Is this Acro doing ok??????

[scuba guy ron]

1st off I'm new to Acro's and thought I'd give em a try.

2 weeks ago I picked up a Staghorn frag(in the center top of the 1st pic). The LFS had it under 400w MH. I only have a 150w MH (phoenix 14k) supplimented with a power compact 40w actinic so I placed it at the top of my reef to acclimate.

It hasn't lost any color so I figure its doing OK but I'm worried that its poyps arent extended. I've seen the polyps sort of peaking out however I'm not sure what I should expect or if this is what it is. you can see the tiny polyps in the 2nd pic just not sure if there is more polyp that should be coming out yet.

 

[Alex T.]

I don't think it's going to grow crazy fast for you under that lighting setup. Also, with that many soft corals in there the SPS may not fare too well.

Are you running carbon? If not, start ASAP.

It would also help if you list your water parameters.

 

[scuba guy ron]

I don't think it's going to grow crazy fast for you under that lighting setup. Also, with that many soft corals in there the SPS may not fare too well.

Are you running carbon? If not, start ASAP.

It would also help if you list your water parameters.

I have sps in this reef as well. to the left of the *** is a growing ora birdsnest but u cant see it very well in the pic (behind the damsel). I also have a tyree sunset monti that has grown from 1/2 in to over 6 inches in a year and has full color( bottom center).

Yes I run carbon. It is changed weekly.

water perams

sg 1.025
phos 0
nit 0
cal 420 ppm
kh 150 ppm
ph 7.8

 

[scuba guy ron]

so should I expect more polyp extension?

 

[mike_cmu04]

I agree the light may be a problem keep it under the mh and at the top. Also the polyp extension could be better make sure it is getting pleanty of flow.

 

[smtank]

Looks like it has some new growth on the tips. Just keep it as high up as you can with the 150w and it should be fine and start to show some PE. Phoenix are good bulbs, I have run them on my 150w and saw great growth of my acorpora. Look at night as well for the polyps extention.

Nice tank BTW.

 

[REEF SMAC]

IME sometimes the PE sometimes doesn't happen as much until the acro is fully aclimated to its new environment. Sometimes the LFS is feeding their tanks with phyto or something that makes the PE more pronounced when you are there buying it. Take a look at it with a flashlight during the night time cycle you might be seeing more PE then.

 

[jc-reef]

IME sometimes the PE sometimes doesn't happen as much until the acro is fully aclimated to its new environment. Sometimes the LFS is feeding their tanks with phyto or something that makes the PE more pronounced when you are there buying it. Take a look at it with a flashlight during the night time cycle you might be seeing more PE then.

+1..I have several Acros that barley extend polyps during lighting period but fully extend during night when they are more likely to feed. Like above post said, it looks like the tips are new growth.

Nice tank!

 

[scuba guy ron]

Looks like it has some new growth on the tips. Just keep it as high up as you can with the 150w and it should be fine and start to show some PE. Phoenix are good bulbs, I have run them on my 150w and saw great growth of my acorpora. Look at night as well for the polyps extention.

Nice tank BTW.

I agree about the phoenix bulbs... I've tried many and by far I've had the best results with them. I will definitly be checking a little closer the next few nights and keep you posted about the PE.

 

[scuba guy ron]

Nice tank BTW.

Nice tank!

thx for the complements. didn't expect them especially in the SPS forums.:dance: always nice to hear!

 

[scuba guy ron]

So I took out the flashlight last night as well as this morning while the lights were off. I'm seeing that some polyps have full PE as was stated above but there are still many that are just peeking out. I'm really hoping that it is still acclimating. After all my sunset took 3 months to color up. Should I expect a longer acclimation period on an acro as compared to the tyree sunset monti I have?

 

[beeker]

if your tank is only 20 inches tall then a 150w hqi pheonix 14k will grow sps at the bottom just fine, the growth may be a little slow but it will grow sps just fine

i'd keep my sps 5 inches off the bottom and higher, the acro looks healthy and looks like it's doing good

just place it and watch it's color for a few weeks, if it gets paler/whiter then move it down in the tank some

 

[scuba guy ron]

if your tank is only 20 inches tall then a 150w hqi pheonix 14k will grow sps at the bottom just fine, the growth may be a little slow but it will grow sps just fine

i'd keep my sps 5 inches off the bottom and higher, the acro looks healthy and looks like it's doing good

just place it and watch it's color for a few weeks, if it gets paler/whiter then move it down in the tank some

I have it placed at the very top of the reef. aprox 5-6 inches from the waters surface

 

[tmgrash]

Some stags have little to no PE during the day. No all sps exhibit PE 24/7. Yours looks fine.

 

[scuba guy ron]

I see.

I think im bitten with the sps bug. good thing is were looking to rent our condo and buy a house.......the perfect excuse for a new tank.