Acro difficulty

[ScubaDiver93]

What makes some acros harder to keep than others? light, flow?

 

[ScubaDiver93]

Anyone know?

 

[al abaqueta]

Hey there, In my opinion, it is the varying degrees of requirements based on which species of acros you are dealing with. Some require soo much more light than others and there are those that require more flow. then, once you have figured that out, some are so sensitive to the parameters, i.e. nitrates, dKH, calcium,that they don't reach their full potential as far as color. there is also the unknown, how the coral thrives in your system. these are just some of the nuances of this hobby that I have dealt with regarding the different species of acroporas. Hope this helps. Al

 

[cwegescheide]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11470504#post11470504 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by al abaqueta
Hey there, In my opinion, it is the varying degrees of requirements based on which species of acros you are dealing with. Some require soo much more light than others and there are those that require more flow. then, once you have figured that out, some are so sensitive to the parameters, i.e. nitrates, dKH, calcium,that they don't reach their full potential as far as color. there is also the unknown, how the coral thrives in your system. these are just some of the nuances of this hobby that I have dealt with regarding the different species of acroporas. Hope this helps. Al

I agree with Al. Its a balance between water parameters (I have some SPS that actually look much better with a little nitrates and then others look like crap. I lower the nitrates and then its the reverse) Some corals respond very well to high flow then others can't handle it. Sometimes this hobby is aggrivating that way.

 

[ScubaDiver93]

So what species of acro are easier to keep and what are a little more difficult?

 

[hockeyismylife]

mille is one of the easier ones.

 

[Kip]

"stags" are generally easy

 

[hobbysalty]

IMHO, I also think it is important to think about where the sps came from and how long it has been in that system.

 

[Sullyman]

Monti digi and caps are probably the easiest.

 

[Kip]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11472626#post11472626 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sullyman
Monti digi and caps are probably the easiest.

if only they were acros

just kidding

i guess you read the OP too fast. I do it all of the time.

 

[Acro-Phobia]

If you have a perfect system, they all grow well. Most of us don't so the ones that grow better are the ones that can make use of own not so pristene tanks. Those that have better polyp extensions do well because they can feed well on junk is the water as well as light. Best growers for me are the Millies and the Postratas. The staghorns seem to do well too because they can remove waste easier with less than optimum water flow. That's not a real scientific answer, but one that has been passed down from other reefers.

 

[Phyxius]

I have tried a few acros and out of 3 only had one that really took off. I bought a small Acropora Tenius thats yellow with blue tips and have fragged it off and created new colonies a few times. The other acros are still there but really have not grown as well.
I guess it may be some systems are ideal for one or another and some are good for all and some none......

 

[Sullyman]

LOL, Kip, they are easy to keep though. I did read too quick and just thought sps, not acros.

 

[Jorgens]

My poor staghorn has been thru hell and back considering I'm new. Parmater swings, constant re-arranging and it's still trucking on. Not growing like I'd like it but it's pulled thru some serious rookie mistakes.

I gotta stags are pretty hardy, also birdsnest seem to be pretty forgiving. imho

 

[Ralph ATL]

IMHO, if ya got the lights, got the flow, got the stability (around a year at least), then just control your phosphates to below 0.024. (Maybe nitrates around 0.5, too)
then, it's fairly easy..............

 

[whirley]

CA reactors are a MUST, imho...

 

[Ralph ATL]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11474519#post11474519 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by whirley
CA reactors are a MUST, imho...

disagree......I use 2 part b-ionic with great success!

 

[bluetmax]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11474565#post11474565 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mysterybox
disagree......I use 2 part b-ionic with great success!

Same here...I switched "methods" one time, and everything I had started dying. I have never owned a calcium reactor, but I have seen beautiful tanks with and without them.

 

[Jorgens]

I've seen beautiful tanks with 2-part. But most have dosing pumps. I'm learning the hard way that it seems to be a must. Stability. flow. lights.

 

[ScubaDiver93]

What do you use to dose b-ionic?