Tips for acans

[BCashion]

This question is mainly for Ade, but anyone else who can offer some insight is welcome to opine....

I've never had success with acans.... haven't tried much as I think they're generally overpriced. But, I've had incredible success with a mixed reef, so to have this one coral not thriving is irritating me.

All the colonies I currently have came from Ade - big polyps and thriving on arrival. Now, they hardly open and there is significant tissue recession. All colonies are currently in my frag tank in the basement under coralvue t5 lighting where all my LPS are going nuts.... growing absolutely crazy.

Do they need more/less light? More/less waterflow? Must they be fed?

Thanks in advance.

Brad

 

[firebirdcrzy]

Have you tested your water chemistry? I have noticed my acans are the first to let me know when things are getting a little off track. As far as lighting I keep all mine on the sand bed in my 90gal with 250watt halides. I have a fairly heavy water flow in my tank because it is SPS dominant, but do keep the acans in a lower flow area. I have never target fed my acans, but do add coral foods to the water and I am sure they grab a few bites. Acans are pretty hardy of a coral so something must not be right with water chemistry. I have taken my acans and cut them right in half with a wet tile saw and within min. of placeing them back into the tank they are puffed back out like nothing ever happened.

 

[BCashion]

Water chemistry is great, and I've got 50 other species of coral - all of which are doing fine.

Brad

 

[firebirdcrzy]

Just remembered that I have also had my acans in my 30gal under t5 lighting. I was even able to place some up on the rock work about mid way up and they loved it. I was even seeing faster growth under the t5's. Do you have any fish that could be nipping at them? How are you aclimating them? I also usualy give them a quick (5 min.) dip in lugol's before adding to tank to help prevent any infection.

 

[ade]

Hey Brad I have kept acan's under T5 and MH. always on the sand bed with med flow. I have always fed my acans mysis brine about once a week. I had the same thing happen when I bought my first acan when I placed it in my old 180. Everthing was good as far as water chemistry, couldn't place my finger on what the problem was until I saw one of my tangs picking at it. As a rule they are a hardy coral and fairly simple to care for. If you like I could swing by when I am in town just to get another persons view. Just let me know.

 

[dadyoj21]

I have around 10 or so acan colonies and currently I have two that are doing the same thing. They were healthy for a long time then this starts. I am thinking it is some kind of pest or fish bothering them. They were close to each other in the same system and I have relocated them to an area of lower light and flow to see if that will help. It is strange that the receding starts at the at substrate level. That leads me to believe it is not a fish problem but something else maybe some kind of crab, or bristle worm or infection/disease.

Have also read low mag levels and strontium levels can be a problem for acans but am not sure how reliable the info is

 

[cayenne]

I will second what both Ade and Jorge have said... I had the same problem until someone finally convinced me to watch my fish like a hawk. Found one that was occasionally nipping at the polyps on the acans, removed fish and instant happiness.

 

[BCashion]

I appreciate the thoughts guys - I know I have an LPS nipper in the tank - now to figure out exactly who (and then to catch 'em).

Ade, would love to have you stop by. I need some help brainstorming a new lighting configuration.

I'm off this weekend if you'll be in town. Give me a call.

Brad