First Attempt at Acros

[Diver86]

Well I'm finally going to try and keep acros after 5 years. My main question really is there anything specific to acros that I need to know beside extremely stable water conditions? I've read up on some of the posts on pests but i was thinking along the lines of dosing? And will AI Vegas support acros? If not I have a few old MH fixtures i can use but would rather stay with the vegas if i can cause i like the look of them better but I will do what ever is best for my inhabitants.
Equipment
120 gallon DT ( 3 months old)
sump is a 40 breeder with refugium
1 mp 40 ordering the second next week and thinking about doing a third later
two ai vegas with the option of running a geisseman
return is two mag 7's
skimmer nwb 110 (i know its not big enough and took it off my 60 cube for now but only have one fish so i'm not having any nitrate problems for now will not be adding any fish until the skimmer is sufficient)

Water parameters
Am 0
nirtites 0
nitrates 0-5
ph 8.1
dkh 8 trying to raise slightly right now
calcium is 420
mag is 1400
phosphate 0

I have a few birdsnest in there now that are getting extremely good polyp extension and are starting to recover from being fragged as far as color goes.

 

[reefinsomnia]

parameters look good. Hows your coralline algae growth?

 

[Laborator]

subscribed- i have a 120 and just purchased my first mariculture spa.

 

[Laborator]

Sps

 

[biggles]

Everything looks like your all set to go. You will need to dose to maintain your alk and calcium along with magnesium - not sure if you were asking or if you are already doing so. You can just use drip feeds controlled with an air valve like i do or invest in a 3 way dosing pump. The more stable you keep your water parameters the better - if your water is stable at 8 & 420 i would tend to let it be rather than chasing different numbers with no valid reason. That is where my readings are and all my SPS are happy campers.
The second pump will def be needed and you can add a third down the track if you feel it's req'd as you said.
You might be in for a shock when you start adding acros so be prepared - they don't die at the drop of a hat and they are not hard to keep alive and growing, it is keeping them looking the way we want them to look that presents the biggest challenge at times :uhoh3:. Good luck and make sure you post pics when you start adding acros

 

[jg93]

You look good to me. Ask around for easier to keep ones. For instance - red planet died in my tank, I have tons of others that are fine. Make sure your flow is very good, parameters stable. 8dKH is fine if not indeed optimal. I have AI Sol Blues and they're growing acros just fine with great color.

Just start with one or two small, cheaper pieces. Once they're encrusting, growing, add more. But don't fill your tank with them all at once. That way if something is off you can correct it without mass casualties (I had cheato go sexual...)

I also feed mine Oyster Feast. I'm not 100% sure if this is what 'did the trick' for me, but I noticed better color and growth after doing so 2 or 3 times/week with a baster.

Good luck!

 

[reefinsomnia]

You look good to me. Ask around for easier to keep ones. For instance - red planet died in my tank, I have tons of others that are fine. Make sure your flow is very good, parameters stable. 8dKH is fine if not indeed optimal. I have AI Sol Blues and they're growing acros just fine with great color.

Just start with one or two small, cheaper pieces. Once they're encrusting, growing, add more. But don't fill your tank with them all at once. That way if something is off you can correct it without mass casualties (I had cheato go sexual...)

I also feed mine Oyster Feast. I'm not 100% sure if this is what 'did the trick' for me, but I noticed better color and growth after doing so 2 or 3 times/week with a baster.

Good luck!

Jeff, do you mean caulerpa?