colonies vs frags for new sps tank?

[akhanf]

Would you stock a new sps tank with small frags (~1-2") and let them grow out, or would you stock it with larger colonies?

I'd save alot of money just by going with smaller frags, but I don't want to wait around for years for them to grow..

With good husbandry techniques (proper lighting, flow, nutrient level), how long would it take for a small frag (acro) to become a colony?

Thanks for the help, about to start stocking up on acro's and I was wondering how most experienced sps keepers started out..

 

[damienkee]

mix?
some in colony & some in frag!!!

 

[MiddletonMark]

I would go with frags, until the tank is a year +.

How long? Depends on the coral, the size of the frag. IME, if it's a 2" frag within a year you have a nice little colony. When it gets to 1" or less ... it can take quite a while.

That said, I haven't seen an SPS tank under a year `old' that really looked grown-in fully IMO. IMO Acropora isn't something you get so that you can have results next month ... IMO, it's long-term you're aiming at anyway.

 

[mntl]

I am a fan of small colonies. I tend to look for specific corals for their growth form and coralite shape this is easier to destinguish in a colony. The small colonies will grow enough to pay for themselves in a short time and you get acro crabs on some . There will always be a couple of frags you will want for some of the more well-known corals so you will know what color morph you are getting. Plus small colonies tend to be in the $60-$100 range for nice ones. This is the same as nice frags ime.

-john-

 

[ReeferMac]

Frags.

- Mac

 

[SunnyX]

Even though my tank is well established I still shy away from colonies.
To many of them at the LFS are wild and I find the frags to be much hardier.

Frags gave always worked best for me, but if you can find small aquacultured colonies then pick them up.

 

[ClownReef®]

Well, I dont see any fun in buying colonies..you buy them and put them in..and then?..lol (makes any sense?)..But with frags, you can see them turn into beautiful pieces YOU grew out of an inch...so theres a sense of pride in frags.

 

[Wazzel]

Frags, from local reefers.

 

[jay24k]

I buy both. If from fellow reefers, I try to buy any colonies they don't want that are nice or too big. You can pick up some killer deals that way. I try to stay away from inch or less frags. I have a 3" blue tort frag that is now probably 7 inches tall and has around 20 branches that are 4 inches. I got that frag probably about 6 months ago. Some grow fast and some slow.

 

[twon8]

mostly frags, but lately i have been buying aquacultured colonies and my favorite is colonies from fellow reefers who are breaking down tanks. The big pieces help to keep interest in the tank until some of the tiny sticks grow in.

 

[Sk8r]

I like the little sticks---I have a 52, and they're pretty important in there. I figure they'll fill in and grow in response to gravity and flow and look pretty good---sooner or later.

 

[curtisvill]

I use frags from local reefers, as I am trying to create a minimum impact reef.

 

[atzak]

you'll have much better luck with frags