What is the fastest growing Acro??

[bob124578]

I'm looking for Acropora that grows fast. I don't have much experience with Acro's -- only have three and they grow slow. Montipora and softies I have down. But unfortunately Butterfly's prefer Acro's.

The goal is to grow food for Butterflyfish!

There's a lot of hard core Acro's buffs in this club -- I'd appreciate your input.

Which ones should I try -- looking for fastest to grow not necessarily easy to keep?

 

[rigleautomotive]

the fastest growers for me are green slimer,tri color validia , austera stags.actually most stag acros grow pretty fast once they get going.i have a pink millepora that grows very fast but i have other milleporas that grow pretty slow.

 

[x2uranium]

Ora green birdsnest 1 stick to the size of a softball colony in 5 months.

 

[rickyfins]

The Valida is probably your best bet, it really is a weed!

Most of the Millis are fast as well and fuzzy to boot so they are always fun to watch.

What butterflies are you feeding?

 

[bob124578]

You guys rock !

Thanks for all the suggestions.. I will listen to you folks -- this club knows it's stuff!

I actually have a 120 reef but only softies and Monti's. I have a Heni, a Copperband and a Long Nose BF in this tank which as you all know don't eat any of the corals. I decided to make my other Anthias tank w/ Purple Queens, home for some of the coral eaters intending to use the reef as a refuge for them. I do not want to get any exclusive coral eaters until I have the correct species and quantity of healthy colonies. So I am starting out with more omnivorous BF's. So currently, I am working with a Pearlscale and a Pakistani and plan on getting a Semilavarus (?) Bluecheek.
I have discovered that soft corals are generally not eaten except for Ricordia (had a Raccoon wipe out a large coloney a year ago or so.)

Honestly, I expect to dedicate a lot of time and research making my way up to the Ornate BF -- likely years from now.

I should point out to anyone interested, that Monti's (caps and digi's , even purple haze) are in the tank with them now and they don't touch them. Of course this tank is teeming with mysids, gammarus, fan, bristle and spaghetti worms and all kinds of mini stars and all these things are eaten. I expect to see them going for corals only when they have something they would eat in nature.

I see a scenario where all my Monti's and softies are in the coral eating BF tank (exc. Ric's) and the Acro's are in the other.

Bottom line is that I am trying to move the hobby forward -- there is SO much we don't know. BF's in particular

Interestingly, I had a Flame Angel that ate Orange Monti Cap to no end. NO others -- just the orange cap. We all know fish have personalities and some things are rare or flukes and some things are absolute. I want to make the list of absolutes --- exactly what corals what specific BF's will always eat -- the norms in nature brought into the home for sustainability. Obviously part of the solution is to not just discover coral species but those that grow fast enough for such a system.

I'm babbling -- sorry, haven't been here in a while -- got a little into it ....

 

[rickyfins]

Its cool Bob, thats why we are all here, to help each other and see what we are all trying!

I am glad to see your interest in BF's and the furthering of the hobby. Too many hobbyists just jump in without researching or looking for answers first, just to end up killing or maming a bunch of livestock.

With your approach, aimed at improving BF's health, habits, and the like, we will surely see more of them in the hobby and the reef. I hope all goes well for you. Using captive corals is a great concept for this as their nearly limitless in abundance throughout the states.

Thanks for considering what has been said and I am sure your decisions will take you far!

Keep us updated on progress and findings as I am interested in BF's as well. I have only kept Copperbanded at this point, but who knows what is next to be kept in the reef.