Frags vs Mature corals

[ryan_ferguson25]

So it is about time for me to start adding corals to our 80 gal.

My numbers have been great to this point...although I need to invest in a cal/mag/alk test kit before we add.

My goal is an LPS tank with a small zoa garden and some Monti.

My LFS has some beauty mature corals for a reasonable price. Is it imperative to just start with frags? Or is it OK to add the larger corals given my numbers check out.

Thx

 

[mcgyvr]

You can always add larger colonies without issue..
I find them to be much more forgiving than frags and you don't have to wait a long time for them to get to a decent size/fill out the area..

 

[billdogg]

My personal preference is for frags. The reasons are these: First of all, they are much less expensive, and if for whatever reason they don't make it, you won't be out as much. More importantly, buying as frags allows them to grow in to your tank and it's conditions. Not only to larger colonies often looked "placed", as they do grow, depending on the flow in your tank, they may very well grow at very odd angles compared to the rest of the colony.

I purchased all of mine as frags and have let them grow into the tank as they see fit. Many have grown into or around other corals - some are the winners, some the losers, but either way, they look like they belong where they are.

jm.02

 

[RobZilla04]

I like frags also. Cheaper and if you plan right they will fill up the spot. Watching them grow over time is also a part of the hobby I enjoy.

 

[homer1475]

My personal preference is for frags. The reasons are these: First of all, they are much less expensive, and if for whatever reason they don't make it, you won't be out as much. More importantly, buying as frags allows them to grow in to your tank and it's conditions. Not only to larger colonies often looked "placed", as they do grow, depending on the flow in your tank, they may very well grow at very odd angles compared to the rest of the colony.

I purchased all of mine as frags and have let them grow into the tank as they see fit. Many have grown into or around other corals - some are the winners, some the losers, but either way, they look like they belong where they are.

jm.02

Agree 100% :thumbsup:

I just lost 6 acan frags(roughly 300$), I would hate to think what that number would be if they were full blown colonies.

 

[jccaclimber]

I like and generally buy frags for all of the reasons mentioned above, but the definition of "colony" varies.

If you want a basketball sized frogspawn you can shave at least a year off your timeline by buying a softball sized one instead of a single head, and by that point it will look grown in anyways. With something like an acan they just don't grow that fast, so you're going to be looking at a small one for a really long time.

With SPS I get a lot of frags that are tiny, but I've seen shops sell what I would call a mini colony (2-3" square) and I can see how that would be a nice starting point for an otherwise mature looking tank. It'll look goofy for a bit, but will grow in much faster than the quarter inch nubbin that some places sell. Now, if we're talking a decent frag (couple inches high for sps) in comparison to an sps colony that is the size of a dinner plate then yes, get the frag because the other will look "placed" for a long time and generally cost a lot more.

 

[ryan_ferguson25]

Great info.

Thx a lot. .. appreciate it.