Could I get an ID please?

jsiker · Aug 31, 2016

Hello all.

Just bought this at my LFS but I didn't catch the name/type of this particular coral. They told me it was hardy for a young tank and I liked how it looks so I took the plunge.

Anyways, any thoughts?

Tahoe61 · Aug 31, 2016

Image is now working for me.

jsiker · Aug 31, 2016

jsiker said:
Hello all.

Just bought this at my LFS but I didn't catch the name/type of this particular coral. They told me it was hardy for a young tank and I liked how it looks so I took the plunge.

Anyways, any thoughts?

Bah, not sure what happened to the pic. Try #2

Triggreef · Aug 31, 2016

Looks like some type of acro. Keep calcium higher than 380 and keep alk stable. Nutrients not too high and it will be fine. However i would not market it as an easy coral or good for a new tank. What coral is pickier than acropora? None.

jsiker · Sep 1, 2016

If that is the case and this is an acro then I'm in for an interesting time. My calc has stayed steady at 500 for months and I try to keep the fish feedings to what they can consume without too much left over. So far it hasn't browned out, or bleached, and I can see it coming out during the day and the early evenings.

Hopefully things are stable enough to keep it growing.

Thanks #triggreef !

G8trBait16 · Sep 1, 2016

jsiker said:
If that is the case and this is an acro then I'm in for an interesting time. My calc has stayed steady at 500 for months and I try to keep the fish feedings to what they can consume without too much left over. So far it hasn't browned out, or bleached, and I can see it coming out during the day and the early evenings.

Hopefully things are stable enough to keep it growing.

Thanks #triggreef !

I agree with Triggreef, I does look like an acro. How old is your tank, what kind of lights and water parameters? I have an sps dominated reef, with mostly acro's. If you have anymore questions feel free to ask, I'mean still learning more everyday from the guru's on here. Good luck to you .

jsiker · Sep 1, 2016

Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 5-10
Salt 1.024
Calc 500
Mg 1400

I need to retest the dkh tonight. I have 2 different test kits for it and they have been giving me conflicting info (or I'm just reading the results wrong

)

My params have been really stable since I setup the tank. Every once in a while I need to dose with a 2 part to get the ph/dkh up but other than that things have been very stable overall.

Lighting is currently 3 Current USA Marine lights. I run the whites for 11 hours at 75%. I had to cut that down due to some hair algae issues (but the tank is just over 3 months old so I expected SOME ugliness!).

Let me state that I didn't intend to get an acro this early, but it is what it is and I want to try and make this work.

Tahoe61 · Sep 1, 2016

I am going with Valida, and a very browned out piece. Give it sufficient lighting and low nutrient water quality and it should turn around in a month or more. It's an easier sps to maintain and a fast grower.

Triggreef · Sep 1, 2016

That's pretty high on the whites although I'm not familiar with those particular lights. Usually i suggest to people to run blues at about 30 percent higher than whites. Like 90%blues 60%whites or if lower intensity 60/40 etc etc. Corals can take much more blue spectrum and they look better under blue anyway.

jsiker · Sep 1, 2016

I'm still playing with the intensity on the lights as I just started getting some corals. I'll lower to 60% white 90% blue tonight and let it set for a week or so.

CastAway · Sep 1, 2016

+1 on browned out A. valida.

AquamanE · Sep 1, 2016

Those other parameters are fine. But most important is ALK. Pick a reasonable number and keep it STEADY. No acro is a beginners or new tank "hardy" coral.

juicedreef · Sep 1, 2016

I would for sure say acro... any s.p.s coral isn't good for a young tank ink my opinion. High calcium 400 ppm high alk and keep it and ph steady and good laminar flow... any valida iv seen is generally green and purple tips and they are the hardiest sps supposedly maybe a browned out frogskin acro? but higher light as well has always helped me and definitely keep phosphates down, if you can for sure get a good food for filter corals

jsiker · Sep 1, 2016

Just reran my tests:

Calc 500
MG 1600
Dkh 8.4

That's been consistent for the most part through out the life of the tank. All other parameters are still the same as well.

I've adjusted my lights to 60% white 90% blue and that cycle will start tomorrow.

I did do a little research on the side and apparently there is a brown version of the valida that looks VERY similar to the one I have. Not disagreeing that the one I have IS brown, but under the blue lights I can still see the yellow/green coming from the ends of the coral. I believe this coral was probably not in the best shape, but I'm going to do my best to save it and get it to grow.

If anyone can recommend any good ways to nurse it back to full health I'm always open to suggestions.

I do regret buying this one so early, I hadn't intended to get something that would have been better off in a older, more established tank. We learn through our mistakes more than our successes sometimes. I'm going to use this as a crash course in nursing an acro back to health, so keep the suggestions/helpful advice coming everyone.

This is one of the best sources I've ever found for ANY hobby I've had and I appreciate anything and everything you folks have to offer!

juicedreef · Sep 1, 2016

I'd say just stay diligent with some weekly water changes dont blast with super lighting and keep the phosphates at bay and decent flow around it it should be good and try to give some food! Just MO