Acropora Growth Captive Vs Wild.

[kawicivic]

The thing that comes to mind for me is that we strive to minimize algae growth in our aquariums. We do this to minimize ugly invasive algaes. In the past few years, a lot of people in this hobby have started reporting too clean of water for the acropora. Our technology has improved to the point where we can strip so much from the water that the zoox really struggles to keep up with the growth. We know that the corals need to be in a clean system, but we also know that the ocean is very nutrient rich. Our struggle is trying to provide a nutrient rich environment that we can still export those nutrients before they become detrimental to water quality.

This is a great topic! I do not have any scientific background so the thoughts above are just me thinking out loud.

 

[kawicivic]

I am going to poke some holes in my own post above - I remember my first SPS was a birdsnest. It used to get those growth tips all the time and I did not have anywhere close to minimal nutrients in that tank. The tank did okay, but it was my first saltwater aquarium and I just didn't know any better. I had no problem growing any kind of algae in that tank.

 

[acro-ed]

Then comes the discussion of whether nutrient levels correspond to ZX density only, or also correspond to the rate at which asexual budding of the ZX occurs.

I am guessing that nutrient in the water has more to do with ZX density than the reproduction rate of the ZX. This is why Acropora sp. in Zeovit tanks look "pale" and have more "pastel" type colors.

Check out this article at "Science" magazine online (you will have to register for free).

"The Dynamics of Zooxanthella Populations: A Long-Term Study in the Field" by Fagoonee, Wilson, Hassell, and Turner.

www.sciencemag.org and search for "zooxanthellae"

Thanks,
Ed

 

[MammothReefer]

Hey Ed,
You make some really good points. I wonder if there is anything we can do to stimulate the growth of algae in order to keep up with the growth of the coral, or would this just be a mess. I wonder if this has something to do with how we are able to easily provide light in but have a harder time providing food sources without destroying our tanks via nutrient levels.

Thanks for the link as well, I will try to search threw it when I have a break.