Acropora- What Does It Really Take To Succeed?

[Skynyrd Fish]

Ok to answer your questions.

1. lights are important, and you have that covered.
2. flow. Random flow. Some feel it is more important than lights. I do. Start with your mp40. You may need more Mp40.
3. some live rock. This seeds your tank with biodiversity. You can’t get this out of a bottle. order some ruble or sump pieces, or add a bit to your display. Biodiversity adds to stability.
4. Once you have coralline growing on the glass or the mp40 you are ready for some coral.
5. dip all corals, unless from battle corals, wwc, or another long time pro. I will get some flack for this, but my wwc order went straight in my tank and so did the water. More biodiversity.
5. once you have some corals you will need to test alk almost daily. You will need a salifert alk, MG, and ca test. To get started. Keep a log of the tests and actions taken.

have fun and enjoy.

 

[rckfsh44]

There’s a book out titled Reef Aquariums for Dummies . No lie it’s a great book I’ve kept mine for 15 years it will answer all of your questions about reefing

Also I set up a 120 gallon system in October I’m waiting 2 more months before I start with SPS . I have 75% Caribe Sea ,25% live rock that I’ve had for 15 rears to help seed my tank

 

[Crustaceon]

You won’t hear this too often but in the scheme of “stability”, setting up your tank to grow beneficial first and foremost is key. This goes way beyond just the initial cycling process. It’s ensuring your tank has a BALANCED set of nitrate and phosphates that isn’t either too high or too low without consistent and continued coral feeding to compensate. This is what a mature tank is. It’s not necessarily a “time” thing either as a tank can be “matured” within a month or two. It’s more of a question of whether or not that bacteria population can keep nitrates and phosphates at a stable level, while preventing other critters that irritate sps corals from popping up. Get this part down first. Then use mechanical methods to rigidly maintain alk/cal/mg. Then use a method to rigidly maintain nitrates and phosphates at a certain level. Lastly, don’t make any changes that will noticeably and immediately change any of the above.

 

[JCOLE]

Stability, test, test, test, and keep it simple.

Also, I dont think 2 XR15's will be enough to keep Acropora happy on a 80 gallon. I would go with two XR30s at a minimum.

If it were up to me I would get an ATI Sunpower T5 setup. That is more than enough to keep Acros happy.

 

[X-37B]

This is the crux of my post. I planned my equipment and I am not just adding as I go. Part of that is to ask, HEY, am I missing anything?

Yea I think your missing what I said.
If you dont know what you need then take a step back before putting water in your tank.
Example: you bought a doser because you expect to dose.
I dosed my 120 by hand daily from day one for 6 months so I understood the demand before firing up my carx.
I dose trace and carbon by hand daily for the last 20 months.
I run no ph probe or controller on my carx. This was all planned before water went into my tank.

All im trying to say is present your plan and you will get a more detailed respose.

You asked, "what does it really take to succeed".

Knowledge, experience, and following a plan from day one and sticking to it!

A quality reefing book can be your mentor.

 

[Tamberav]

My 80g mixed reef gets wet next week and I want to eventually get some Acropora thriving in there.

My question is, other than sufficient lighting (I'm using XR15 Gen5 blue Radions), what does it really take? Dosing to keep parameters more consistent? Trace elements? Skimming? What is it that allows you guys to grow and color these things up in awe inspiring systems?

I don't want to spend a small fortune on Battlecorals then fail miserably. I need a mentor... volunteers send application via PM, please

Good quality live rock from an established tank or the ocean (such as KPA) is the quickest/easiest way to get acro's growing.

The rest of it is pretty easy. Can just buy your lighting, flow, dosers, testers, no problem. The biological component is the most tricky... and yes some people can get acro's growing quickly with dry rock, but many can not.

 

[zukihara]

Stability, test, test, test, and keep it simple.

Also, I dont think 2 XR15's will be enough to keep Acropora happy on a 80 gallon. I would go with two XR30s at a minimum.

If it were up to me I would get an ATI Sunpower T5 setup. That is more than enough to keep Acros happy.

 

[zukihara]

I am very interested in the microfanua conversation vs the rest.

 

[zukihara]

Basically, what I see is a bunch of microfauna guys and then a bunch of voodoo. Little science provided anywhere. It's as if people do not want new people to succeed.

 

[ReefMagnet]

Stability stability stability...My Reefer 250 did not reach its biological stability until after 14 months. Prior to that any acro I tried would not last >2 weeks. I started with 100% dry rock so like other reefers already mentioned it took time to reach equilibrium to keep sps. I did have skimmer, doser, ATO, refugium, temp controller...from the start and added GFO/Carbon reactor 3 months after. I tested water 2x a week and still do 10% weekly water change religiously. It will happen one day if you stay patient and keep up with husbandry. How do we know when the system is ready for sps or acro to be specific? For me if I can keep monti digitata and Bali slimer color up nicely like what we would see in LFS or seasoned reefer DT the system is ready for more sps. Oh btw one thing I think is critical to keep system stable is always have some backup equipments handy like return pump, thermometer, powerhead and spare pump for skimmer in case something went wrong

 

[Lovefish77]

An act of God

 

[X-37B]

Basically, what I see is a bunch of microfauna guys and then a bunch of voodoo. Little science provided anywhere. It's as if people do not want new people to succeed.

Get some live rock, 50% and your golden. You cant tell my caribsea from live now and most rock is covered in coral now anyway.

 

[JCOLE]

Are you trolling? You ask a question and then reply with this crap when people try to give you help. Good luck with your system buddy!

 

[Mellotang]

Agreed

 

[zukihara]

Are you trolling? You ask a question and then reply with this crap when people try to give you help. Good luck with your system buddy!

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.

 

[Hincapiej4]

Be ocd! Ahha

 

[zukihara]

please. If xr15 gen 5 x2 in a 32x24x24 footprint is not enough to keep sps happy in a mixed reef please let me know asap

 

[JCOLE]

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.

I never said it cannot grow SPS. I said to keep them happy. I would go with 4 XR15's to keep them happy. What do I know though?

 

[zukihara]

4 xr15 gen5 for 32"?

 

[Hincapiej4]

4 xr15 gen5 for 32"?

It depends on your par/pur though.. hard to say yes or no. Only one way to find out...