Peter Eichler
New member
I've been wanting to make this thread for a while now. I'm now to the point where I've had three well grown in and mature SPS tanks and I thought I would share some things I've learned along the way...
1.) You're going to need need more space between those frags than you think. If you're doing things right and have good growth some corals can 6"+ across in a year or less.
2.) Think about growth forms and possible shading down the road when placing corals. Don't put that super fast growing plating or tabling coral at the top of your rock work.
3.) If you don't love a coral, don't put it in your display! Space will come at a premium so keep save it for only corals you want to stare at for years to come.
4.) You're going to need more flow. As frags start turning into large colonies they will impede flow, so keep an eye on the way coral polyps are moving and when and where it might be time to add additional flow.
5.) Detritus likes to gather in colonies, this progressively gets worse as they get bigger and if left unchecked it will cause problems and strange growth.
6.) Sometimes corals die for no clear reason. Go through the usual checklist of what got you to this point and check all parameters and equipment. If all of your other corals look good don't change something just for the sake of changing something.
7.) Since #6 will most likely happen at some point... Keep back-ups of your favorite corals in a frag tank and possibly with reef keeping friends.
8.) Keep an eye on nutrients.. Phosphate and nitrate being too low can do some serious damage to colonies and hurt colors. As frags grow into colonies your corals will use more phosphorus and nitrogen. Feeding the same and having the same fish load and following the same routine with GAC, GFO, and carbon dosing may suddenly be too much nutrient removal.
9.) If you're running low nutrients avoid alkalinity going too high at all costs (usually 9+ dKH). "Burnt tips" on a large colony that took many months to grow hurts a lot more than when it happens to a frag or small colony.
10.) Colonies adapt to the specific conditions in the exact spot they grew from a frag to a colony. If you think you'll just rearrange things when they get bigger and all will be well, think again! This definitely depends on the coral, but small changes in placement can sometimes make dramatic differences. I moved a very large SSC colony literally 3" to the right; the entire rock and didn't even touch the coral. It lost color and 6 months later is still not fully back to what it was.
11.) You will never make all your corals look their best. One week you'll look at a coral and remark to yourself how great it looks and then you look right next to it and realize the coral right next to it doesn't look quite as good as it had in the past.
12.) Encrusting Montiporas don't lose to Acropora in a fight for space. They can be relentless in their quest for conquering more rock, so be very careful where you place these.
I'm sure I missed some, but this is what popped into my head. I hope that people find these helpful!
Cheers,
Peter
1.) You're going to need need more space between those frags than you think. If you're doing things right and have good growth some corals can 6"+ across in a year or less.
2.) Think about growth forms and possible shading down the road when placing corals. Don't put that super fast growing plating or tabling coral at the top of your rock work.
3.) If you don't love a coral, don't put it in your display! Space will come at a premium so keep save it for only corals you want to stare at for years to come.
4.) You're going to need more flow. As frags start turning into large colonies they will impede flow, so keep an eye on the way coral polyps are moving and when and where it might be time to add additional flow.
5.) Detritus likes to gather in colonies, this progressively gets worse as they get bigger and if left unchecked it will cause problems and strange growth.
6.) Sometimes corals die for no clear reason. Go through the usual checklist of what got you to this point and check all parameters and equipment. If all of your other corals look good don't change something just for the sake of changing something.
7.) Since #6 will most likely happen at some point... Keep back-ups of your favorite corals in a frag tank and possibly with reef keeping friends.
8.) Keep an eye on nutrients.. Phosphate and nitrate being too low can do some serious damage to colonies and hurt colors. As frags grow into colonies your corals will use more phosphorus and nitrogen. Feeding the same and having the same fish load and following the same routine with GAC, GFO, and carbon dosing may suddenly be too much nutrient removal.
9.) If you're running low nutrients avoid alkalinity going too high at all costs (usually 9+ dKH). "Burnt tips" on a large colony that took many months to grow hurts a lot more than when it happens to a frag or small colony.
10.) Colonies adapt to the specific conditions in the exact spot they grew from a frag to a colony. If you think you'll just rearrange things when they get bigger and all will be well, think again! This definitely depends on the coral, but small changes in placement can sometimes make dramatic differences. I moved a very large SSC colony literally 3" to the right; the entire rock and didn't even touch the coral. It lost color and 6 months later is still not fully back to what it was.
11.) You will never make all your corals look their best. One week you'll look at a coral and remark to yourself how great it looks and then you look right next to it and realize the coral right next to it doesn't look quite as good as it had in the past.
12.) Encrusting Montiporas don't lose to Acropora in a fight for space. They can be relentless in their quest for conquering more rock, so be very careful where you place these.
I'm sure I missed some, but this is what popped into my head. I hope that people find these helpful!
Cheers,
Peter
