Frags vs. Colony

J

Justin/TiV

New member
I purchased quite a few frags as I thought it would be fun to see them all grow...and I like mounting them kinda sideways instead of strait up.

But a friend was telling me that the success rate of colonys doing well vs. frags was a big difference. Meaning that if I buy coloys I have a better chance of 100% survival

What are your thoughts on that
 
I think your friend has it mixed up.

Frags have the greatest rate of survival because many of them are 3rd and 4th generation. They have come from other corals that have adapted to closed system conditions.

Colonies on the other hand are usually wild.
Many people have a hard time maintaining the vibrant colors.

I would stick to frags.

My tank was started from all frags and is doing great.
Never lost an SPS.
 
I prefer small colonies for a different reason. From my observations over the last year I've noticed something about coral growth with regards to overall mass. It seems like its almost exponential. As it gets bigger, it seems to get bigger faster. They may be some kind of explanation regarding the nature of polyps and how they divide, but I don't know.
When I get a frag (ie 2" branch) its going to take 6-9 months for it to get some branches and encrust. Where as if you have a small colony with some branches, boy that sucker is going to get big quick. Within 9 months you have medium colony with 20-30 branches. Since the cost of a frag is usually say 15$, and a small colony of that same thing would be $40ish. I'd rather pay the extra money. I guess I'm inpatient. I view frags more as a way to backup your corals, and to trade\give away to hobbyists.
 
kabboord the reason colonys grow so much faster is that there is more surface area to grow. look at it this was. if you have to polyps and they split. you will have for. then in the same time it took them to split to 4 they split to 8, then 16 then 32 and so on. the same amount of time and the same rate of growth. there is just more to grow from.
does that make sence.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6567897#post6567897 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SunnyX
I think your friend has it mixed up.

Frags have the greatest rate of survival because many of them are 3rd and 4th generation. They have come from other corals that have adapted to closed system conditions.

Colonies on the other hand are usually wild.
Many people have a hard time maintaining the vibrant colors.

I would stick to frags.

My tank was started from all frags and is doing great.
Never lost an SPS.
Click to expand...
I agree with all of this. :)

Frags will survive best.

My tank pretty much all started from frags, or from small colonies/really large frags. I think for the most part, the corals I've added that I've been the least happy with have been the occasional rare wild colony I added that I "had to have." :rolleyes:

What's the rush for having your corals grow so fast? Before you know it, they're going to be growing into eachother anyway. Not that that's a bad thing. :)
 
I'd go with frags, that way they will grow and adopt to YOUR tank conditions, not someone elses. A colony from the wild or from someone elses tank may have completely different growth patterns than that which would grow in yours.
 
Another good point about frags, as someone has stated above, is the many different growth colors and variations.

Where is the fun in going out and buying big colonies?
I am in this hobby for the challenge.
If I wanted to have a full reef I would pack my tank with full grown colonies.

The longer it takes for your tank to grow and mature, the more you will appreciate it.
 
I agree watching frags grow can be like watching paint dry sometimes.
I started my tank from all frags 11 months ago, and just now have some coral that are small colony sized. It's great when they do get to that size, then the growth really takes off :)

I also like the fact you are not taking coral from the wild. Now if we could only breed fish and inverts so easily...
 
Re: Frags vs. Colony

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6567818#post6567818 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Justin/TiV
But a friend was telling me that the success rate of colonys doing well vs. frags was a big difference. Meaning that if I buy coloys I have a better chance of 100% survival
Click to expand...

I prefer buying colonies myself (I am too impatient for this hobby sometimes ;)) but I disagree with your friend.

Frags will grow a colony that is in a form that is adapted to the environment in your tank, and be healthier in the long run.

Colonies may have already grown into a growth form that is incompatible with your tank and not thrive or die.

Plus all the other good reasons listed above ;)
 
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Here's my input.

I somewhat disagree with the majority here. Personally, I like colonies as with paint, "I don't like to watch it dry". I am into reefs for the enjoyment and not just the constant tinkering of things.

With that said, I strongly disagree with everyone and their brother putting their hands into the ocean. But, if you can find a source that has captive bred or aquacultured coral colonies then I believe that is the way to go. I can't see how a frag has any better of a chance than a colony if they are both grown in the same location.

Personally, I like to get colonies from matured tanks or ever LFS that have had mother colonies for a few years that they have used to frag off of.

Mike
 
One of my LFS. Plus, like I said, there are people always tearing down their tanks and selling of full colonies.

Mike
 
Other reefers sell colonies :)
I have. Not super often, but if you put word out and offered a decent price - in time they'd show.

Personally, I agree with many of the above - have had best luck with frags. Beyond the lack of import/harvest from the reef - I've just had better luck finding growth/color success with them. At least for aquacultured frags ... I've also gotten `wild frags' that some places sell and am less impressed by them, very much so.

The pride that comes with growing frag to colony is something I enjoy in this hobby. To me it's a lot of personal happiness/pride growing the whole darn thing from a little piece. Takes far longer, but `the journey' is part of what I love about this hobby. Watching my green slimer go from 1.5" frag to 12" across in 2.5 years puts a smile on my face every time I see it, despite it being a common coral. No one else has one grown out just like mine - but IMO I see the same wild corals come through the LFS weekly at times.

Anyway, just my personal take on it. I'm frago-centric.
 
I started out with frags due to cost too. But I recently started getting small colonies and, value wise, it's more economical for sure. Plus you can frag it sooner and make some money back as well.

Plus I too am impatient sometimes! Albeit, my tank is only 3 months old now. I figure I can get a few more small colonies of acros, then I'm gonna sit back and let stuff grow out.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6568501#post6568501 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kabboord
Since the cost of a frag is usually say 15$, and a small colony of that same thing would be $40ish. I'd rather pay the extra money. I guess I'm inpatient. I view frags more as a way to backup your corals, and to trade\give away to hobbyists.
Click to expand...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6569180#post6569180 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lordhelmet
kabboord the reason colonys grow so much faster is that there is more surface area to grow. look at it this was. if you have to polyps and they split. you will have for. then in the same time it took them to split to 4 they split to 8, then 16 then 32 and so on. the same amount of time and the same rate of growth. there is just more to grow from.
does that make sence.
Click to expand...

Yes, that would be 'exponential growth' Thats how exponents work, and thats why I said the growth 'appeared exponential'.
 
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