matt & pam
Member
I'm interested in expanding some sps corals for my 180 gallon tank and interested in advice. I have an opportunity to either obtain some acropora frags that are tank raised or to get some maricultured acropora. The advantage I see is that the tank raised are less likely to have pests, and have been proven in the tank environment. The disadvantage is cost and smaller size (1-2") at acquisition. The maricultured acropora would be larger size (3-4" small colonies) at about 1/2 the cost, but I'm not guaranteed colors nor whether pest free (I believe the source will be Bali).
If you had a choice, which would you choose, tank raised vs maricultured? Any other reasons you would pick one vs. other? Is it safe to presume that tank raised have superior survivorability compared to maricultured?
I run an eco-wheel (algae turf scrubber) for filtration, have about 3100 gal/hr flow in the tank, use 750 w/MH XM 10K (8 hrs/day) on lumenarc hoods, T5 actinic + supplemention (12 hrs/day). I run a 5 inch deep sand bed, add Kalk and run DIY calcium reactor. water parameters (salifert) are as follows:
spgv: 1.025
Ph: 8.05-8.20
Ca: 390-400
Mg: 290
Alk: 10 dKh
Nitrate: not detectable
Temp: 79.1-81.9 (peak temps will decline now that fall arriving)
I have success with several monti's, blasto, an acro stag, various clams (croace, maxima, derasa and squamosa). Fish load is a school of green chromis, a fairy wrasse, yellow tang, mandarin, two pair clowns, firefish. I purchased three months ago has colored up nicely on the sandbed and is growing.
Appreciate opinions/advice.
Matt
If you had a choice, which would you choose, tank raised vs maricultured? Any other reasons you would pick one vs. other? Is it safe to presume that tank raised have superior survivorability compared to maricultured?
I run an eco-wheel (algae turf scrubber) for filtration, have about 3100 gal/hr flow in the tank, use 750 w/MH XM 10K (8 hrs/day) on lumenarc hoods, T5 actinic + supplemention (12 hrs/day). I run a 5 inch deep sand bed, add Kalk and run DIY calcium reactor. water parameters (salifert) are as follows:
spgv: 1.025
Ph: 8.05-8.20
Ca: 390-400
Mg: 290
Alk: 10 dKh
Nitrate: not detectable
Temp: 79.1-81.9 (peak temps will decline now that fall arriving)
I have success with several monti's, blasto, an acro stag, various clams (croace, maxima, derasa and squamosa). Fish load is a school of green chromis, a fairy wrasse, yellow tang, mandarin, two pair clowns, firefish. I purchased three months ago has colored up nicely on the sandbed and is growing.
Appreciate opinions/advice.
Matt
