Staghorn Question

[RockyMtnReef]

Is it typical for most staghorns to develop light tips as they grow? I have a frag that I added to my tank a month or so ago. Two of the 4 branch tips have lightened but I still see lots of polyp extension at night. I ask because I am a little nervous that its bleaching. The light section is a 1/4" at most and as mentioned above, does have full polyp extension from the tip at night. If they were bleaching would I be getting the extension? Sorry, just being paranoid I guess.

 

[BRISK495]

some do some don't. My dark green stag has baby blue tips.....thats how I know it is growing. whereas my green slimer produces the same color tips as the rest of the colony. Do you have pics?

 

[RockyMtnReef]

Sorry, I am new to posting photo's so I am not sure if this will turn out. Not to mention it's a pretty bad photo but it's the best I could do with the little point and shoot.

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n188/RockyMtnReef/Tank0172.jpg

 

[RockyMtnReef]

Ok, that didnt work. Lets try it again.

 

[RockyMtnReef]

Cool, it worked! This is fun. I am posting the one good shot I was able to get this AM

 

[BRISK495]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8164151#post8164151 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RockyMtnReef
Ok, that didnt work. Lets try it again.

Its still hard to tell exactly, but my first inclination is that it looks like it is fine....but closer pics would be better. the bast looks good to....how are your other sps doing? what is the calcium levels?

 

[RockyMtnReef]

This is a brand new tank, it's only been up since July. This is my only SPS in the tank although I had 14 in my 90gal (no staghorns though) which was up for 2 years so I am not a total newbie. But....I still have lots and lots to learn. I tested my H2O last night and both Calcium and Alk are low (320 and 6.2). I am sure that is why the color is not as good as it could be. I did a 30 gal water change and will try to bring up both over the next few days via B-Ionic. I am shooting for 420 Cal and 9.0 Alk by Wednesday. I am using this poor guy as my test subject before adding more. I want the parameters stable and good color/growth from this one before throwing a bunch more in.

 

[BRISK495]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8164301#post8164301 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RockyMtnReef
This is a brand new tank, it's only been up since July. This is my only SPS in the tank although I had 14 in my 90gal (no staghorns though) which was up for 2 years so I am not a total newbie. But....I still have lots and lots to learn. I tested my H2O last night and both Calcium and Alk are low (320 and 6.2). I am sure that is why the color is not as good as it could be. I did a 30 gal water change and will try to bring up both over the next few days via B-Ionic. I am shooting for 420 Cal and 9.0 Alk by Wednesday. I am using this poor guy as my test subject before adding more. I want the parameters stable and good color/growth from this one before throwing a bunch more in.

yes, alk seems a bit low.....as does calcium. Anything you add, do it slowler, then fast. Wednesday is pretty aggressive.....even though experts could prob do it.....itd add something like a kent turbo calcium slow (a teaspoon or two a day) here is a conversion table that may help you out.

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

 

[slojmn]

One of my stags, Elias stag, definately lightens at the tips. it glows baby blue all along the tip half of each branch and gets greenish toward the base. It is happy and healthy.

As far as your params you will need to get your calcium around 420 and get your alk up to 8.0ish and then keep it stable. You may want to consider a calcium reactor if you do not already have one. Sps will suck up the calcium and the additives can get difficult to use to maintain the levels neccessary, not that you can't just use additives but a calcium reactor will keep things fairly stable once you have it tweaked to match the corals uptake.

 

[dots]

I would say yes that most tend to be lighter on average when growth is taking place......however, you need to get that alk/ca in the right level or else it will take a nose dive on you.

 

[poknsnok]

thats a big tank and its going to get expensive, you need to definitely consider a calcium reactor or using a DIY 2-part... The light tips on the coral however are a good sign. means they are growing.

 

[RockyMtnReef]

Thanks for all the info guys. Out of curiosity. How much light do your stags like? I have mine in the upper half of the tank and it seems to be doing better. It lost some color right off the bat but as my cal and alk are going up it seems to be getting more color back. When I got it had a green body with blue tips. I think the tips might be a bit burnt but I am hoping that is temporary.

 

[dots]

I think they can handle quite a bit of light if moved up slow....all of my stags are really slow growers,mine are about mid level and should probably be moved higher up.

midlevel: I have a 75g with 14k 250DEs about 6 inches from the water,(Aqualight Pro w/legs setup)

 

[RockyMtnReef]

Thanks for the info. My stag is about 12" from the top of the tank (tank is 30" deep). The lighting I have is listed below. Because of the size of the Luminarc's (19.5" square) I am using I decided to mount the VHO's under the reflectors. I either had the option to do this or else the VHO would be pinned way to the front and back of the tank. This means my MH are about 12" from the water surface. Does this seem reasonable? In my old 90 gal believe it or not I had 14 healthy, colorful SPS under 440W of VHO. MH is a bit new to me. I had to give all my old live stock to a friend while I got going again. My family and I moved to a new house and it took a good 10 months to get the new tank set up. (sorry for the life story). I am planning to get my old live stock (minus a bunch of frags as a thank you for holding everything here very soon. I will post a few more pics once everything is in.