Growth records

[Gordonious]

Calfo pushes the importance of careful records in a dedicated chapter in his most recent book and urges people to shave them... Did no one get that far in the book? I haven't been able to find any online from hobbyist or people in the industry. I know there are some documents out there for individual species in the wild, but what about records of them in captivity.

I would share mine, but I have a mixed reef(lots of competition, SPS & Leathers inches from each other) which has had far below optimum chemistry up until the last two months and weak lighting.

Perhaps if no one responds I'll just have to post mine and make it a competition. I know some of you would love to brag that you’re getting better growth then I am.

Jon

 

[ziggy]

I recently found some old pictures of my tank and was amazed at the growth it has had. Most of us look at our tanks daily and dont realize how much something has grown.
It would be nice to have one consolidated place to access telling the growth rate for say a "green slimer" or any other coral in optimum conditions. Although the results of that may depress me and make me go spend a lot of money to keep up.
I applaud your diligence in tracking your corals growth and would enjoy seeing it posted.
Chad

 

[CarlaW]

I just take monthly pics of the tank to keep track.

 

[krisfal]

Growth records on coral I have a hard enough time logging my water tests:lol:. I end up with scraps of paper with dates and numbers sitting next to my keyboard waiting to be entered into my log! It's a great idea but is it really practical/necessary for the average hobbyist? I like the idea of monthly pictures so you can look back and see the difference JMO.

 

[Gordonious]

I take weekly pictures or more of full tank as well as each coral, but like I said my conditions are so far off optimum there would be little point in going back and figuring out how many new polyps, branches, or how many inches of growth.

As far as "practical or necessary", I would say it would be extremely helpful for the hobbyist. If you found out that a polyp of superman mushroom was splitting in one tank 5 times a month and you had had yours for a year and it was the same size and hadn't split once you could realize it was not in good conditions at all. So you would pick up a book and figure out many coloramorphs like lower light and move it. Knowing your animals better you could keep them in healthier conditions. (Plus sell off the other 4 mushrooms to support your hobby. ;-) )

Calfo's book is half about the hobby and half about aquaculture. He wrote it this way to explain to hobbyist that if they are going to want to make money they have to take a different approach. I know there are people that are in aquaculture that pass through this forum, hopefully someone will share there records. That is... if there is anyone out there that actually keeps records.

 

[Gordonious]

Charlie do you have some images you could share with dates? A leather at a certain size and then the same thing 5 months later a lot bigger?

 

[CarlaW]

I am sure I do, but I have to go to work right now, I will get back here later, OK?

 

[Gordonious]

I wish Calfo would have included some growth times in his book.

 

[jadeguppy]

I hope to have more definitive information on this soon. Actually I should say my students hope to. If we get the grant to set up the system, most of my students are excited about running some growth rate experiments on lps. I'm looking mostly at candycanes, possibly acans or plates if we can get them. The experiment will compare direct feed vs. non-direct feed. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we can start in January.

 

[DonW]

I dont use pictures to measure growth just because my skills are terrible. I use a laser pointer mounted on my camera tripod. I put it in the same place every time and measure from the dot to a fixed point like the corner of the tank. So for example my monti cap was set in place and the difference in the measurement in the two weeks its been in the tank is -3/8".

Don

 

[Gordonious]

Calfo are there NO growth records anywhere?