Acro Questions...

[Shawnts106]

hey you guys,

I have had some acros here now for months under 440 watts of VHO ( two 50/50 and two actinics ) as well as for 3 hours every day 130watts of DUEL DAYLIGHT (aka: half 6500K and half 10K per bulb ) compact flor's...

Currently just in acros I have a good Fireside colony, a nice quick growing tortusa with great color.. and a bonsai acro from indonessia, as well as a browned out frag of Valida that Im trying to color up.


Because I have had great luck so far, great growth and IMO very good color from my acros I decided to buy a few more from a very very nice wholesaler that has GREAT acros, as well as a bunch of other corals.


I have orderd an aquacultured (ocean) tenuis, some species of turq and purple tipped acro. and some SUPERMAN TRUE DANAE montiporas....

What do you guys think I should do as far as acclimation and light adjustment... Im not thinking I should have to worry about a photoacclimation period because im keeping them under VHO's...

but as far as WATER acclimation.. what are your thoughts.. I hear some people say that they just pick them up and stick them in after they slime a little while.


I run a ASMG2 skimmer 24/7.. which I believe to be a good part of my success so far.

tank is 75gallons.


let me know.


ALSO, at work I have a 100gallon (6feet) SPS, frag etc... system.
It is lit by (2) 400watt BLUELINE brand 20,000K MH bulbs and 2 6 foot 160watt 50/50 VHO's.
Running a new Coralife Needlewheel skimmer, does a great job IMO.

As far a photoacclimation what are your thoughts?
Im thinking of keeping some of them there.. I also have a Acanthastrea Lordhowensis RED and MINT GREEN stripped comming... Im wanting to keep at work for a little while.
I also have one or two other acros I will be keeping under these lights... what do you guys think as far as photoaccliation for them?

I have heard that too much light at once causes acros to bleach or necros, and too little light not fast enough causes them to brown out.

 

[Shawnts106]

post bump

 

[MiddletonMark]

IMO, for water acclimitization - I vary that depending on the coral genus.

Acropora, esp sliming types, I'll place out of water for 10 minutes or so [never timed myself] and then place in the tank, after floating for a good while in the sump to acclimate to temp.
Montipora, IME with dipping/etc, is more sensitive. I do my slower acclimatization with that - float as above, then I set up a drip loop, pour a couple gallons of new salt water in the sump, and do a very very slow couple gallon w/c into the new coral's bucket
Others, depends on the coral. While I've had little issue moving corals tank to tank in my house with no acclimatization - for corals that seem sensitive, not in perfect health [new from ocean/wholesaler] ... I prefer to protect my investment.
Nevermind inspect thoroughly for pests, put in QT and inspect further ... but I'll often use that time to grab a flashlight and know every inch and cranny of the new coral. A hour or more of dripping is just more time to check it out.

My 2 cents.

Light acclimatization - if you've got good conditions, coloring it back up shouldn't be a huge issue. Unless coming from a buddy's tank whose lighting I know [or my QT], I place it fairly low. IMO I'd go gradual vs. otherwise ... I'd rather be patient than sorry.

 

[MiddletonMark]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7999458#post7999458 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shawnts106
post bump

Be patient. While you were bumping, I was typing ... Either that, or I'll start posting 4 word replies :lmao:

 

[Shawnts106]

Currently just in acros I have a good Fireside colony

I mean Subulata, aka Cerise?
Yellow/green with blue/purple tips.


Would you recommend acclimating Acros VIA drip method?

 

[MiddletonMark]

Is it a type that slimes much, would be exposed at high tide in the wild?




If it seems in any sense in poor health, or coming from anything beyond a stable environment it's been for a few months [IMO ocean doesn't count] ... I'd consider dripping.
IMO, I've never heard of having a slow acclimatization being a huge problem, just inconvenient.

But as I normally treat all new Acropora with interceptor in a bucket ... I'm already doing a 6 hour process before it goes to my non-Acro tank for a few weeks and further inspections [for wild corals, LFS corals, all but tanks I know myself].
And in that case, and normally because I value the coral - if it's an `unknown' coral variety/morph to me, I'll take everything gradual. I plan to have it many years [decades?] so an hour or so dipping, more hours treating, weeks QT-ing ... no big deal IMO.

Better safe than sorry. Nevermind these are precious, unique coral morphs brought across the world for our enjoyment. It deserves the best chance I can give it.

That said - once I had it healthy and doing well for a few months - I'll move it from the QT to my main tank [if Acropora, often if other too] without any acclimatization. Haven't had an issue with a healthy coral going from healthy tank to another. But with new corals IMO you don't know you have it coming from a healthy tank, nor in great health [shipping itself is some stress].

/end rant

 

[Shawnts106]

Thanks for the advise.. Ill definatly drip considering they are comming from the ocean where they are aquacultured.


As far as the ones that I would be putting in the 100gallon with 2 400watt 20K MH and 2 160watt 50/50 VHO's...

what kind of photoaccliation would you suggest?

We use shade cloth... I was thinking, drip them in for a number of hours, put them in and put the shade cloth over them for about 4 days.. then take it off...

too quick?

 

[MiddletonMark]

I'd put them lower in the tank for a week or two, then move up for a week or two, then remove shade. Just my take, but I'd assume photoacclimatization [done super safe] to be a month or so process.

Others might have experience to contradict mine - to be honest, I don't have a huge amount of experience with wild/ocean Acropora importation.

 

[Shawnts106]

well... you know to think of it, considering they are comming from the ocean, as aquacultured's... I wouldnt think they would require a Photoacclimation time because they are use to all the PAR the sun shoves out on them... and considering they are being put under 20K's with (compaired) low par... I wouldnt think you would have to photoacclimate them?

 

[MiddletonMark]

But they could come from 3' under, or 25' under in somewhat turbid water. How to know?

Perhaps there'd be no problems, but IME it's hard to harm a coral with too little - at least for the short term. I lean conservative in my practices, maybe 6" [or more] under it's final planned destination. Never know, it might tell you something else after you've had it for a while.

Most our tanks, IMO, have shifting PAR #'s that can vary a lot in a small area. The little I've seen others play with a PAR meter or done it myself - I'm always a bit suprised how small differences make a big deal.

And in the end, it's going to either change colors, lose colors, or look great in your tank. Hard to know without trying, but sometimes a good bit of time is required to see a coral's full potential. IMO

Reply with what you get, how it goes ...
And remember I might be good at sounding like I know a lot, but all I know is the corals I kept ... just as anyone else. Less of course than those with tanks big enough to be buried in :lmao:

Best of luck. I've got two awesome mariculture/ocean-aquaculture Acropora that are among my favorites - hope these become yours.