Been typing for 20 mins. It's long, so grab a drink if you read it, LOL. Note the time Charles. You said it in 2 lines, but as usual, I went overboard, LOL.
You're going to get a lot of opinions and that's great. It's up to you to decide what you will choose to go with.
Polyp type does not determine polyp growth rate in my opinion. The variables in and around your tank are the only influences which will determine the size, color, expansion and rate of growth. If Butter Bean Palys grew 5 polyps per month for Jo Jo, that doesn't mean you or I will get the same results.
Myself, I don't, haven't and never will believe the statements that a certain polyp is a fast grower for someone else, so it will be a fast grower for you. I and many of my friends have had complete opposite and sometimes the same, but never near the exact rate of growth. It has been discussed and debated here before and I will try dig up the link to share it.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=729863&highlight=growth+rate
Example
If reefer A has a tank that is well established, lets say 10 years old, with 250 or 400 watt HQI's that his polyps have all adapted/acclimated to. He has a 120 gallon tank, with eight 3 inch fishes. He feeds his polyps twice a week with optimal medium to high flow in his tank and his parameters are kept in check precisely. He gets steady to rapid growth with weekly water changes. In fact, he is seeding 6 to 8 inch rocks with one 10 polyp frag each and his growth is covering those rocks, for the sake of this topic, every 16 months. . His growth is just that good. This is very possible because I have done it myself. ( NOPE, NOT BRAGGING, just lucky ) Now mind you, everything I've listed above is feasible. Every polyp you mentioned above, he has and they're growing rapidly.
Now, does this mean that I, you or anyone else will have the same growth as he does or nearly the same even? NO, it's not going to happen for obvious reasons. But that is the extreme.
Lets say you and I set up the exact same systems with the exact same components, lights, livestock, hardware, everything right down to the exact same polyps fragged form the same mother colony. Will you and I receive the same rate of growth on the polyps listed above or the same as Reefer A? NO, no two systems are alike and no two systems can duplicate the exact same results. It's possible to yield similar results. Does anyone have a link to the study done years ago. I think E. Borenman did it, I'm not sure. If I'm wrong, I stand corrected.
"OK Mooch, but come on, you gotta have more than that" . In 1999, I set up two identical systems, nothing high tech, in fact, they were both low tech. I did exactly what I stated above. I gave the systems 10 months of untouched growth. One tank out performed the other with roughly 30 % more growth. Why? I have absolutely no idea, as I treated them equally.
Your lights, water quality, parameters, additives, husbandry, tank mates, tank maturity etc etc etc etc will determine your rate of growth, not the polyp type.
Bottom line, buy what you like and try very hard to maintain good husbandry practices. Keep your hands out of your tank, add some fish, check your parameters weekly, log everything you do. Provide strong lighting, change your bulbs when required, performed well aerated water changes with preset parameters and temp. Do not move your corals around, don't frag unless you absolutely have to as a result of overgrowth, feed sparingly, watch your bio load, provide a medium high flow within your tank, just enough to wiggle your polyps and sway them slightly in the current without causing them to retract completely. Say a prayer, love your tank and treat it with the love and respect and you will receive the growth you desire. Tank maturity will go a long way with added growth. Just let them and your tank mature naturally and you will be happy. This is all I have every done and they never disappoint me.
Long winded I know, and it's only my opinion.
Mucho Reef
