When reef life throws you lemons

[Lavey29]

So apparently one of my older dad bod fish was reliving his young free swimming ocean glory days when he was in peak pectoral condition and decided to slice and dice his way through a few of my largest acro colonies. Of course he broke a lot of my stick branches and caused the rock to topple over splintering the other colony.

So I end up with a bunch of frags again. I was able to add an additional rock and place some of the broken sticks in there for them to grow out again. I actually kind of like the new design better then before. Of course now I have to wait for them to mature again but that's ok.

So when your tank throws you lemons. Relax, take a deep breath, try to limit the profanity directed at your aquatic friend because it was just an accident. Drink a beer and come up with a solution that makes your tank even better then it was before.

 

[mrpontiac80]

My friend can grow coral in his system like nobody’s business so he has some big mature colonies. His methods are not the norm for most as he is always experimenting. Anyway, he decided to throw a few acro crabs into his big colonies and discovered he has a fish or two that really wanted them. He ended up with a lot of frags also :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:

 

[Gribbles]

So apparently one of my older dad bod fish was reliving his young free swimming ocean days when he was in peak pectoral condition and decided to slice and dice his way through a few of my largest acro colonies. Of course he broke a lot of my stick branches and caused the rock to topple over splintering the other colony.

I love your writing! :face-with-tears-of-joy:

 

[Lavey29]

My friend can grow coral in his system like nobody’s business so he has some big mature colonies. His methods are not the norm for most as he is always experimenting. Anyway, he decided to throw a few acro crabs into his big colonies and discovered he has a fish or two that really wanted them. He ended up with a lot of frags also :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:

I had 3 acro crabs for several years but my fish never bothered them. They were so cool in the branches.

 

[Lavey29]

I love your writing! :face-with-tears-of-joy:

Thank you

 

[Lavey29]

One thing I had not noticed after the demolition was how the green digi grafted onto the orange digi.

 

[DanyL]

I had colonies physically crash under their own weight, as well as colonies I accidentally dropped (well, the beaches I was holding onto broke and it fell) when moving them.

And for some reason it always happens when I have zero extra space for the frags :anguished-face: :grinning-face-with-sweat:

That said, for years my method of upkeeping growth was full colony resets - breaking down large colonies into frags, keeping a nice piece for regrowth, and repeat.

This allows me to hold a larger variety of corals than I can physically fit, while giving the opportunity to each to grow into a full colony at different times.

 

[Lavey29]

I had colonies physically crash under their own weight, as well as colonies I accidentally dropped (well, the beaches I was holding onto broke and it fell) when moving them.

And for some reason it always happens when I have zero extra space for the frags :anguished-face: :grinning-face-with-sweat:

That said, for years my method of upkeeping growth was full colony resets - breaking down large colonies into frags, keeping a nice piece for regrowth, and repeat.

This allows me to hold a larger variety of corals than I can physically fit, while giving the opportunity to each to grow into a full colony at different times.

I actually donated some of my large colonies to my LFS so I could have a reset like you mentioned.

 

[DanyL]

I actually donated some of my large colonies to my LFS so I could have a reset like you mentioned.

I think that at some point all reefers realize that growth management in large SPS tanks is tiring, and eventually come to the same solution.

While I like seeing my tank always full and overgrown, it’s also refreshing to reset the colonies from time to time and let the tank be more dynamic.

 

[Lavey29]

I think that at some point all reefers realize that growth management in large SPS tanks is tiring, and eventually come to the same solution.

While I like seeing my tank always full and overgrown, it’s also refreshing to reset the colonies from time to time and let the tank be more dynamic.

And if a fat fish does it for you it's even easier.

 

[DanyL]

And if a fat fish does it for you it's even easier.

Haha that’s true - most colony reset accidents turned out to be positive in the end