Battlecorals Snipes Blue Discussion Thread

[Mrx7899]

Ok thanks

 

[kurtp]

Hey, Sushitheshiba, how did you do this side-by-side photo thing That is a great way to see the growth...

Sept submission. Lagging on the encrusting compared to everyone since I’m still trying to figure out a spot for it (moved it around quite a bit). Also trying to raise the nutrients since I believed I bottomed out the phosphates last month. I think I also found a good spot for measuring it more accurately compared to the entry pic lol

 

[Sushitheshiba]

Hey, Sushitheshiba, how did you do this side-by-side photo thing That is a great way to see the growth...

I use this app called “PhotoGrid”. It’s a free app on iPhone, not sure about android.

 

[MTBake]

I'll get my official pic up next weekend. The frag did take a week or two to transition to the new light

Just took this one

 

[Ento-Reefer]

That’s a ton of par. I took some readings with a par meter known not to be great for leds, which I have and got 350+ par in most locations on the rock and 200+ on the sand and my sps were paling big time.

I turned back my lights by about 30-40% and color started up. Everyone’s tank is different though.

My frag is sitting in about 275. I have been gradually raising my alk over the past 3 weeks. I am sitting at 9.1-9.3, up from around 7.8. I am curious to see how all of my frags react over time. I am seeing new growth on some already.

 

[Ento-Reefer]

My frag looks to be behind on encrusting compared to most of the others thus far. I am hoping it picks up this month.

I have several other frags that seem to be liking the increased alk and are really showing some growth. Fingers crossed here.

 

[KJoFan]

My frag is sitting in about 275. I have been gradually raising my alk over the past 3 weeks. I am sitting at 9.1-9.3, up from around 7.8. I am curious to see how all of my frags react over time. I am seeing new growth on some already.

I would guess mine is sitting in a smiliar par though my alk has recently been dropping from a high around 9 to 7.8 as of testing a couple hours ago. If it keep dropping I will need to (re)start my doser most likely.

I had stopped dosing due to trying kalk and overdoing it, so have been letting alk drop naturally.

 

[ESH]

I think it took me 6 months of learning via trial and error to lock in a pretty solid alk level within my tank through using a calcium reactor and doser, and Im pretty surprised that some of the corals I have in the tank are still around now and starting to do pretty good. I've gotten away from testing unless something seems off and now only try to do so 1x a month. I'd do more if I had the time. The good news is when I retested from last month levels are pretty much the same, minus the phos increase as I have been increasing my feeding to the tank, going from 0 to .1. Now I just gotta figure out the best levels for lighting!

 

[hwntunda]

I know rules state that the ruler be in the same place, but what if growth/encrusting eventually doesn’t allow the same placement?

 

[bubbaque]

Just do your best. I doubt the ruler will even be the deciding factor when Adam chooses the winner. He will probably just look at all pics and see what looks to have growth the most overall.

 

[bubbaque]

Frag is in its final resting place

That doesn't look like a good spot for it!! I would keep moving it all around to find the sweet spot.

 

[SneakyTortuga]

That doesn't look like a good spot for it!! I would keep moving it all around to find the sweet spot.

tbh you inspired me to do a big change to the tank for better or worse ill be blaming you! pictures soon to come

 

[bubbaque]

Oh boy, I am ready to see what change this is ;Wideyed

 

[kurtp]

I'm impressed with how well everyone's Snipers is doing. All the Sept entry photos show great color and significant encrustation. I think there are going to be a lot of beautiful colonies by the time we are done with this contest.

 

[bubbaque]

I agree! It seems to be growing well for most people.

 

[Fishfinder]

My corallites are really starting to show the teal/green on them

 

[Mark Gray]

Well wish me luck i am leaving my tank for almost 2 weeks. Hope nothing dies lol

 

[CNDReef]

Good luck and take some pictures for us while you’re there

 

[Jason Hieger]

Below is a September top down picture. I feel like there was more horizonal growth?

 

[kurtp]

Jason, your frag looks nice and healthy, and like most entries I've seen so far the growth has been primarily 'horizontal.' From what others have said who have had this coral for a while it seems its one of those acros that likes to lie down a nice solid foundation before shooting up branches. Apparently, once it has encrusted its vertical growth is pretty rapid.
My entry frag is in the majority....after 7 weeks in my tank I see no discernible vertical growth, but I am pleased with the encrustment and the color is even better than when I first put it in my tank (and I thought it was stunning even then). The teal corallite tips contrast well against the purple blue base and its polyps are almost always out.

36 days worth of encrusting:

I fiddled with the 'warmth' setting in snapseed on yesterday's photo to get as close to the true color of the Snipers as I could and except that there is a bit too much lavender in the top right branch and the leading growth edge of the base is bleached out, the color is pretty much spot on....I think we can all agree our new Snipers are going to be one of our tanks' superstars