Can you manage size of torch???

[duganderson]

I'm interested in a adding a torch to my 28 g. nano but I'm worried about aggressiveness to other coral in a tank of my size.

As the coral grows, how do you manage the size of it so it does not take over in a smaller tank like mine?

Also, do torches require similar light or less/more than a frogspawn?

Thanks

 

[ska d]

I'd say light and flow are similar to frogspawn. The torch will grow new heads so they could be fragged with a saw, but I know they need some space. Those tentacles can reach 5-6".

 

[dixiedog]

I'm interested in a adding a torch to my 28 g. nano but I'm worried about aggressiveness to other coral in a tank of my size.

As the coral grows, how do you manage the size of it so it does not take over in a smaller tank like mine?

Also, do torches require similar light or less/more than a frogspawn?

Thanks

You'll be fine for a while. When it gets too big you can easily frag it, sell it, or trade it for a smaller one. Frogspawn-level light is fine.

Mine has been giving me fits lately because after two years it finally started growing sweeper tentacles which are twice as long as all the others. I'm trying hard to arrange things where I don't have to frag it though. It's just too beautiful!

 

[dixiedog]

BTW different varieties of torch have different length tentacles.

 

[duganderson]

BTW different varieties of torch have different length tentacles.

Do you mean different length sweeper tentacles or just different tentacles?

Can you just tell the length from the frag or does the length change a lot as they get older?

Any suggestions of which type for me or your favorite?

 

[kurt_n]

Tentacle length won't really change as it gets older, but as it grows it will become taller and add more heads from the sides.

I made the mistake of putting a baseball-sized torch in the middle of a 46g bowfront as a central showpiece. It was quite happy and grew fast. Even after fragging it several times, it could send out sweepers about 12" long. Sweepers are longer and thinner than the normal tentacles. It seemed bound and determined to kill a Stylophora that was about 10" away. It stung it multiple times, and eventually I pulled the entire torch and sold it back to a LFS.

I would be a bit nervous with a torch in a 28g. If you do it, place it in a corner with the water flow going towards the corner. That way it should stay pretty isolated in its own little corner.