whats your experience with a. hoeksemai?

[Bigmike]

Im really craving one of the mari colonies that are coming in lately, but I have also heard that they are relatively hard to keep.

Anyone keeling one successfully? I know theyre out there, but I definitely dont see them too often as large colonies. How hard are they to keep really... for those of you who have them?

And of course, pictures are always welcome

 

[Bigmike]

Oh and if you can tell us if you got yours as a frag, mari, or wild that'd be very helpful. thanks!

 

[jhoff]

I purchased a maricultured Hoek from DD last month bleached out in three day's put in on sandbed went from pale blue to white in just a few days.

 

[Genetics]

Had a Mari. Did well but needed an incredible amount of light and water movement.

 

[SDguy]

I killed two (plus one called a hoek but I'm not sure it was) and gave up. One did well for several months, grew well, but still died. I just think they are one of those acros for dedicated SPS systems only, not your average mixed reef. YMMV.

 

[ryanjiang]

Is this the same coral? Spelling is different.

I saw the colony in store & it looks amazing in person. I was very attempted to buy a frag. Good that I read this thread, won't try it before I get more experience.

 

[Bigmike]

ryan, yeah same coral.

dang if peter cant keep em then I dont know if its even possible

Peter, do you have any insite on why they died? Did they lose color then rtn? By dedicated SPS tanks do you mean tons of flow and tons of light?

 

[Whisperer]

Forget Hoek, I haven't any luck with gemifera. I don't see any established colonies of these very commonly harvested specie.

 

[Bigmike]

Forget Hoek, I haven't any luck with gemifera. I don't see any established colonies of these very commonly harvested specie.

Thats funny you say that, I seriously was going to start a thread a month ago inquiring why we still harvest gemiferas, like, who really buys them?! Never seen or heard of anyone buying or keeping them.

 

[ryanjiang]

ryan, yeah same coral.

dang if peter cant keep em then I dont know if its even possible

Peter, do you have any insite on why they died? Did they lose color then rtn? By dedicated SPS tanks do you mean tons of flow and tons of light?

+1, I also want to know.

The coral does look very nice, with glowing which is not captured in picture.

 

[Maximus]

I have the worst luck with Hoeke's. I've given up on them.

 

[purplereef]

I used to have a mini colony of the Serdar's Sapphire till one day it started STNing on me. I now think it was lack of light that led to it's very slow decline. I have 1 little nub left over of it. I would love to see a large colony of the Hoeksemai.

 

[64Ivy]

Finally successful after three attempts. This one was raised from a frag and represents well over two years of growth, currently about 8" tall. It has always been situated high in my tank which means a foot or so beneath my 400W 14Ks and in turbulent, alternating flow.

Ironically, it's not even one of my favorite corals anymore but because of all the effort it took to get it here, it can stay as long as it likes.

 

[bogg]

I've tried 3 aquacultured rip all three the last one turned insane blue after a few mo. Then rtn'd I'd still try another there soo blue and perty

64ivy where did you get yours? Any close up shots tia

 

[SDguy]

dang if peter cant keep em then I dont know if its even possible

Peter, do you have any insite on why they died? Did they lose color then rtn? By dedicated SPS tanks do you mean tons of flow and tons of light?

Thanks for the compliment, but I'm far from a SPS pro like many of the folks in this forum.

Mine all eventually just faded and died, usually starting with the "tight" no PE look, then RTN.

I just meant that I think in a high light, high flow, consistently low nutrient, stable chemistry tank, they can do fine. Basically, a dedicated SPS tank. Back then I was not dosing vodka, and still wasn't super great at keeping my calcium reactor tuned. Since then I haven't tried one. I'm just not into SPS that can't deal with me having a bad week

 

[nanonubey]

Thats funny you say that, I seriously was going to start a thread a month ago inquiring why we still harvest gemiferas, like, who really buys them?! Never seen or heard of anyone buying or keeping them.

I just bought a mini colonie from Midwest Coral Farms about two months ago. It's doing fine, the only problem I've had is when my new mille fell over on to it and killed a few tips. :hmm3:

 

[Kataro]

I've kept this guy for about 5 months now..

when I first got it

2 weeks or so ago..

It grew ALOT now... it didnt do much for a while. But after it encrust it starts to color up its blue color and shoot up alot of branches ^^ I go about 5-6 1" frags that grew up from the encrusted base

 

[64Ivy]

64ivy where did you get yours? Any close up shots tia

Vivid. No close ups of this one at the moment, sorry.

What's 'tia'?

 

[Baros]

This is my A.hoeksami, grown from a frag. I keep mine under low kelvin (6.5k-10k) lights with strong indirect flow and the system is fed twice a week with a DIY coral food. A real gem of a coral.

 

[purplereef]

TIA= Thanks In Advance. Very nice colony 64ivy. I consider my little nub my canary in my tank. It will show stress if any parameter is out of wack. I saw poor PE and I started checking parameters and found my water temp down to 75. This coral is definatly not for the faint at heart, but one of my favorites.