Acanthastrea rotundiflora questions

[SDguy]

I don't think there is a thread about Acanthastrea rotundiflora (Chevalier, 1975) so I'll start one.

I have a small piece. It is extremely finicky about what I think is water quality. The purple body will turn brown at the drop of a hat. I'm also having a heck of a time getting the bright green growth rim that I know it can have....

What is your experience?

I have mine about 18" down, partially shaded, from 250W DE 14K Phoenix on Icecaps.

 

[SDguy]

I'm sure there are others that keep this coral, no?

 

[ohiofry]

Just a thought:

Is there a more 'common name' that you could use as your title to get better response?

 

[hollback]

Hey Peter. I also have a rotundiflora. It is the Diamondsinthereef pumpkin patch. I have mine partially shaded about half way down under a 250 SE. I also have trouble keeping the purple from browning but the mouths are very bright green and orange. I'll try to get an updated photo.

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15078305#post15078305 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ohiofry
Just a thought:

Is there a more 'common name' that you could use as your title to get better response?

Hmmm, I don't think so. The only ones I have ever seen for sale were called simply Acan rotundiflora. But maybe there are "named' varieties?

 

[SDguy]

Interesting Jason. Have yuou been able to correlate the color to any water quality/parameter issue?

 

[stunreefer]

I've always kept them low... real low, almost shaded to be honest, and they look great! I will second that they seem to be more "tempermental" than other species of Acanthastrea.

 

[Patterson117]

very tempermental is right, I had mine growing with a nice green rim for a short period of time, now it is receding and I have no clue why...maybe because the weather is nicer and I don't stare at the tank quite as often . I too would like more information on this coral.

 

[fishieness]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15077761#post15077761 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
I'm sure there are others that keep this coral, no?

[robably@ they just probab;y call them chalices

 

[Dradee]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15083254#post15083254 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishieness
[robably@ they just probab;y call them chalices

OMG thats so funny.. I was just going to post that I bought this awhile back as a chalice.. but it sure looks like the first picture posted. Is it a rotundiflora?

 

[Scythanith]

Dradee, thats an A. rotundolfora.

I have a couple, and they are some of my most rewarding corals to date as far as colour goes! They happily accept meaty foods but don't relly extend feeders or stingers that I have noticed. Mine definitely prefers to sit on the sandy bottom of my 30" deep tank. I will look through my computer to find some newer picture but I have one of a frag I broke off a couple months ago. Both mother colony and the frag have taken on a pink undertone around the neon green mouths, and yellow dots just above the neon green growth edge. It really is one of the most spectacular corals in my possession. The other one I have has the orange mouths but has an all blue body. I am stuck at work so I will have to get a picture of it when I go home.

Frag

Mother colony

My experience is that they like very low lighting and will not tolerate water parameter swings. Push it and it will receed from the growth edge and tissue will disintegrate throughout the body.

This is what happened when I moved in January of 2007.

PE Mysis feedings and time healed all wounds lol.

 

[SDguy]

Wow, great info and pics. OK, so nothing about my issues is surprising then. I will try moving it to the bottom of the tank.

And water parameters... were you talking about alk type swings, or nutrient load type swings?

 

[Scythanith]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15083695#post15083695 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
Wow, great info and pics. OK, so nothing about my issues is surprising then. I will try moving it to the bottom of the tank.

And water parameters... were you talking about alk type swings, or nutrient load type swings?

To be honest I didn't even want to test my tank parameters after the move for some time so I couldn't answer that exactly. It was minus 40 celcius that day, so I know all of the calcareous tube worms, etc in the over flows would have died. The rocks were dirty as all hell! I have my suspicions that it was an NH4, NO2 & PO4 spike even though I used a good 25% new water...which wasn't tested either so I can't say the dKh, Ca, Mg etc was in line with the saved water. I was wiped, and I was just glad the move was done... so stupid!

I have been dosing Mg fairly hard lately, getting it up around 1450, and my corals are all looking much nicer, and my Bryopsis is on the verge of death lol!

 

[chalaco]

I keep mine at the sandy bottom of my tank. I love this coral. Feeds great and color is an eye catcher.

 

[SDguy]

Figured I'd update here since there is already a thread about it

My frag has been, well, mistreated. And the move didn't help things. Now it's completely shaded, all the way on the floor, in a back corner, with super old MH bulbs :lol:

... and it's starting to look really nice! I call it the poor man's My Miami

 

[doublejesus]

I have a piece of that too, was sold as a chalice but I guess i know now. Mine's just a small frag sitting in the sand bed. Haven't noticed it growing or receding, just sorta sitting there haha

 

[SDguy]

I have a piece of that too, was sold as a chalice but I guess i know now. Mine's just a small frag sitting in the sand bed. Haven't noticed it growing or receding, just sorta sitting there haha

Nice piece! Yup, mine just sat there FOREVER, doing nothing. It's finally growing and colored up. I guess treat it like crap (physically) and it'll love you for it

 

[SDguy]

Powerbrites only shot:

 

[IridescentLily]

I've been subscribed to this thread since your first post SDGuy. .
I'm so enamored with the way the Rotundaflora looks. I WILL be having one with my new tank.
Thanks for starting this thread. *waves*

 

[jrhaughey]

Any updates from anyone?

I picked up a piece from a LFS in NYC for one $29. Its about 2x2 now and doing well, but mine is more of a pale green, but has the orange eyes and a nice bright green growth ring.