Painfully slow acro growth

[bakbay]

I purchased a few frags roughly at the same time. In 4 months, the Fruity Pebbles, Bill Murray, and Pink Millie more than doubled in size but the Pink Floyd, Wolverine acros, and Rainbow Loom practically stayed stagnant.

What do you guys do to nudge these guys along? I’ve snipped them a few days ago to encourage growth. Move them to stronger light/flow?

 

[Dburr1014]

I purchased a few frags roughly at the same time. In 4 months, the Fruity Pebbles, Bill Murray, and Pink Millie more than doubled in size but the Pink Floyd, Wolverine acros, and Rainbow Loom practically stayed stagnant.

What do you guys do to nudge these guys along? I’ve snipped them a few days ago to encourage growth. Move them to stronger light/flow?

They do what they do.
Some base out for a long time.
Some go right into growing.

 

[doubleshot00]

"Stab them with a screw driver" Chris Meckley

Just be patient.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

have you tried talking to them? good vibes, it could work

 

[Troylee]

Flow!!!

 

[spsick]

Try moving them to different light/flow spot but otherwise they look happy and healthy and pretty ok for 4 months. I have a pink millie from BC that’s still just encrusting after a year…

 

[SPS2020]

As above, some grow faster than others. My Pearlberry hasn't really changed much over a year, but others around it have grown fantastically.

 

[bakbay]

They are in the middle of the tank, underneath the Radion at 75% peak (have not measured PAR). Flow is plenty — middle path of 2xMP40s at 90% Reef Crest. I could move them way on top though but others around them are growing like weeds!

I’m taking guitar lessons and been playing tunes to them. Perhaps my bad notes stunned their growth? Hmm

 

[Troylee]

They are in the middle of the tank, underneath the Radion at 75% peak (have not measured PAR). Flow is plenty — middle path of 2xMP40s at 90% Reef Crest. I could move them way on top though but others around them are growing like weeds!

I’m taking guitar lessons and been playing tunes to them. Perhaps my bad notes stunned their growth? Hmm

Well flow sounds fine… just give it time.. I’ve had some not do anything for months then one day just take off and sprout branches and grow like a weed! My asd rainbow Millie is the latest one..

 

[chipchipbro]

dude, how did you install the bars on the rms mounts?

 

[bakbay]

dude, how did you install the bars on the rms mounts?

What do you mean? My tank is rimless - simple multi-light rms bar across, like so:

 

[chipchipbro]

ok maybe i was checking an older build thread in your signature? I saw an xr30 with 2 small bars

 

[Lavey29]

They are in the middle of the tank, underneath the Radion at 75% peak (have not measured PAR). Flow is plenty — middle path of 2xMP40s at 90% Reef Crest. I could move them way on top though but others around them are growing like weeds!

I’m taking guitar lessons and been playing tunes to them. Perhaps my bad notes stunned their growth? Hmm

I was shocked how low the par was with my radions at 70% intensity when I par measured. Both lights now run 100% with significant coral growth.

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

Patience Grasshopper... I purchased my TGC Redwing as an encrusted "cookie" There was no vertical branches yet, just the top of the frag plug completely encrusted. It stayed that way with great color and PE but zero growth for three years. I had pretty much decided it wasn't ever going to do much, then suddenly it started branching and growing like crazy. It's now one of my faster growing pieces.

 

[BirdFish5000]

Three YEARS?! Sir, you have the patience of a saint.

 

[homer1475]

I have a walt disney thats still just a nub from the original frag I bought 2 years ago. Nice and coloful, plenty of PE, just doesn't grow. Other acros have since tripled in size, and friends that got their WD around the same time have put on substantial growth.

Sometimes they just do what they want to do.

 

[Hurricane Aquatics]

Acros like to be mounted pointing out from a rock. Sideways mounting. Don't ask me why, but every hard to grow Acro I've ever had I take it from straight up to mounting is sideways and it takes off.

 

[flyfisher2]

Proximity is going to be an issue for you very soon. Once they begin to encrust coral warfare will begin. Keep in mind that the slow growers will be overtaken unless you intervene on their behalf. Best advice I can give you is to keep those slow growers protected until they do take off.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I purchased a few frags roughly at the same time. In 4 months, the Fruity Pebbles, Bill Murray, and Pink Millie more than doubled in size but the Pink Floyd, Wolverine acros, and Rainbow Loom practically stayed stagnant.

What do you guys do to nudge these guys along? I’ve snipped them a few days ago to encourage growth. Move them to stronger light/flow?

Play classical music to them and put some cricket on TV.
The growth will seem really fast compared to a game of cricket.

Patience.

I have a Strawberry shortcake which has been encrusting for almost 2 years but it hasn't grown upwards at all.

 

[Reefer Matt]

Some acros like "Walt Disney" are super slow growers. As in years for meaningful growth, in most cases. Eventually they get big all on their own. If you are looking to grow them out quickly to sell frags, then a specialized frag tank with proper lighting, flow, and dosing equipment can make them grow a little faster.

Also, for established (6 months or more and encrusting), stubborn frags, nipping the tips (1/4") off will usually stimulate growth. I don't suggest cutting new frags though. The Disney on the left is 2 years old, the acro on the right is one year old.