Merlin's staff acropora

Paul31733 · Nov 16, 2020

Hey everybody!
I have ordered a Merlin's staff acropora frag from an lfs. I should get it in a few days.
I am wondering if anyone has any specific tips for this Acro.
I have only tried Acro once before and was unsuccessful. I am growing Montis and Anacropora successfully so far.
This is the Acro I am talking about for reference.

kdino · Nov 16, 2020

Nice! What lights do you have? Mine liked being half way up in the tank, out if indirect flow. Was growing from a small frag that size to a softball in about 8 months before I lost it all to a tank crash.

Had a second frag up at the tippy top that didn't do anything for well over a year, just sat that smiling the whole time. So I would say medium light for sure. Mine was probably in about 250 par.

Under 2 hydra 52 hds

CCauthers · Nov 16, 2020

For a starter stick, I don't think this is a super easy one. What par are you planning on putting it in?

Paul31733 · Nov 16, 2020

I have an a.i. prime. I have a seneye I can use to check par. I have rock work that goes from the bottom of my tank up to the top 3/4 of the tank so I have a varied amount of par.

Paul31733 · Nov 16, 2020

CCauthers said:
For a starter stick, I don't think this is a super easy one. What par are you planning on putting it in?

I understand there are harder and easier acros to keep. The thing is I only have this one tank. And I only really want corals I love in it!!
I am getting the frag for under 100 Canadian so is a fairly cheap frag.
I don't like killing animals by any means
..but I also don't want to have an Acropora colony thrive in my tank that I don't want there in the first place. I am praying to the coral gods that this is the Acro that works for me!! Please pray with me lol.

Ciscodog · Feb 23, 2021

How is your Merlin doing?

Paul31733 · Feb 23, 2021

Ciscodog said:
How is your Merlin doing?

So far so good. It is basing out and has polyps out. Color is still not all there..
These are pics from a 2 weeks ago as I'm not home.

Paul31733 · Feb 23, 2021

This was when I got it... Just for growth reference.. the base has really grown. This is only my second Acro and the tank is a 13.5 gallon so I don't know how long this will last!

Ciscodog · Feb 27, 2021

Sweet. I got one a couple weeks ago as well. Looks like its already basing out for me but then again its still pretty small frag. The reason I asked is I have read its a painfully slow grower but I was seeing growth already.

Paul31733 · Feb 27, 2021

Ciscodog said:
Sweet. I got one a couple weeks ago as well. Looks like its already basing out for me but then again its still pretty small frag. The reason I asked is I have read its a painfully slow grower but I was seeing growth already.

Ya mine is basing out a bunch I'll take a picture later when pumps off. This is only my second Acro...first one did not live to grow this much haha.

BradB · Feb 28, 2021

Got one yesterday, following

Paul31733 · Mar 2, 2021

Here are some very blue shots from my feeding time when pumps were off..
It has started climbing up a small rock face as well but I cannot get a good picture of this.
Red arrow points to spot where it has climbed.
Paul.