[Pinkheine]

Fast growers -vs- Slow growers

What time frame is used to determine one -vs- the other? Six months? A year? Multiple months/years?

I was just wondering what time frame people were talking about when referring to a fast growing coral as opposed to a slow growing coral.

I notice quiet a bit of growth on everything my tank, but I have no idea if any of it is considered fast or not. Or how to even determine it If any of this makes any sense at all....

Also what variables are considered when determining fast -vs- slow... dosing, lighting, or what the coral would do in it's natural environment?

[masterswimmer]

Every coral is going to be different. Not only in the sense that each has it's own growth rate, but the parameters within each glass box varies and will effect the slow vs. fast or even idly slow growers.

I've seen some in systems for years that do not change at all in size. Others I see growth from week to week.

swimmer

[Pinkheine]

Quote: Originally Posted by masterswimmer Every coral is going to be different. Not only in the sense that each has it's own growth rate, but the parameters within each glass box varies and will effect the slow vs. fast or even idly slow growers. I've seen some in systems for years that do not change at all in size. Others I see growth from week to week. swimmer

Kind of what I figured. I have heard or read, what have you, people saying fast grower etc. and just wondered how exactly people come to that determination. FF>> buttons would be nice, but I have patience, like to see successful growth without messing with things and just keeping parameters where they should be. I guess it really doesn't matter I was just curious.

[NaCl-H2O]

It varies from specie to specie, but there are variables that can and will effect the growth rate of many corals

1. Water Quality
2. Presence of Mg, Ca, and Alkalinity. (especially important for calcifying corals)
3. Age
4. Lighting
5. Water Flow
6. Stability (zero water parameter fluctuation over a long period of time)
7. Natural occurring food sources (ie. bacteria, pods, etc.)

This is just a small list of the things that I found to be important in our grow out system.