Acropora advice please

[FugeTown]

I purchased this Acro last Sunday and when I first put it in my tank the bottom edge border was completely white (I drew a white line around area that was white) now it’s all green no more white is there. Is it supposed to be white on the edge or not?

 

[DarthSimon]

That's good, means it's coloring up and happy.... I just bought a nice piece of Red Planet today from local dealer. Was white as a ghost after he cut it and glued to a plate...
and in the bag... It's is already coloring up 6-7 hours later...

This was a few minutes after gluing in my tank

This is 7 hours later:

 

[DarthSimon]

Here is 7 hours later:

 

[FugeTown]

That's good, means it's coloring up and happy.... I just bought a nice piece of Red Planet today from local dealer. Was white as a ghost after he cut it and glued to a plate...
Was pale and white as a ghost in bag... It's is already coloring up 6-7 hours later...

This was a few minutes after gluing in my tank

This is 7 hours later:

Ok thanks , just didn’t know cause my birdsnest always has white tips where it grows branches so wasn’t sure if the Acro did the same thing and maybe stopped growing. Thanks for the quick reply

 

[DarthSimon]

If your getting color up and growth your parameters must be stable... What's you alk??

 

[FugeTown]

If your getting color up and growth your parameters must be stable... What's you alk??

Yea I use kalk in my auto top off which keeps my dkh at 10.2 and calcium at 435

 

[DarthSimon]

That's awesome.... Test alk often.. Make sure it stays at that number and doesn't fluctuate... .2 to .3 swings perfect....


By the way, that kind of Acropora you have there will encrust out and down as well...Not just up....

 

[FugeTown]

Cool thanks for the info, I just picked up a pink millipora and a red dragon from the LFS today for only $20 a piece I can’t wait to so see all these SPS grow out ( hopefully fingers crossed) This SPS business is starting to get addicting

 

[DarthSimon]

I hear you. I have been reefing for a long time, and always had LPS and softie tanks. I have had my current tank for 14 months and decided I was going to make it an SPS Dominant tank....
What I learned is you have to be super diligent in 3 areas.... Flow, lighting (Par) Acros love high light, and Alk...... What I just said is very broad, and there's so much more, but I have my display dialed in, and keep the parameters super steady with dosing, and 24 hour a day water changes.

I have 2 pieces of Red Dragon sitting in one of my frag tanks, they are so thin and fragile... Waiting for them to get bigger before I glue...

 

[FugeTown]

I did a lot of reading on SPS and have been keeping track of my levels daily on a calendar. The flow is pretty good which there’s actually a heavy flow but the sand isn’t kicking up so hopefully I won’t have to mess with the powerheads too much more. They are on a wave maker so the flow changes directions every 5 seconds. Just like you I used to have all lps and softies besides my birdsnest until I went on a cruise to Bermuda and my aunt was in charge of feeding my fish and filling the auto top off which she fed the fish but of course didn’t refill the auto topoff so most of my beautiful lps were all half dead and salinity was way up there , it was stressful and sad at the same time. All my fish survived and surprisingly my two goniopora lives , zoas, birdsnest and you know the Green star polyps didn’t get affected. I was so discouraged to keep reefing until I decided to go SPS , so now I have the passion for reefing back again and pretty excited about this SPS journey which I’m gonna try my best to keep the levels right.

 

[DarthSimon]

Sad story but you learned and are moving forward... Best of Luck on your SPS Journey!!

 

[FugeTown]

Sad story but you learned and are moving forward... Best of Luck on your SPS Journey!!

Thank you , and one more question Does the millipora Acro sting if it touches skin? I read that fire coral is a type of millipora and just wanted to play it safe.

 

[DarthSimon]

I have a few Millies, I've never had a problem with handling them with my hands. You can always wear gloves...


Glued this Sunset Milli today actually as well :

 

[FugeTown]

I have a few Millies, I've never had a problem with handling them with my hands. You can always wear gloves...


Glued this Sunset Milli today actually as well :

Sweet! Those colors look amazing

 

[FugeTown]

Ended up doing a double dip on the dragon cause the first dip released a lot of red bugs I then rinsed with aquarium water in a container than a second dip for about 8 minutes which I only seen one red bug that could of been from previous dip
Then I rinsed with fresh aquarium water and shook really good around the water with no pest showing up in the water. Here's a pic of the dragon this morning my camera stinks but you can kinda see the white tips comming out.