
Thanks!

 

[VintageReefer]

Will they grab the mysis shrimp? Also I have been trying to feed my duncan mysis, but the cleaner shrimp rushes over and steals it all. Is there any way to stop this?

I feed and switch between mysis shrimp and flake food. Good flake food not junk

 

[VintageReefer]

Wow those are very pretty! And they have no problem being that close? I'm planning to get two or three one head frags. I was thinking of putting them about 2 inches apart. What do you all think?

This


And this


Look like this from the front when the pumps are on


And they are actually two multihead torches. The yellow is one torch with 6 heads and the purple is one torch with 4 heads. Side view shows the single trunk for each.



And they have been adjacent and touching since they each were 1 head with no issues. Make sure you leave room to grow…I think 3” is fine. 2 might be ok for now but they will get big in the right conditions. There’s exactly 1 year between these bottom photos and the ones above

 

[MattPLaw]

This


And this


Look like this from the front when the pumps are on


And they are actually two multihead torches. The yellow is one torch with 6 heads and the purple is one torch with 4 heads. Side view shows the single trunk for each.



And they have been adjacent and touching since they each were 1 head with no issues. Make sure you leave room to grow…I think 3” is fine. 2 might be ok for now but they will get big in the right conditions. There’s exactly 1 year between these bottom photos and the ones above

Oh wow, that's fantastic! I can't wait to watch them grow. I will definitely keep that spacing you suggest.
I wa t to plan for growth, not just how they look now.

 

[MattPLaw]

I feed and switch between mysis shrimp and flake food. Good flake food not junk

Do you have any suggestions? I have been broadcast feeding frozen reef frenzy to my fish and inverts. And doing some spot feeding of reefroids and ab+ to my corals. I'd be happy to add supplementary flake food if it is needs, but not really sure where to start.

 

[VintageReefer]

Do you have any suggestions? I have been broadcast feeding frozen reef frenzy to my fish and inverts. And doing some spot feeding of reefroids and ab+ to my corals. I'd be happy to add supplementary flake food if it is needs, but not really sure where to start.