My Experience with Coral Growth in My Reef Aquarium

As a serious hobbyist for many years in the field of reef aquarism, the question of coral growth is perhaps one of the most captivating aspects of this hobby. Seeing the slow, but continuous, increase of such lovely organisms is rewarding and satisfying, demanding time and diligence.
Stable water quality is one of the most important factors for coral health and growth. Practice has shown that routine water changes, keeping measurements of pH, and salt, and using high quality filtration equipment all help create an ideal environment for my coral.

There are at least some factors that lighting plays a role in, and I´ve tested different lighting conditions to find out optimal lighting conditions for my corals. I have noticed that for my corals, light of specific spectrum within an LED regime of such light is best, and I adjust the intensity and duration of exposure to the light for the particular demands on each species of coral.LED lights provide a spectrum of light closer to natural sunlight than other options for artificial lighting and the light can be modulated to provide a spectrum of different wavelengths that promote coral growth and enhance coral coloration.
Corals need a stable 75 to 82 degree (23 to 29 degrees) ambient temperature to maintain their health and survivability. I adhere to the use of a stable temperature controller to measure water temperature in the aquarium and regulate the water temperature within the acceptable temperature range for my corals.

In the light at the end of the story, I demonstrated that an optimal ratio between nutrients, in particular nitrates and phosphates, is necessary for coral growth. At times I make up the composition of the nutrient in the aquarium with the aim to adjust feeding and filtration to still work in a balanced way.
In my own experience, growth rates of coral can be highly variable depending on the species, with some coral species growing only a few millimeters per year, and others growing as much as a few centimeters. I have tried also coral propagation methods (e.g., coral fragmentation) in order to create new coral colonies.

Coral rearing in my reef aquarium has been both satisfying and fulfilling, an activity that has required perseverance, labor and a willing plunge into the wonder and diversity of this peculiar and marvelous community of organisms.

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