Are Acros Really All That?

[vmiller]

Many of you have heard me whine in the past about keeping up with my tank maintenance. Probably the worst part about that is when corals die or take a turn for the worse. Well, it just so happens that 99% of the time, those corals are acros!

These have been my favorite corals from day 1 and I have an entire tank dedicated to them, but they are expensive, grow slowly, and can be rediculously delicate.

Many of my other corals not only withstand periods of tank neglect, but they thrive from it!

Since I don't really have the time for the meticulous care that acros tend to need, I'm thinking I'm going to scale back on them and focus my SPS interests elsewhere. I think it will be a lot more enjoyable to have a tank that doesn't put pressure on me to always have an eye on it and to have less risk of watching a coral grow for a year or two only to die completely in two days.

I guess I have concluded that acros are like a super high maintenance chick, and I'm not into that. No, I'm not going to completely give up on acros, but I do think I'm going to give up on the focus I've had on them in the past.

Sort of a pointless post I guess, but I figured maybe a few people would be interested in my new outlook.

 

[TA]

Definately understand the frustration.
Change is sometimes good...helps keep the interest alive.

good luck.

 

[scotia-reefer]

What will you do with all of your acros? I know just the place for them!

Why don't you try an anemone tank? It's keeps me interested.

 

[vmiller]

My acros are staying right where they are. I'm not totally giving up on them, just changing my perspective.

Over the years, I've had the vision all along of having colorful acros wall to wall. During that time, I've thrown in some digitata, elkhorn, capricornis, etc, and those are the corals that have really grown and are what's making my tank look nice now.

Not to mention, my 125, which is only LPS and Zoanthids, would probably be considered much nicer looking by most people.

I'll continue to throw acro frags in here and there. If they do well, great, if not, that's OK because I'm no longer considering them the basis of my tank.

 

[reefD]

i just got 5 from xian. vin your right it is like an expensive girlfriend.lol. but i just love the look of a maturly populated tank of acros. i drool looking at the formations.

 

[reefD]

see vin your scaring me now cause i want to make them the basis of my tank! lol. seriously im gonna be head strong and do what i want to accomplish. ill be posting questions when i have issues so in advance thanks for your help all.

 

[Dave ESPI]

One tid bit I've learned over my past many years doing this hobby, is not all tanks will grow what you want them to.

Take my tank for example. I take much pride in the fact I can simply "walk away" from it for months on end and not worry about anythign cept for topping it off, and keeping an eye on the heat in my apartment during the summer. While many people are "fussy" and like to be hands on with their tanks, and micro-manage everything about them, they simply need to take a step back at some point and say "Why am I such a control freek ?" and let nature do it's own thing.

Vin , Welcome to the "old hat " club. You just earned your right to poke people in the eye with acropora skeletons , and tell them " See, I told ya just let it alone and grow how it wants too ya dumb summabich!"
:bum: Oh, and be sure to whistle through yer teeth and drool a bit while giving them the shifty eye too

Some Acros do great, Others do poorly depending on the system, the light, the water and all the other life in it. "Chemical Soup" is what we have in our living rooms. The key is to finding the right compliments to have in said tank for all the inhabitants to thrive and compliment each other as they would in the wild.
Asmuch as I like zoos and some leathers, I simply have never really had great luck with them, so I don't keep them.

Forgive me if I'm rambling, but Vin, you are on the right path to freedom from being a slave to Teh Purdy glass box on da fle-or with the kollorful plantz and fieshies all swimin' round init

Enjoy the hobby, don't stress over it.

 

[vmiller]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7640969#post7640969 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefD
see vin your scaring me now cause i want to make them the basis of my tank! lol. seriously im gonna be head strong and do what i want to accomplish. ill be posting questions when i have issues so in advance thanks for your help all.

Don't be scared, just be prepared for a bigger time investment!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7641198#post7641198 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dave ESPI


Enjoy the hobby, don't stress over it.

Exactly! If I had more time, I'd be more on top of the maintenance, the stress wouldn't be there, and this wouldn't be an issue. But for now, I'm pressing the Easy Button.

 

[reefD]

good advice ...ill take it to heart...thanks

 

[JDS]

your absolutely right!! That is why I put all my acros in a 46G tank. With a bunch of live rock and two yellowtail damsels. My 210 is going to be a soft coral tank. I love the looks of the acros but I just don't have the patients for the rate of growth.

 

[DanConnor]

Hey Vin,

I really don't understand why acro's don't do better in your tank- everything looks perfect for them.

A few of them have become almost weeds for me; that fluffy purplish staghorn and the green slimer in particular are getting so there isn't much room left for the fish to swim around in!

 

[vmiller]

Dan,

I think I have the right equipment and system design, but I just don't keep tabs on it enough. I think the biggest problem is that I let the Alk drop too much. Despite that, I still have some acros that grow like weeds, but they are the exception.

 

[Coral007]

Hey V,

What about running Kalkwasser on a continuous basis? My buddy grows corals like they are weeds. His tank has been established now for years and it is a thing of beauty.