Placement of Acans

[degibson84]

Just bought my first Acans and was wondering on the placement for the best overall color and health as well as the fastest growth.

My tank is a 220 72x24x30. with a 30 inch deep tank I am afraid the lighting wont be strong enough if I place in the sand. My lighting is 6x80W T5s

 

[floridascape]

acans can IME like low light, medium flow, ive had high light has cause bleaching, and if your flow isn't strong enough they dont inflate properly

A few of mine all grown from 4-5 head frags.

 

[Reef Frog]

+1 ^. 24"'deep with your T5 should be fine for acans on the sand bed. Unless they're mounted really high over the tank or the bulbs worn out. Agree that lower flow is best.

If on the sand bed, make sure that any polyp flesh is not directly touching the sand as its an irritant and possible disease vector IMO.

 

[degibson84]

my tank is actually 30 inches deep

 

[Reef Frog]

my tank is actually 30 inches deep

Ooops. Well you have lots on mounting options then!

They probably won't like the top 12" then. Middle 12" should be fine, even ideal. I would guess the bottom 12"'would probably work too if they are out in the open. I base this statement on the fact that I can keep several accan lords at about 18" to 20" in some shade. A lot depends on the lights & intensity used by your coral seller. 12" to 24" is probably your best bet. Good luck.

 

[degibson84]

I bought them from a local reefer that had them under a bunch of homemade LED units. I dont know the exact type of Acans these are but they dont look as "plump" as the ones posted above

 

[SGTxSai]

I would say t5 are best for acans growth and color from my experience. I have managed to get better color over time and growth. Acans are pretty hardy so with your lighting you should be fine placing them anywhere. My acans do good in both low and high.

 

[degibson84]

I moved them around a little today. Had them at the bottom for a day and a half to get adjusted to the lights. moved one piece up about 2-3 inches from the sand and the other about 8-10 inches up. I still dont see them inflating like the ones pictured above but then again i have never seen them inflate like that in person

 

[Reefer54]

if the polyp is still not extending fully, it may just be getting used to your water. the water quality, IME, has more effect on PE than lighting....lighting will usually cause it to change color long before it stops inflating. if it is not inflating, it is stressed....often from a rough ship or being hit on a rock...you get it. T5's should help give it great color. I prefer to keep my acans off the sand, on the lowest rocks up to about half way up the tank, higher on the ends of the tank where the light is also subdued a bit.

one of my favorite corals...the different morphs are unreal.

If i were you, i would keep it in medium light, medium flow just up off the sand until it starts to extend the polyps....then move it wherever.

 

[degibson84]

I did notice last night and this morning under the moonlights better PE and saw some feeders out. I think tonight when I get home from work I will wait till the lights go out and try to target feed

 

[All Delight]

moderate blue light is good.

 

[Reef Frog]

If they're feeding then they are adapting for you.

 

[liven learn]

I have mine half way up and they are doing amazing. You want to find the least amount of light they can thrive on without them getting upset. Less light will bring in more zooxanthellae for color. But not enough will bring too much and make the coral upset.

 

[kac01]

Mine did great under t5's. I changed to led's and they seem to be still doing good. I have some on bottom and some half way up on a 180 tank.

 

[Timber77]

Ive got a lot of scans. Some are up near the top maybe 10 inches deep, others at the bottom 36 inches deep. Lighting is 400 Radium. My tank is very high flow and doesn't seem to bother them to much. I think they are in general a very easy coral to keep.

 

[Bpawl]

Mine seem to like the bottom of my 12 in tank, with med light and decent flow.

 

[jayjerk]

mine do well in sand on 20in deep tank. How do you transfer from plug once over grown?

 

[Reefer54]

If you are going to remove them from a plug, you are best to do it well before they grow onto it. If they have grown onto the plug (actually bonded or grown skeletal mass on the plug) you can not without fragging it.

I like to remove mine from the plug whenever possible as it looks more natural I believe. I use a sharp knife or rasorblade and find a spot that i can slip it between the plug and frag, then twist or turn the plug along the blade to loosen the bond.

!!!!!!be careful!!!!! 1. sharp blade. obvious reason. 2. If the frag is thin, meaning the skeleton is thin, you can snap the skeleton without removing it from the frag, also, if the frag endured a decent amount of pressure when being fragged, micro-fractures may exist and will break before the frag removes from the plug.

IF you snap a frag you have two options....
a. cut the flesh with a Sharp and sterile exacto knife\ scalpel.
b. place the frag which is hanging together by skin in a hole in the rock and more often than not it will heal, but you cant move it easier from then on, so be sure that's where you want it. I have done this numerous times, and i have not lost an LPS frag yet. I have even stuck the 2 pieces (still attached by skin) on a rock with each halve pointing two directions and the acan lived, and flourished. I have done this with favia as well.
---do not glue the halves back together. the glue or epoxy may severely irritate the exposed flesh, which is no good. hold them with a rubberband if you really have to do something about it for peace of mind...(braces rubberbands work great, and they are easy to get)

 

[fishcraze_1]

Mine do well all over the tank.
6 bulb t5 in main tank

these, however are in my frag rack right below lights, they do good too.

Here is the bottom of my tank

 

[srpsycho11]

The bottom of your tank is amazing, everything looks very happy and health.

Gene