Trouble with Acans

[hscoert]

I have tried keeping acans for a while now, and even though I haven't lost any yet, I'm curious to know why they won't stay open, like they do in my QT tank. I have a 150G mixed display, with a 90G fuge. I target feed everything several times a day B/c of the fish I have, and also b/c I have corals that require many feedings, etc.
All of my parameters are in line, and I do water changes religiously several times a week. (5G at a time).
any advice woud be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[madean]

What type of lights do you have? I have read that some acans have not responded well to led lights. Loosing color. I also had an experience where my cleaner shrimp kept stealing the food out of my acans, but the shrimp would constantly inspect the acans for food and bother them on a consistent basis. Not sure if this is your issue or not.

 

[FoxInSox]

"In-line" is pretty vague.

It would help to list exact numbers:

Alk:
Ca:
Mg:
Ph:
No3:
NH3:
PAR:
Po4:

It won't specifically be LED's that are the problem, it's going to be the PAR rating if it is indeed a lighting issue.

Also, the polyps should expand at night for the purpose of feeding. If they do that, you're likely experiencing adaptation to the lighting.

 

[GrampaDon]

Or fish that like the taste of acans.

 

[eatbreakfast]

It could also be the flow, acans dont like too much, less flow = more open.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

They also sometimes do not do well long term, even in tanks where other hard to keep organisms thrive.

 

[stevedola]

Or fish that like the taste of acans.

more than likely you have a fish that likes to nip a little here and there...acans wont open up if they are stressed. Check them out at night when the fish are dormant...do they puff up slightly? if they do then its prolly either a fish or your lights are too strong.
In my experience ACans are a very easy coral to keep and will withstand many different environments however nipping fish or extremely high lighting will cause them to receed or retract.

 

[Chromey316]

Strange, I feed mine when i think about it, Plus im under LEDS, And they are at the bottom of my Tank.

I bought a frag 3 months ago with 3 heads, Its 12 heads now.

Seems to like my LEDS.

 

[hscoert]

has any one had a peppermint shrimp eat your acans?

 

[Terra Ferma]

has any one had a peppermint shrimp eat your acans?

They don't "eat" them, but they will happily march on top of them and steal any food they catch, thus encouraging them to stay closed up. What kind of fish do you have in the tank? Acans are like candy to most angelfish.

 

[snorvich]

I have LED, acanths, peppermint shrimp and no issues. I feed mysis when I remember, cyclopeeze the same.

 

[wallstdrifter]

They also sometimes do not do well long term, even in tanks where other hard to keep organisms thrive.

I second that.

 

[bamf25]

Mine took a bit to get going. I have several 3 head frags in my tank about 4 months now. For a long bit they did nothing, now everything (except one) has suddenly grown 3 to 6 new heads in about 6 weeks. That one just is doing nothing though, no idea why.

 

[Bluewater04]

I dont recall seeing them in your tank do you have them on the bottom if not the light may be to bright. Try moving them to your smaller tank and see how they do there.

 

[JustinBT]

Only going on what I read when I purchased my acan lords, they don't like their lighting too intense. As an example my lords are ~9" under a 50/50 screw in compact flourescent in my pico, so pretty mild.

Just curius, do you skim your DT? What about the QT where they seem happier?
Im approaching acans as a 'dirty' or nutrient - heavy water lover but again just running with some ideas I picked up