Acan don't grow

[Savoie83]

I have an Acan Lord (have been sell with this name, the head are really small compare to normal acans) and its not growing. I've got it for almost 2 years and no new head have appear.
The lighting was 2x54w t5ho and now 4x54w t5ho. I have move him several time and when higher he lost color. He is now on sand bed. All my other coral are growing and I'm now dosing kalk because I have add couple piece of SPS like 2 month ago.
Param are.
Alk 8
Cal 440
Mag 1300

 

[Savoie83]

Here a picture If that can help. Have been take not long time ago after I got it.

 

[benjc]

I had a similar issue where I bleached an acan frag; no new heads grew for over a year. Eventually I found a spot where the frag was happy and it started coloring-up again. The two heads ended up sprouting 4 babies. All the while, my other acans continued growing.

My advice, find a spot where they seem happy, don't move them around too much, and spot feed them from time to time. Eventually, you'll start to see growth again.

 

[Gundo5000]

I spot feed mysis and growth is noticeably better. Also the thing about not moving them a lot is very true.

 

[Dapg8gt]

All above info has also worked for me.. I would Def start feeding it if you don't.. I've had an explosion of growth on a 2 headed frag that I began feeding regularly.. Same thing with me with no real growth for a few months until I started feeding it weekly.. Honestly the best coloration and tissue extension I see is after new life spectrum pellets lol.. I noticed a few accidentally hit it one day and it instantly grabbed them. It's been about 4 months and I alternate between pellets and mysis.. Seems like they know when I feed the fish the pellets the sweepers come out unlike when I feed flakes fwiw.. Just ordered some fauna Marin lps pellets for my stuff also as the reviews are stellar and it's small and softer..

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

Spot feed is the key to good growth IME. Try spot feeding every other night.
And are you sure those are Lord Acans? Looks kind of like Micromussa.

 

[goldsbed]

You will really like the Fauna pellets. I spot feed my Acans the pellets and they gobble them up.

 

[betamed]

Spot feed is the key to good growth IME. Try spot feeding every other night.
And are you sure those are Lord Acans? Looks kind of like Micromussa.

I was also thinking micromussa. hard to tell fore sure without knowing the polyp size. Same care as an acan

 

[Savoie83]

The polyp size are about the size of pally's. I have a "normal" acan and his head is 3 time bigger and grow new heads. I feed coral frenzy and plankton. They react to food too. I will google micromussa to see...

 

[Savoie83]

Just found this. The same piece that I have.
http://www.saltcorner.com/AquariumLibrary/browsespecies.php?CritterID=2514
I will try the pellet and see if they do better. It also say they need medium to high.

 

[alexx2208]

whats your temp? I have had growth problems in the summer when the temperature in my tank increased.

How old are the bulbs on your t5s, and what types are they? if there over 6 months old, replace them.
Also, MY acans like lower kelvin rating(6500-10000k) instead of higher, if you replace them try to stay lower kelvin, this is jusgt my experience, not rule of thumb, but it works for others too.

 

[Dapg8gt]

whats your temp? I have had growth problems in the summer when the temperature in my tank increased.

How old are the bulbs on your t5s, and what types are they? if there over 6 months old, replace them.
Also, MY acans like lower kelvin rating(6500-10000k) instead of higher, if you replace them try to stay lower kelvin, this is jusgt my experience, not rule of thumb, but it works for others too.

Your wasting money replacing T5's @ 6 months.. They are good till about 12 months.. There has been multiple studies on this and the spectrum shift starts to become a factor @ around 10-12 months.. Some guys run it longer with no problems.. I do annually replacements and stagger them by a week or so.. The exception is if you are overdrive them.

Grimreefer has a website dedicated to spectrums and life span of bulbs also other's have tested including the manufacturer.. If the people who are selling and everyone else them are recommending a year that's saying something.. @6 months your throwing away $ with non overdriven fixture..

 

[ExtremeTang]

I use a turkey baster to target feed mine. They love frozen mysis and brine shrimp.

 

[Savoie83]

2 are 1 week old and 2 have 2month. 2x ati blue+, 1x ati coral+ and 1x kz purple in a tek light. Replace the coral+ from a aquablue special. Its was too white but still a bit too much for my taste. The kz purple have lots of yellow/white.