insane acro frag!

[xdusty6920]

well, i have an 80% dominated rare lps tank. i have a few montis and such but have never really stepped it up to acros. until i went to a swap a few months back. in a frag tank there i saw an insanely colored acro frag. it was flourecent purple/blue with neon green polyps. there was only one and i new id regret it if i didnt give it a try. ive since had it high up in my tank with good flow and params under 250w mh's. its held its color beautifully and has great polyp extension. but heres the problem. its only 3/4 and has only grow maybe a 1/4 inch mat in two months time. so im scared to death im gonna lose this delicate acro frag and its taking so long to grow. at this rate it will be a whole 3 inches in 6 years lol. how can i get this thing to pick up some growth so the slightest shift in params doesnt kill it?

 

[gregm5]

some acros just don't grow that quickly, especially when it is such a small frag. 1/4 of an inch is two months isn't that bad at all. some stats on your tank might help, but if its keeping its color and has good pe i don't think there is much else you can do, just be patient

 

[taflaw]

A Michigan fan from Columbus having problems with a frag....sorry about your luck. Just kidding! As Coach Tressel would say, good things come to those who wait. So long as your calcium and hardness/alk levels are in check, your slow growth rates are normal for most people who have arcos. Some of mine grow quickly (about an inch every few months) but most are slow growers....I dose with Kalkwasser and coral builder from Kent. I know others in my area with calcium reactors and acro growth is still slow for most acro frags. Other factors determine growth rates and color of SPS, including: the right kind of water flow, intense lights, clean water, low nitrates & phosphates and daily or weekly feedings for the corals.

 

[xdusty6920]

the tank its in is a 2yr old 55g with a 30g sump/frag tank. in the display i have a tunze 6100 stream, 2 mj1200's and a mag 7 return. skimming is done with a euroreef and an aquac (cant overskim lol). theres also a phosban reactor on the tank which i use rowa in. the lights are 2x 250w mh's with xm 20k bulbs.
temp-79
cal- 420ppm
alk 8
amm, trites, trates, phos- 0
no fish, but i feed corals fresh meaty blend 2X a week. selcon is also used with each feeding.
can i target feed this frag? if so what options are out there? id expect a quarter inch ever couple months when it comes to the branches, but its only laid a quarter inch of mat with no noticable growth on the coral itself.

 

[taflaw]

Most people will agree that you will get much better acro growth rates w/ 10k bulbs instead of 20k. I feed my corals frozen cyclop-eeze every few days in the evening, just before the lights go off. Your readings look good. You may want to switch to 10 k bulbs for faster growth. SPS corals look better under 14k and 20k, but grow faster under 10 k.

Go Buckeyes!

 

[gregm5]

the growth of the branches will get going once it has developed a good base

 

[marine_freak]

Love to see so many Ohioans in the hobby... I have a 75 gallon sps only tank and all my acros grow slowwwwwwww..... even with a calc reactor, dripping kalkwasser etc..... If any of you Ohio people are interested in swapping frags or what not I am only an hour away from columbus up north, Oh and I am a die hard OSU fan...GO BUCKS!!!!!!!

 

[Philwd]

It can take several months for the coral to encrust well. I have had several that took off ~ 5-6 months after I got them. Frags will also start to grow faster as they get bigger.

 

[64Ivy]

I have had frags that, after doing absolutely NOTHING in 8-10 months, suddenly take off and grow. Unfortunately, I've had frags sit there that long that suddenly bleach out and die too. IMO, the most important thing for you to do at this stage is nothing. Don't shoot additives, vitamins, or suppliments at it and resist the urge to move it all around to find a 'better' position. Just keep all your parameters as stable as you can and wait it out. The 1/4" encrustation is a really good sign.

You don't have any established leather corals or such upstream of it, do you?

 

[MiddletonMark]

Totally agree with 64Ivy. Patience, for many Acropora, is priceless. The more you move it, worry on it, try to add things to make it `perform' ... time often is `the trick'.

Encrusting is good, give it time.

 

[taflaw]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7407672#post7407672 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by marine_freak
Love to see so many Ohioans in the hobby... I have a 75 gallon sps only tank and all my acros grow slowwwwwwww..... even with a calc reactor, dripping kalkwasser etc..... If any of you Ohio people are interested in swapping frags or what not I am only an hour away from columbus up north, Oh and I am a die hard OSU fan...GO BUCKS!!!!!!!

I am in the South Dayton/Northern Cincinnati area. If you are interested in trading frags, check out our local reef club at worcreef.org I go by aquavista99 locally.

 

[DaddyJax]

I agree with the base setting. A frag like that will be slow at first until it sets a base. Be sure it is secure with superglue so it doesnt wiggle in a crack. I have had little success with acro setting a foundation if they can wiggle in the current. It sounds like a Marshall tri color or a Bonsai that you picked up! Maybe a Valida or Plana...any pics?

 

[taflaw]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7410164#post7410164 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by taflaw
I am in the South Dayton/Northern Cincinnati area. If you are interested in trading frags, check out our local reef club at worcreef.org I go by aquavista99 locally.

worcreef.org is a free local reef club in Ohio if anyone else is interested in trading frags or talking reef shop locally.

 

[kevensquint]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7407403#post7407403 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by taflaw
Most people will agree that you will get much better acro growth rates w/ 10k bulbs instead of 20k. I feed my corals frozen cyclop-eeze every few days in the evening, just before the lights go off. Your readings look good. You may want to switch to 10 k bulbs for faster growth. SPS corals look better under 14k and 20k, but grow faster under 10 k.

IMO, all of this is true. But by going down to 10k from 20k you might loose some of that intense color. And if the change is too swift, you may cause bleaching in you LPS. The encrusting at the base is a sign that the frag is happy. If slow growth is your only acro problem...be thankful.

 

[xdusty6920]

it looks identical to a bonsai. same colors but mine appears to be a little brighter, but thats probably because i see mine in person lol.
the guy i bought it from had it in a tank with a ton of other acro frags and it stuck out like a light bulb in a dark room to me. best of all the tank said $15 on the glass for any frag in the tank.......why?how? i dont know, but its deffinently not a $15 frag.
unfortunately i dont have a pic of it because photobucket doesnt work for me and i dont really know how to post pics else where. but i can tell you its identical to a bonsaii.
also ive had 10k's in the past. growth was great but color was awefull. i run an open canopy tank with the lights suspended from the ceiling so running actinics really isnt an option.
i feel good about the frag and about the growth its putting out. but im scared to death because id never be able to find another frag if i loose this one and its so small, it could be complete skeleton within a few hours im sure. i just want it to put on some size so if something were to happen, id be able to have time to react. btw can acros consume selcon or cyclopeeze?

 

[DaddyJax]

Some have seen cyclopeze but if you were to feed it oyster eggs is good. Fish poop is still the reigning champion for coral food.

 

[xdusty6920]

btw, im a member of cora. great group of guys and fun meeting to attend. you local guys should make it down to a meeting. i guaranty you wont regret it.
i also forgot to mention, i have that thing super glued and locked into place in the upper third of the tank. i only move corals as a last resort.
man i have an upcoming move in a few months. i cant imagine how nervous im gonna be moving this frag lol.