When Torch's get big and even though you have plenty of room for continued growth do you frag it or leave it alone?

Steve2020 · Oct 28, 2023

I have this Torch that this morning I counted 28 heads and probably more that I could not see. It is an Indo but don't remember what type/name it was called when purchased. It is purple with light bluish/purple tips and florescent green mouths. I am sure he is just your everyday run of the mill Indo Torch but I like the way he looks and flows with the currents. It only had 2 heads when I purchased him 18mo ago. I do not spot feed him. Tried a few times the first few months but he never seemed too interested in the food. Tried LPS Pellets and meaty foods. No go! All he gets now is whatever is in the water when I feed the fish with my DIY fish/coral food blend in the photos below.
Anyways, I have plenty of room in the tank for him to grow so would you just let him be or frag him? I am not into selling frags. I did give away all my SPS because I decided to strictly go LPS and Softies. Wife likes the motion and honestly I do to.
Will he continue to grow or will he max out at some point? Right now he is a little bigger than a Volleyball and approaching Basketball size.

The big guy. The greenish/brown area on the rock is where I removed some shelf rock that some of my SPS were on.

The Big Guy up on top. Two new corals in frag rack Acclimating.

Return Pump and Vortech's OFF.

What I broadcast feed to my tank 2X/day.

Dose Phyto nightly. My weekly phyto harvest.

hexcolor reef · Oct 28, 2023

I wouldn’t frag it unless you want each torch head to get equal amounts of light. 26 heads in 18 months could quadruple if it’s fragged and spread around the tank. I see you have other torches and a hammer on the frag rack so it’s based on what you are planning to do and how much room you need I. The tank

Reefering1 · Oct 28, 2023

Let it grow!! Imagine if it were beach ball sized- amazing! Then start another tank if you want more options

hexcolor reef · Oct 28, 2023

do you blend all that up? How do you portion all that food out to feed it twice a day

And I see no fish that’s a lot of food for coral I like!!!!

AustinBabler · Oct 28, 2023

Following….I want to know more about this homemade food

Steve2020 · Oct 28, 2023

hexcolor reef said:
do you blend all that up? How do you portion all that food out to feed it twice a day

And I see no fish that’s a lot of food for coral I like!!!!

It is all blended up and pressed flat in 1qt freezer bags. I feed what would be the equivalent to 3-4 Blister Pack cubes per feeding plus 1/2 of a sheet a Nori per day. There are 14 fish in the tank. 2 of the fish ( Chocolate Tang and Magnificent Foxface are both 7+ inches and are pigs. All other fish are in the 2-4 inch range. They were all in their sleeping quarters. Lights were ramping down at the time the photos were taken. I run a 3hr ramp up, 3hr ramp down and a 6hr full spectrum. Lights were only at 30% at the time of the photos and the fish are normally at rest about 1-1.5hrs before lights completely off.

Steve2020 · Oct 28, 2023

hexcolor reef said:
I wouldn’t frag it unless you want each torch head to get equal amounts of light. 26 heads in 18 months could quadruple if it’s fragged and spread around the tank. I see you have other torches and a hammer on the frag rack so it’s based on what you are planning to do and how much room you need I. The tank

I have plenty of room. Tank is 84x30x24. My light spread is very good. I am running 4 GHL Mitras 7206's in a perpendicular orientation. The torch has been acclimated to to 360 par ( took a few months ) which is higher than a lot of people keep their Torch's, so IMO the heads are getting plenty of light. He seems to like the higher intensity light.

Steve2020 · Oct 28, 2023

AustinBabler said:
Following….I want to know more about this homemade food

What would you like to know?

AustinBabler · Oct 28, 2023

Steve2020 said:
What would you like to know?

What all goes into that mix? I saw the scallops, shrimp, and various fish fillets..all of that winds up going in the mix?

Steve2020 · Oct 28, 2023

AustinBabler said:
What all goes into that mix? I saw the scallops, shrimp, and various fish fillets..all of that winds up going in the mix?

All the liquids and dry goods get put into a big stainless steel bowl. All the seafood gets food processed and then mixed in with the liquid/dry goods. All the seafood is phosphate free and no additives ( VERY IMPORTANT ).

The 2 brown wrapped packs are a whole octopus minus the head and whole squid.