Help with acan

[chadly1990]

Anyone know what could be causing this? All parameters are normal. It started deflating a little bit yesterday so I did a 30% water change Thinking something was off.

Ph:8.3
Temp 78
Alk: 9.2
Nitrate: less than 10


The only thing I could think of is I switched salts, and light profile. About a week ago. Is it possible that it’s just now reacting? Everything else in the tank except for some zoas (right next to it ) and the acan are doing great.

 

[chadly1990]

this is it back on the 12th before all the little heads decided to show up

 

[Hemmdog]

It looks like it’s just encrusting a bit to accommodate the new heads. Mine do this to. What is your cal and magnesium just in case? It might also be a little to bright being elevated closer to the light on the frag rack like that, mine are on rocks resting on the sand bed and do well.

 

[Shep]

Acans are just kind of weird to be honest, sometimes they'll be really puffed up and then all of a sudden they won't be. Also long as you don't start seeing tissue receding and skeleton poking through, they are fine

 

[chadly1990]

It looks like it’s just encrusting a bit to accommodate the new heads. Mine do this to. What is your cal and magnesium just in case? It might also be a little to bright being elevated closer to the light on the frag rack like that, mine are on rocks resting on the sand bed and do well.

I don’t have a mag test kit yet, it’s in my cart at brs.[emoji52]

 

[chadly1990]

Acans are just kind of weird to be honest, sometimes they'll be really puffed up and then all of a sudden they won't be. Also long as you don't start seeing tissue receding and skeleton poking through, they are fine

Hmm, yeah I have never had them before. I got it at a lfs and it was in really bad shape/color. I’ve been feeding it everyday and it has really came around. It is now the favorite, I saw this and I’ve been really worried. I was running a modified brs ab + on my ai prime. I switched it to the regular ab+ about a week ago, basically just backed the white spectrum down.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

I agree sometimes they will randomly retract but as long as it's not an extended time I wouldn't worry. Does seem they are happiest and display more colors with lower par areas

 

[12gallonsofhex]

Anyone know what could be causing this? All parameters are normal. It started deflating a little bit yesterday so I did a 30% water change Thinking something was off.

Ph:8.3
Temp 78
Alk: 9.2
Nitrate: less than 10


The only thing I could think of is I switched salts, and light profile. About a week ago. Is it possible that it’s just now reacting? Everything else in the tank except for some zoas (right next to it ) and the acan are doing great.

My acans are sensitive to alk swings and will suck back like that if I do a sizeable w/c with higher alk salt. I now check the parameters of my saltwater mix and tank before doing a w/c. If alk is more than 0.5 dkh i do multiple smaller w/c's over a few days instead of one bigger w/c.

 

[Garia666]

All the advise above is solid, I see this behavior also if my nitrates and phosphates are low ( dosing nopox )

 

[chadly1990]

I agree sometimes they will randomly retract but as long as it's not an extended time I wouldn't worry. Does seem they are happiest and display more colors with lower par areas

What would you consider a long time?

 

[chadly1990]

Thank you for all the help.

 

[Austin Lee]

if you're feeding it and this is it's first time doing this, I'd let it be. They can be finicky sometimes. I've even had them recede an entire head only for it to grow right back -_-

 

[chadly1990]

if you're feeding it and this is it's first time doing this, I'd let it be. They can be finicky sometimes. I've even had them recede an entire head only for it to grow right back -_-

Yeah. I had been feeding it a little bit daily then skipped a day. And was like no way this is what caused it. Anywhoo hopefully it pulls out of it. It’s my one of my favorites I think I will put all the zoas, and the acan on there own rack and then move them a little lower. Not sure why all the sudden they would be sensitive to the light when they have been there for weeks. But anything is worth a shot!

 

[chadly1990]

All the advise above is solid, I see this behavior also if my nitrates and phosphates are low ( dosing nopox )

Hmm. So sounds like they are a finicky bunch. I will have to give it another test in the am. Thank you

 

[KirstenB]

I just had this happen my acan yesterday. Ty for this post!

 

[chadly1990]

So something is definitely off. Does anyone have any ideas where to start?
All levels appear to be normal

Would spectrum change effect them this much? I mean it was a slight adjustment not a huge change

 

[chadly1990]

Alk was 9.2

 

[JohnMzreef]

I'd take it out of that frag rack and put it down at the bottom for starters. Your water seems ok so its either lighting, flow, or something picking at them.

 

[chadly1990]

So, update the acans are improving, they appeared to have just been encrusting/ making more room for the smaller heads. They are still not as ballooned as before but are way better. The feeding response is still a little lethargic, but appears to be improving as well. I took your advice and moved them down pretty low. And I let the nitrates come up to somewhere between 10-20. Between the ultra low nutrients and the new light program I think it was too much too quick. I definitely learned a lesson thankfully nothing died. Thank you all for the help I appreciate it.