Acropora- What Does It Really Take To Succeed?

[X-37B]

If montipora can grow at the bottom of the tank is this a indication that there is sufficient lighting for acros higher up?

Of course!
Here is my digi on the bottom of my 120.
Fairly decent growth for a bottom dweller.

 

[Reef_in_Denver]

I'm running 3 over a 50 gallon reefer 250. You don't have enough firepower likely.

I appreciate your reply, but your assertion that xr15 cannot grow sps differs from many. Can you provide non-anectodal evidence on a 24" deep tank that this is a fact? I'm serious.

 

[zukihara]

I have added a 3rd xr15 to my build, along with a 2nd mp40.

 

[jmichaelh7]

Stable chemistry, water flow, and parr .

 

[wmwesty]

Obviously consistency is key but also a mature system, stuff like sponges on the underside of rocks, multiple mini fan worms in DT and sump these all filter water for the tiniest food particles. I have thriving Acro colonies after 5years and my PH never gets above 8 but it stays at that so numbers people throw at you don’t really matter as long as what you have stay the same, so changing salt is not good as this means your stats will change, another big mistake is playing with your lights set em up and LEAVE THEM alone, hope this helps

 

[Mickeyt1reef]

Live rock can only help with near term stability, which will let you keep acros growing and thriving. For dry rock, you'll need a ton of patiences and I'm not talking weeks, I'm talking months of patience to wait for your close system biology to find its natural equilibrium. This equilibrium for some comes naturally with littler intervention while others require a ton of intervention like intentional bacterial supplementation, etc.

By the way, I'm not bashing dry rock and saying dry rock with sps can't work because it definitely can, but you definitely need the right expectations going into it with dry rock and I still believe that early/quick success with acros in a dry rock system is more an exception than the norm.

Dry rock takes lots of patience. Long time to build the biodiversity.

 

[Mickeyt1reef]

Hey, I appreciate the heck out of your response. I would love for you to elaborate. Myself, I am going with CaribSea life rock and some other bacteria, so what you are saying is very important.

I can introduce actual live rock, just like anyone else, and I would love to hear the rationale. Wider variety of bacteria, overall diverse ecosystem, etc.

Thank you.

I seeded my rock for 4 months in a brute can. Did water changes in my 40 and dumped the water and detritus in the rock ghost fed etc. the pic is dry rock 6 months in. After 4 months in the can.