Acans.... no matter what I do, ZERO success...

[afrokobe]

Ya, I can see that being a variety of shock to their system. I called LFS and they keep their Alk at 8 dkh, so that's quite a range. As for acclimation.... float bag 15-20 mins to temp match, then drip in a clean container for roughly half hour... maybe they need a longer drip period with the range in Alk...

I have a lot of acans and I have never drip acclimated them. I am sure my alk is different from one of the various places I've bought from, but I don't think I have had a single acan melt on me. They are some of the best growers in my tank. I suspect something else is going on and probably some nipping as other people have suggested

 

[CanuckReefer]

So much discussion about water parameters (all of which must be fine if no other animals are stressed, no?)... so little about flow and light(the most important parameters in a reef tank). Too much of either of those are the top acan killers IMO. These corals come from sheltered and shady zones of the reef. They don't need much light and too much will quickly stress them out!

Every other coral you listed is from bright, shallow water and most are used to strong surging currents. They are all more adaptable to higher levels of light. Acans on the other hand live in shady crevices and are actually nocturnal, getting a large portion of their nutrition from capturing planktonic prey.

Too much flow (or even just medium flow in one single direction) will damage the tissue or cause infection. It's probably better to put them in a cave and keep them fed than in bright lights.

If nipping is not a case I would consider either a light or a flow. I have several acans and none of them is exposed to direct light (rather shaded) and they are doing great. I also had to optimize a flow a bit. Even medium flow bothered them and they stayed more retracted. I dont feel they are too susceptible to water parameters but I have never kept alkalinity so high, so this is something I cant comment on.

I was just about to say this. I was having a LOT of problems with my acans. I had them on the floor but directly under light and a spot of medium flow...they were not doing well (although not melting). Once I put them in a very quiet corner as far away from the light as possible..they started looking happy!!

Could be? I locate them bottom, on a 22 inch deep 90, and only have 2 T5 HO and a Fluval 3.0 LED , so not sure. Maybe if I try again bump the T5's off for a day or two and see what happens? Flow possible I guess too, although they go in quietest area of tank. Maybe more flow? Ah the joys of reefing lol. This is a challenge I do want to solve though long term...love the look of Acans, just wary of killing more of em....

 

[CanuckReefer]

I have a lot of acans and I have never drip acclimated them. I am sure my alk is different from one of the various places I've bought from, but I don't think I have had a single acan melt on me. They are some of the best growers in my tank. I suspect something else is going on and probably some nipping as other people have suggested

Next time around if there is one, I'm gonna try the idea suggested of acclimation box, or separate tank/ bucket from anything, and see how it goes? If it does well for a few days it at least rules out a water quality issue....

 

[TnFishwater98]

4th try of a healthy looking specimen in last 2 years, and they pretty much instantly melt. Duncan, Shrooms, Nem, Monti, Favia...EVERYTHING else just fine and growing gradually.

Params
Nitrate consistently 10-15
Phos .02 to undetectable
Cal 450
Alk 12- 12.5 ( ya high)
Salinity 1.025
Mag 1400

I do have two pygmy angels Coral Beauty and Eibli, but never see them picking at them, or anything else unless it's at tank dark? I locate them at tank bottom to start, and poof disintegration within days...

Is it the high Alk? Something else? Needless to say I think this is my last attempt. My tank is evidently the devil for Acans...
This one purchased Friday, and looks essentially like this within hours of dropping in. Is it dead? Certainly not happy.

do you know your par? If not what lights are you using?

 

[JGT]

A lot of times, fish can be closet nippers meaning they won’t do it while you are there. An option is to setup either a webcam or even your phone and take a video with you not there to see if you have an acan killer in your tank.

 

[CanuckReefer]

A lot of times, fish can be closet nippers meaning they won’t do it while you are there. An option is to setup either a webcam or even your phone and take a video with you not there to see if you have an acan killer in your tank.

Good idea... and I can definitely see the two of em ( they are buddies now), saying 'lay off the Acan, he's back!!!! Nothing to see here, let's smile for him and pick some rock!' Lol.... they do have personality!

 

[CanuckReefer]

I don't and that's another thing to do in future, rent a par meter. It's pretty basic, on the lower side imo. 2 x T5 HO 4 ft, and one Fluval 3.0 LED programmable 50 watts just to supplement and do dusk/dawn ramping.... @TnFishwater98 .... for some reason it didn't quote your post.

 

[afrokobe]

Next time around if there is one, I'm gonna try the idea suggested of acclimation box, or separate tank/ bucket from anything, and see how it goes? If it does well for a few days it at least rules out a water quality issue....

An idea, if you don't have an acclimation box. Take a 2l bottle or any other bottle, cut it in half, then place the funnel portion over the coral into the sand bed. This way you can monitor the coral and protect it from any nipping.

