Is there a secret to getting coral to grow faster?

[Subsea]

Which kelp concentrate do you use? The picture isn't showing up for me.

 

[jackson6745]

This is just a curiosity question. I have seen some people on here who have frags turn into these massive colonies quickly and others whose coral growth seems slow but steady. I am wondering if there is a secret to making coral grow fast or if it is just on a case-by-case basis.

IME it’s an energy thing. More light and more nutrient processing has a faster metabolic rate. A tank with more light and more feeding that maintains the same nutrient level as a tank with less light and feeding will have much faster growth in general. More nutrient availability to coral, higher bacterial populations, and more light for more photosynthesis which also drives the ph higher in a reef IME. There are countless variables and exceptions where corals will actually grow faster in the lower energy tank but this is the gist of it.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

This is just a curiosity question. I have seen some people on here who have frags turn into these massive colonies quickly and others whose coral growth seems slow but steady. I am wondering if there is a secret to making coral grow fast or if it is just on a case-by-case basis.

Raise ph. Even if but.1-.2

 

[X-37B]

Stability, lighting, flow = success/growth, imo.
I prefer a Carx for my larger, 150g, system.
I run esv 2 part on my 2 other, 50g systems.

I have ran DSR EZ-Trace for the last 7 on all systems along with esv Strontium once a week.

DSr Trace has;
Magnesium
Potasium
Sulphate
Boron
Iodine
Manganese

Past icp has shown all elements in range so I have stuck with it over the years. I add it to my ato res so its being dosed continualy throughout a day.

Great growth observed on all corals.

I do minimal WC's of 5% every 2-3 months and run an alk of 7-7.5.

Current 7 month old ext 170 growth on a WD.

 

[FrugalReefer]

Stable parameters and conditions and "having a long fuse", a really long one.

 

[kevgib67]

Talk to them daily, compliment their colors and movement. Try to be as encouraging as possible.

 

[KrisReef]

There are 556 reef additives that claim to boost coral growth. The secret is to use them all!

I tried this and eventually I didn’t have to do water changes, there was no room left in the sump for more water.

 

[bobnicaragua]

The secret to fast SPS growth is high PH.

Set up the tank as textbook as possible. Stable water parameters with a constant maintenance routine. Broad light spectrum and minimal shadowing. Strong random flow.

Then do everything you can to increase PH and minimize the nightly PH drop.

I run an outside airline to the skimmer, dose kalkwasser at night, run a refugium, and keep windows cracked when weather permits.

An air exchanger would be next level!

 

[Uncle99]

What type of dosing for a 32.5 gallon.

You can maintain 0.03ppm to 0.05ppm iodine safely in reef aquaria, I’ve used Seachem iodide for a decade. Doesn’t seem to last more than 3-4 days.
This mirrors the amount found in sea water.