Care for Acropora Sarmentosa

Punchanello · Sep 25, 2018

Hi all,

I was hoping for your tips on keeping acropora sarmentosa. Mine looks something like this only my colony is about double the size-

My experience is limited so generally I try to blast sps with turbulent flow and fry them with light. Can someone provide a more nuanced approach? I currently have the coral in the in the top third of the tank under 4 x 80watt T5 and 4 pucks of LEDs. It's been there a few days and seems happy enough but grateful for you thoughts.

I'd also like to know what the growth pattern on these is for final placement. At the moment it looks like a crooked clustered branching type colony but some of the photos I have seen of large colonies seem to have a tabling form.

Grateful for any help and schexshy pics.

gdemos · Sep 25, 2018

Cant locate good pics sarmentosa in my system grow in tightly packed bush form, may get ‘leggy’ in lower flow. I cant say ive seen them table maybe when initial finding its base but ultimately tight and bush like. Seems tolerant of lower light 150par but does fine mid light

My particular piece does not have much color but nice structure

Graffiti Spot · Sep 26, 2018

A bushy coral normally would be described as a coral that grows up and outward with decent branches. Sarmentosa has very short nubby branches is a more of a table than anything. The tight clustered growth should continue to grow outward.

jda · Sep 26, 2018

I have one that does pretty well lower in my tank at about 250-275 PAR under 14k Phoenix. It is not a super fast grower for me, but it is nice. Mine is green with purple tips and polyps and is quite stunning... it was a frag from a wild Aussie piece.

Reefer40b · Sep 26, 2018

Mine is also not a very fast grower, and is probably about the same par as jda Led/T5 but my par is just a guesstimate. Mines Green with reddish tips, should table out with short stubbly branches.

Punchanello · Sep 26, 2018

Pedoconfuego said:
A bushy coral normally would be described as a coral that grows up and outward with decent branches. Sarmentosa has very short nubby branches is a more of a table than anything. The tight clustered growth should continue to grow outward.

Yes, I think this is what I see in mine. Thank you.

jda · Sep 29, 2018

Here is a very belated photo of mine. Green with cream and purple tips.

Reefer40b · Sep 29, 2018

Here is mine even with frying some of my corals this one still looks great!

pdxmonkeyboy · Sep 30, 2018

looks great!!

maroun.c · Oct 1, 2018

Can't get it to do well in 3 different tanks for some reason

-Alex- · Oct 1, 2018

I think they like a lot of light with not to blue spectrum.
The A. sarmentosta sits at the top of my tank with ~1400W of T5 and LED and growing pretty well. Here 2 Pic´s. First one is about one year ago.

What I also noticed is they don’t do well when fragged in to too small pieces and it takes a long time till they start to grow.

markalot · Oct 1, 2018

Mine was on the back wall, mag rock, until it got too heavy. I do think it had better tip color under lower PAR. 200 PAR in the old spot, 275 in this spot.

The pinkish hue on the tips varies greatly depending on the amount of nitrates in my experience.

jda · Oct 1, 2018

I love the blue tips on that one.

29bonsaireef · Oct 1, 2018

Wow, all of these are awesome. Really like this coral, one of my top 5 for sure. Here is mine back in March. New system, and new location make it near impossible to photograph now. Just love the pearlescent colors in these. Mine is in pretty low par - 280-300ish, if I'm correct.

vetteguy53081 · Oct 1, 2018

Always nice to hear where others place their coral and under what type of lighting

Punchanello · Oct 2, 2018

Reefer40b said:
Here is mine even with frying some of my corals this one still looks great!

I'll post mine up tonight but I think it is very similar. I've only had it in my tank for a couple so I think prior to that it has been in some fairly variable conditions. One large chunk of growth is significantly whiter than the rest which is pale green. like yours