This is going to sound strange...

[SDguy]

...but I'd like to know which acro I could place on another acro that will win in the fight.


OK, here's what's going on. When I moved my tank last year, and upgraded, my pillars were too unstable without a full overflow box to lean against. My largest, center pillar ended up falling backwards against one of the back pillars. Because redrilling the pillar with a thicker rod was out of the question due to all the coral growth, I ended up using a cheap brown acro colony as a "spacer" between the two pillars. This worked perfectly. Not only did it hold the large center pillar upright, but as it grows, it locks the whole structure in place. Sort of like living Aquamend

Unfortunately, the acro (looks like a tricolor of some sort) remains hideously brown. I realize I can wait longer, let it really grow onto the two pillars, and then just kalk the whole thing, killing the acro, and cementing everything in place. But I was hoping to place something else on top of it, since it is relatively high up, prime realestate. I'm thinking mille?

 

[MammothReefer]

What about just puttying some smaller rocks ontop of it, and putting some frags/or another piece on top of that so you aren't directly trying to grow one piece ontop of the other. Hopefully if you shade the spot enough it won't grow up and over but recede under the shaded area.

 

[SDguy]

What about just puttying some smaller rocks ontop of it, and putting some frags/or another piece on top of that so you aren't directly trying to grow one piece ontop of the other. Hopefully if you shade the spot enough it won't grow up and over but recede under the shaded area.

Duh...so simple. Not sure why that didn't occur to me :lol:

 

[Ratkiller]

That sounds like a good plan. But in time, how much time, I don't know, depending how fast the brown coral grows, it could possibably incrust the mounting rock, then work it's way up, until it reaches the other coral. Then you will be asking the same question, which one will survive. But it still sounds like a good plan.

 

[Frick]

Poor ugly acro..... Is there an acro orphanage?

 

[NYCBOB]

it doesnt derserve to be killed just bc its brown.

 

[Frick]

I was jking. I think the OPs main reason is to extinguish the threat of a brown acro taking the space of a nice colorful piece. I am sure it was a frag that did it's job as bolder holder and got carried away. Now it is time for brownapora to become its destiny as live rock. As all corals eventually do.

 

[CleveYank]

Turn off all the powerheads and main pump for a tad.

Then :uzi:Shoot it with Kalkwasser and aquamend rommels rainbow frags on it's cold dead skeleton.

 

[SDguy]

That sounds like a good plan. But in time, how much time, I don't know, depending how fast the brown coral grows, it could possibably incrust the mounting rock, then work it's way up, until it reaches the other coral. Then you will be asking the same question, which one will survive. But it still sounds like a good plan.

Hmmm, that is true. And now looking at it, I would definitely not want a rock large enough on it to cover the whole thing...it just wouldn't work there, so your scenario would definitely be an issue.

I was jking. I think the OPs main reason is to extinguish the threat of a brown acro taking the space of a nice colorful piece. I am sure it was a frag that did it's job as bolder holder and got carried away. Now it is time for brownapora to become its destiny as live rock. As all corals eventually do.

Correct, it was added purely for structural support. It was brown when I put it in, and hasn't changed.

Turn off all the powerheads and main pump for a tad. Then :uzi: it with Kalkwasser and aquamend rommels rainbow frags on it's cold dead skeleton.

:lol: Now there's a man with a plan!

 

[Whisperer]

Can we see a pic of this scenario? I don't like killing corals, there may be a solution without sacrificing the coral.

 

[SDguy]

Can we see a pic of this scenario? I don't like killing corals, there may be a solution without sacrificing the coral.

I'll dig some up. But unfortunately I am not removing the coral and risking pillar toppling

 

[neoalchemist74]

You never know maybe brown acros will become Envogue some day and you'll be the talk of the town.

 

[SDguy]

You never know maybe brown acros will become Envogue some day and you'll be the talk of the town.

Well, until that day...

So here is the offending coral. Obviously the two frags need to be moved, but the shot doesn't give very good depth perception...the brown one is pretty far down compared to the other large corals.

 

[BPro32]

Hey Peter I remember you mentioned this to me a while back. What did you end up doing here?

 

[SDguy]

Nothing yet. I relocated the frags this weekend, but Big Brown is still in place, as is I *almost* bought an electric pink aussie mille from Will, but decided to wait.

 

[Whisperer]

Whoa! What made you get that coral to begin with? I suggest while waiting to make a give a final verdict on that ugly duckling, get a small frag a plug (that you can move) and place it high up and see what beauty (or not) is lurking under that chocolate coated stick.

 

[SDguy]

:lol: I grabbed it in a pinch to steady my leaning pillars! I know, not the most stellar pickup