Maximize coral growth

[SWQuest]

Hello everybody I have been looking for other ways to try and maximize my Sps coral growth. Besides good husbandry, lighting, chemistry, etc. I was reading an article that was talking about how they noticed when they frag their corals they grow back faster and with more branches. Is this true? What are your experiences with this?
Thanks

 

[Denadai]

I was reading an article that was talking about how they noticed when they frag their corals they grow back faster and with more branches. Is this true? What are your experiences with this?
Thanks

More branches it´s true, but if they grow faster I´m not sure yet

Best Regards

 

[SWQuest]

Cool thanks for the quick response

 

[nvdiz]

its true to an extent

 

[Felixc395]

What's your temp at? Do you feed? Higher temperature in theory could speed up enzymes and increase metabolic functions therefor increasing growth. But I probably wouldn't recommend it if your temp is high already or if you don't want to risk anything! Hope you find your answer!

Maybe feeding more too! What lights do you have?

 

[acroholicreefer]

I was reading an article that was talking about how they noticed when they frag their corals they grow back faster and with more branches.

Yep, more surface area for light to hit the coral and allows for better flow patters. This is the reason why it is best to glue the frags flat on the plug vs standing straight up.

Fragging will also stimulate meiosis. I have seen corals go dormit for odd reasons but a few snips kicks meiosis back in and they seem to start growing better.

Of course, if you want to maximize acropora growth, you have to "walk that line" between a high nutrient and a low nutrient system. I like being on the high end vs the low end and my corals thank me for doing this.

 

[nvdiz]

not too sure about the post 6.

meiosis is the process of creating sex cells. a large portion of the coral we keep in the aquarium undergo asexual reproduction. so even if it does stimulate meiosis, they would just release the sex cells and probably never fertilize (btw this happens only once a year in the wild).

anyways, i think its more of a concept called compensation. a lot of plants undergo the same thing (yes i know coral are not plants).

 

[acroholicreefer]

not too sure about the post 6.

meiosis is the process of creating sex cells. a large portion of the coral we keep in the aquarium undergo asexual reproduction. so even if it does stimulate meiosis, they would just release the sex cells and probably never fertilize (btw this happens only once a year in the wild).

anyways, i think its more of a concept called compensation. a lot of plants undergo the same thing (yes i know coral are not plants).

It has been a while since my last biology class. Mitosis, my mistake. I am ready to be caned for that error.

 

[sonnus]

I have seen corals go dormit for odd reasons but a few snips kicks meiosis back in and they seem to start growing better.

I agree, I have had acros take off after fragging. I've also had dormant corals that the frags have take off like crazy but the original colony stays dormant. I've also stunted growth from fragging and even caused STN of entire colonies.

I think most of the methods above probably make a small difference but ultimately a stable tank with good lighting and flow is going to account for the majority of growth. IMO all of the other tricks only seem to add a small fraction to that.