Staghorn growth rate OK?

Spar · 05/10/2013, 02:06 PM

I made a bunch of changes in my tank (lighting, etc) about 6 months ago, mainly due to having 0 coral growth. So coral is growing now and starting to look really good, but I am not sure if the growth rate is what I would have expected.

Here are two photos (at the same zoom rate) of the same coral (some blue staghorn), first one taken on January 23rd and the next one taken on May 10th. Thoughts on the growth rate? Seem too slow or about right?

tdb320reef · 05/10/2013, 02:23 PM

Looks good to me. Remember growth is exponential. When they are small frags it seems that the growth is slower as there is not a lot of growth to grow. I would expect to see much more branches in the next few month.

Nice Job!

jasimek · 05/10/2013, 05:03 PM

Growth seems really good. Growing pretty fast

xfactor1315 · 05/10/2013, 06:16 PM

Looks like awesome growth to me but a watched pot never boils. You just don't notice as much since your looking at it every day. I do the same thing lol

MammothReefer · 05/10/2013, 06:54 PM

looks great. I like to check my growth every three months or so by comparing pictures. It will pick up speed the bigger it gets.

Spar · 05/11/2013, 09:21 AM

Thanks all. Good to hear I am on track. There are about 8 baby arms coming off that coral that popped up just in the last couple weeks. I will keep taking pictures every few days to keep a log of its growth rate.

bigchris7226 · 05/11/2013, 02:46 PM

Definatly good growth!!-the bigger it gets the faster it'll grow. Just give it good flow & keep your Ca/Alk levels stable. Here's my stag before & after about 13 months.

outssider · 05/11/2013, 05:22 PM

in a year, you'll be praying for it to stop.

SantaMonica · 05/11/2013, 06:27 PM

Seems very good. Natural acro branches grow 12 to 20 inches per year, and yours looks like it would be about 12.

Dynamic_Reef · 05/12/2013, 05:07 AM

Growth looks great.. I get the same growth with my stags they love FLOW and LIGHT!! they are calcium hogs

05/10/2013, 02:06 PM	#1
Spar Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 2,517	Staghorn growth rate OK? I made a bunch of changes in my tank (lighting, etc) about 6 months ago, mainly due to having 0 coral growth. So coral is growing now and starting to look really good, but I am not sure if the growth rate is what I would have expected. Here are two photos (at the same zoom rate) of the same coral (some blue staghorn), first one taken on January 23rd and the next one taken on May 10th. Thoughts on the growth rate? Seem too slow or about right? __________________ 450g Mixed SPS/LPS Reef (MH/T5/VHO)

05/10/2013, 02:23 PM	#2
tdb320reef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Chesterfield, MI Posts: 1,209	. Looks good to me. Remember growth is exponential. When they are small frags it seems that the growth is slower as there is not a lot of growth to grow. I would expect to see much more branches in the next few month. Nice Job!

05/10/2013, 06:54 PM	#5
MammothReefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mammoth Lakes, CA Posts: 3,442	looks great. I like to check my growth every three months or so by comparing pictures. It will pick up speed the bigger it gets. __________________ Reefin @ 8298' Current Tank Info: 105 Peninsula

05/11/2013, 09:21 AM	#6
Spar Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 2,517	Thanks all. Good to hear I am on track. There are about 8 baby arms coming off that coral that popped up just in the last couple weeks. I will keep taking pictures every few days to keep a log of its growth rate. __________________ 450g Mixed SPS/LPS Reef (MH/T5/VHO)

05/11/2013, 02:46 PM	#7
bigchris7226 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Bloomington,Mn Posts: 62	Definatly good growth!!-the bigger it gets the faster it'll grow. Just give it good flow & keep your Ca/Alk levels stable. Here's my stag before & after about 13 months. __________________ 75g BB sps-6x54w ATI w/LET reflectors-Octopus skimmer-GFO/GAC reactor-mp10 & 2 Kor1400 + MJ mod & 29g sump/refugium. Work at a fish wholesaler in Mpls. Last edited by bigchris7226; 10/15/2013 at 08:00 PM.

05/10/2013, 05:03 PM	#3
jasimek Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Plainfield, Illinois Posts: 692	Growth seems really good. Growing pretty fast

05/10/2013, 06:16 PM	#4
xfactor1315 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 174	Looks like awesome growth to me but a watched pot never boils. You just don't notice as much since your looking at it every day. I do the same thing lol

05/11/2013, 05:22 PM	#8
outssider Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Reseda, Ca. Posts: 1,717	in a year, you'll be praying for it to stop.

05/11/2013, 06:27 PM	#9
SantaMonica Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santa Monica, California, USA Posts: 2,511	Seems very good. Natural acro branches grow 12 to 20 inches per year, and yours looks like it would be about 12.

05/12/2013, 05:07 AM	#10
Dynamic_Reef Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Garland , Texas Posts: 72	Growth looks great.. I get the same growth with my stags they love FLOW and LIGHT!! they are calcium hogs __________________ Rammer Jammer....Yellow Hammer... Give'em Hell Alabama!!! ROOOOooooooL Tide ROLL!! Current Tank Info: 210 aga sps dominant, 3-400 w radiums, 4- ati bulbs 60" , tunze wavebox