Is growth exponential?

[Jaweeha]

I'm just starting to get into SPS, and I've been thinking...It seems like my small frags are growing slower than the bigger ones, even of two frags that seem to be of the same species. To me, this only makes sense, because if you think about it, a large colony with say 100 branches vs. a frag with 1 branch with equal size to all those 100 branches would only have, say, 50 polyps, whereas that large colony would have 5000 polyps, which should make growth much faster than the small frag. Is there any truth to this, or am I just trying to make myself feel better about my slow growth so far?

 

[saltygeek]

I've noticed this too. The combination of more polyps and I believe more so the extra surface area for photosynthesis gives the coral more fuel for growth.

 

[Gangous]

I've also noticed my 1/2 frags take months to grow a 1/2 inch but I got 2 pieces that where mini colonies and they seem to get bigger much quicker

 

[Atomikk]

Short answer: yes.

 

[tmgrash]

Yes

 

[orcus]

I don't have any real data in mind, but I would think this is true to a point. Obviously it's bounded, since there aren't any corals the size of the known universe. At least not in my tank.

I've wondered about polyp density also. I think the density has gotten much higher on some of my monti frags as they've grown out. Not sure what this means. Hopefully it's a sign of good health.

 

[SPSEMPIRE]

cellular division

 

[sanchoy]

+1.. colonies grow faster then small frags.

 

[SAZAMA]

yes

 

[nvdiz]

i say not exactly, but close! More polyps = more budding = more growth

 

[newbie916]

I like buying colonies, rather than frags for that reason. I'll also pay extra for larger frags or mini-colonies of the more expensive pieces. It's hard to watch a 1/2" frag grow into a 1-1.5" frag over 6 months. Then a fish, crab, or snail knocks it off the rock and you have to tear your tank apart to retrieve it

 

[200mfromocean]

Interesting. I put some wtb adds for colonies on local forum and pm's. No response. Some of local fish stores will not sell their colonies either. I usually did frags on the premis that it is better not to risk it.

 

[cham]

Interesting. I put some wtb adds for colonies on local forum and pm's. No response. Some of local fish stores will not sell their colonies either. I usually did frags on the premis that it is better not to risk it.

Like most businesses, the sum of the parts is equal to a lot more than the part as a whole.

Frag by frag you can sell a colony for many many times more than just a one time transaction of a single colony.

Just basic business for reef shops. They hate me because I usually want the lot.

 

[franklypre]

My curiousity is "does feeding encourage more polyps per sq. inch" I've noticed,like others, when I get a frag and the polyps are few and far between withing a few months the polyps have doubled if not tripled. My chalice has almost doubled in size but the mouths have multiplied by about 4x.