 

[TnFishwater98]

I don't and that's another thing to do in future, rent a par meter. It's pretty basic, on the lower side imo. 2 x T5 HO 4 ft, and one Fluval 3.0 LED programmable 50 watts just to supplement and do dusk/dawn ramping.... @TnFishwater98 .... for some reason it didn't quote your post.

I’ve had good success with acans and I’m definitely not a master reefer. Acans can usually adapt and I would consider them to be semi-hardy. I bring up your lighting because I learned a vendor on here that grows amazing Acans says he keeps them around 80 par. This is from Riptide Aquaculture. So if they were melting quickly I would say it could be lighting or like you mentioned High alk. I haven’t read the whole thread because I’m out running errands but have you been getting these acans locally at your LFS? If so what lights do they keep them under?

 

[CanuckReefer]

I’ve had good success with acans and I’m definitely not a master reefer. Acans can usually adapt and I would consider them to be semi-hardy. I bring up your lighting because I learned a vendor on here that grows amazing Acans says he keeps them around 80 par. This is from Riptide Aquaculture. So if they were melting quickly I would say it could be lighting or like you mentioned High alk. I haven’t read the whole thread because I’m out running errands but have you been getting these acans locally at your LFS? If so what lights do they keep them under?

Two different LFS, one looks like they run Noopsyche LED to my eyes, the other not sure. Will find out.

 

[damsels are not mean]

Could be all factors above. Corals in new water are too stressed to deal with too much light and flow. Unhealthy corals get nipped first. Corals getting nipped have even less resources to deal with other stresses and healing is paused.

 

[Jedi1199]

I place all of my new frags on one of 2 frag racks I have. One is set at the top 3rd level of the tank on the end glass, the other is at the bottom middle on the front glass. Both get good flow and light. They stay on the racks till I decide where I want to place them in the tank.

Usually, I snip off the stem of the plug and sit the piece where I think I want it and observe it for a couple weeks. If it looks happy and healthy it gets glued down.

 

[CanuckReefer]

I place all of my new frags on one of 2 frag racks I have. One is set at the top 3rd level of the tank on the end glass, the other is at the bottom middle on the front glass. Both get good flow and light. They stay on the racks till I decide where I want to place them in the tank.

Usually, I snip off the stem of the plug and sit the piece where I think I want it and observe it for a couple weeks. If it looks happy and healthy it gets glued down.

Funny story...or maybe not. Came home with some leftover plastic egg crate from a jobsite one day. Wife says 'what's' that for???' ....for the tank, it'll be a frag rack for the corals! ' For where? In the tank??? ' with concerned look....Well ya! It goes on the back wall! ...'Uh NO I don't think so, it's ugly!'....ok, she wins that battle. At least she cares how it looks I guess. She did however inherit my reef with me 16 years ago there was NO negotiation there lol...

How are things? Busy up and down the roads of late? Things are crazy busy here in the Electrical trade, which is good all things considered...

 

[Jedi1199]

I have these racks. Pretty sleek and attractive in the tank, especially when filled with coral frags lol.. Maybe the wife won't object to them. I have the large and medium ones.



Things here are good, I am on vacation this week and it has been absolutely beautiful weather wise. Managed to tackle a few projects I have been putting off so I feel good about the time off.

 

[ELChingonsReef]

I had problems with acans in the past. I tried everything to keep them alive with no success until lately. First thing I learned the hard way.. is keeping magnesium at 1400 consistently. Lowering alk to 8.3 helped alot.. I increased flow and fed 3 times a week. I also needed to lower nitrates to 10. I used to keep them at 20. I also did a extra small water change during the week. Maybe 5 gallons max in my 65gall reef. So I do a water change on Sunday every week. 15 gallons. Then I do another 5 gallons on Wednesday. Acans like to eat so that definitely affects water quality if you have a bunch of them and alot of other LPS that like to eat. Phosphate I keep as low as possible. Acans don't like Phosphate. I also discovered I had a huge amphipod problem. They were the ones nipping at my acans. They would find a stressed out pollup pick at it .. tick off the pollup next to it and eat that one later and on and on until the entire colony was gone.. I got a couple wrasses mixed up a Bach of salt water at .015 and dipped my rock work in that brackish water for 30 seconds and watched all those pods die.. pods will kill corals I don't care what anyone says . I hate those things. I know that they are necessary but I could care less for those nasty bugs. I know I'll never be completely rid of them but I do my best to keep the population down as much as possible. They love eating acans. So doing those things made me successful at keeping them now. And im proud to say I haven't lost a acan in almost a year.. now they are actually growing.. thats my speech.. for whatever it's worth lol.. good luck..