Fast growers ?

[Dave VG]

What kind of growth per month would qualify a coral to be considered a fast grower? Let’s say for sake of argument they are in ok conditions and have been in the tank for a couple of months.

 

[RyanM]

I get 1/2" a month from some of my acros and montis. I consider that fast. I got a very genorous piece of tan acro not sure of the exact name, from nate on dec 15th or there about and it has exploded. Grows super fast. Has grown at least a 1/2" from every branch from day 1. Didnt take even a day rest from being fraged and moved to my tank till it started to grow. My milis dont always grow as fast but I believe them to be capable. One of my milis, a green hairy mili comes close to 1/2" each month. As far as lps Id say its not hard for them to double in size meening each head split into two every month. I however am not sure how long actually it takes for my lps to split. They split fast at times and not so fast at other times.
I got a 3 headed hammer frag about 5 months ago and its now 14 heads.

I use that as my guide and if I see no or little growth then I move it to a new location and see how it does there.

 

[Dave VG]

Thanks for the info ryan. I wish I had that kind of growth. I'm making the switch from t-5's to MH's shortly in the hopes that I get better growth. I know some people have good luck with t-5's and it's not that i don't have growth with them, I do, but not what i would like to see and other people have. Nate told me i would switch to the MH's side lol and he was so right. It's just that t-5 was what i could afford at the time.

 

[RyanM]

I have yet to see a t-5 tank that looks better than it did under MH's. I cant say from experience but from what ive seen, once a tank goes from MH to t-5 it goes down hill. Not that a t-5 tank cant or doesnt grow coral but the ones ive seen looked much better before they went to t-5s. Ill stick to my MH's

 

[nwrogers]

I like to base growth on a yearly basis. I have had some corals grow 1/2" in one year and some grow from a single branch to a softball sized colony. Staghorns are the fastest growers IMO...

 

[Dave VG]

I have some that have encrusted and that is it. Maybe a little branch growth. On the bright side at least they are still alive.

 

[RyanM]

I also have some that have hardly done more than encrust in over a year. The green mili I mentioned above, Ive had for at least a year did nothing more than encrust for the first 6-8 months. I had it in my old tank and its condition was questionable at best. But since its been in my new tank its growing like a weed.
Is it because my old tank was not optimal or just that it needed to put down a base before it was at a large enough mass to get enough food to realy thrive?

I wouldnt worry to much as long as you see some growth. A coral in bad health goes down hill quick. If your tank specs are in good shape and its getting the right light (LOL MH's) and flow it will grow but it may take some time for it to really start branching out.
I always looked at it like this, Many hands make lite work. The more polyps a coral has the more food it can catch from the water or light. Till it beef's up it will be slow going for at least some corals. Its really hard to tell how well your tank is doing if its a new tank filled with small frags. Get your self a nice sized stag colony and if that is growing well then the others will catch up. If It doesnt then check your conditions.

 

[fish1219]

I not going to disagree regarding MH's, but I'm happy with the T5's I have on my tank. If anyone is interested they can stop by and look at my T5 90 gal tank.

 

[Dave VG]

I have seen your tank Paul it is very nice. I'm going to try MH's to see for myself if there are differences. Vince changed over to MH and I could see a dramatic improvement in his corals as far as colors and growth. There are so many people out there on the T-5 kick not excluding myself for awhile that talk a good game but really do not know what the differences are first hand. After this I will see for myself know first hand.

 

[Dave VG]

Ok so it’s been almost two weeks now that they have been up and running and all I can say is wow. I put them on a 6 hr cycle for acclamation. The growth on that 6 hr cycle in this little bit of time has been incredible. I just upped it to 7 hrs two days ago and the colors are starting to pop now. Just hoping my electric bill does not make me rethink it.

 

[razzmatazz]

what bulbs did you go with?

 

[Dave VG]

Hey razz I went with XM 10K 250 watt. The ballasts are different tho. So outputs are different. See my post STRS par thread for par #'s.

 

[RyanM]

I am very glad to hear you say that Dave. I never had much of a doubt tho. Besides the electric bill, I didnt think you will be dissapointed. Do you like the light it self better than the t-5s? Not counting growth and color. Just the light it self. MH's have a more piercing effect I think. Wondered what you thought about that since you can first hand compare.

 

[Dave VG]

Ryan love the shimmer. Mimics the sun. I can compair it to the shimmer see under water in our pool on a sunny summer day. No shimmer with T-5's and all round bland look. MH's are such a crisp light.

 

[RyanM]

I never once thought about going to t-5's but there are alot who like them. I am glad to hear that they arent all that. Im sure they are fine enough but I want the best for my tank and have always been a MH user. Not wanting to jump on the band wagon as soon as a new product comes out. I usually wait and let the people with more money than I have to do the newest and best things that come on the market. A little bit more electric for a nicer faster growing tank is way worth it IMO. I would worry about the electric anyway. Shouldnt cost you more than $300-$400 more a month