My Acro Collection

[DesertReefT4r]

Wow super nice little sticks you have there.

 

[bobbyM]

Super nice! Following!

 

[Aaron-A2]

@hatfielj - You mentioned in the first page you dosed nitrates/phosphates. Can you go into details what you dose exactly / how much / how often?

I have 0 no3/po4. My cheato is growing great, coral isn't doing bad, but i feel like the colors are lacking.

 

[hatfielj]

@hatfielj - You mentioned in the first page you dosed nitrates/phosphates. Can you go into details what you dose exactly / how much / how often?

I have 0 no3/po4. My cheato is growing great, coral isn't doing bad, but i feel like the colors are lacking.

I dose sodium nitrate and monosodium phosphate powders that I mix with RO water (10g no3/1L and 1g PO4/1L). Right now about 35mL per day on a dosing pump, but it varies based on what the levels are when I test. I'm still getting it dialed in, but it requires frequent testing.
The reason your cheato is growing great is because it's using all of your tank's nutrients and leaving little for the corals. I would get rid of the cheato and see what your levels look like before I would consider dosing.

 

[Aaron-A2]

I dose sodium nitrate and monosodium phosphate powders that I mix with RO water (10g no3/1L and 1g PO4/1L). Right now about 35mL per day on a dosing pump, but it varies based on what the levels are when I test. I'm still getting it dialed in, but it requires frequent testing.
The reason your cheato is growing great is because it's using all of your tank's nutrients and leaving little for the corals. I would get rid of the cheato and see what your levels look like before I would consider dosing.

Thanks for the details. Would you mind posting where you buy sodium nitrate / monosodium phosphate powders?

I actually turned off my Skimmer 2 weeks ago to try and bring no3/po4 up, but so far it's nothing. Using the red sea test kit, it seems there's a HINT or pink, but Hannah po4 checker is showing 0.

 

[hatfielj]

Thanks for the details. Would you mind posting where you buy sodium nitrate / monosodium phosphate powders?

I actually turned off my Skimmer 2 weeks ago to try and bring no3/po4 up, but so far it's nothing. Using the red sea test kit, it seems there's a HINT or pink, but Hannah po4 checker is showing 0.

I just got them from Amazon.
You'd be surprised how good cheato is at removing nutrients.

 

[Fr4nkthet4nk]

Under what PAR are those corals placed? What a beautiful colors!

 

[RayMejia2016]

@hatfielj You have great polyp extension on your sps. Wondering how you get that. Im trying out a Cali Tort thats about 3'' tall and havent seen any polyp extension.

 

[hatfielj]

Under what PAR are those corals placed? What a beautiful colors!

I'm actually not sure what my PAR is right now. I've been meaning to ask my LFS if they have a PAR meter I could borrow for a day to take measurements. I have 10 T5's and 3 reefbrites over a 24" tall tank though, so I would imagine my PAR is pretty high. However, most of my corals are halfway down in the water, except for a few.

@hatfielj You have great polyp extension on your sps. Wondering how you get that. Im trying out a Cali Tort thats about 3'' tall and havent seen any polyp extension.

Polyp extension is like the "canary in the coal mine." Corals extend their polyps when they have everything they need and are relatively happy. When I see loss of polyp extension I look for problems right away. It could be flow issues, parameters, pests, toxins, really anything that irritates them.
I will say though that Torts don't usually extend their polyps much compared to many of the other acros.

 

[declanisadog]

Beautiful stuff, and excellent pictures! Looking forward to watching them grow

 

[rogero]

Nice colors !

 

[Scorpius]

My Blue Green Tort always has it's polyps out during the day.

 

[hatfielj]

Another round of tiny sticks from my photo session the other night....

ASD Rainbow Milli (the orange blur is JF Cherry Tree Monti below)

Copps Bella's Acro - This one is turning into a real gem. It was solid pink/red when I got it and now it's getting yellows!

CRT Goldilocks - Hairiest acro in my tank, those polyps are always out like that

CRT Goldmeister - growing fast already and I really like the unique yellow/green with yellow tips and hints of pink and a dark red, almost purple base. It's a very unique acro

CRT Limit Breaker - Blue growing tips, pink body with yellow coralites and a green base! Crazy coral

A few more to follow...

 

[hatfielj]

JF Beach Bum - so far a very slow grower for a monti, sorry the focus is a little off

JF Fox Flame

JF Mr. Yuck

Paletta Pink Tip

Pinky the Bear

Tierra Del Fuego

WWC Super Red Clathrata (focus a little off again, low lighting with big aperture made it tough)

That's it for now! Hopefully next time I post they will all be a lot bigger, lol

 

[x2uranium]

The budget went ......



Alllllll the way upppp.. lol
As usual nice pics.
I need to figure out some settings to take pics on my camera with reefbrites on.

 

[Kinggeorge818]

Wow beautiful corals and great pics! Keep us updated.

 

[loz]

Hellboy looking nice ,FTS?

 

[Lninwa]

Where do you buy your corals?

 

[hatfielj]

Hellboy looking nice ,FTS?

Haven't taken one yet because it's not much to look at yet, I'll work on it though

Where do you buy your corals?

I bought several packs from hobbyists on here (Coral Reef Tank, Reefnjunkie, and Mr. V). And I bought a couple of packs from Jason Fox and WWC.

 

[WLDSHARK]

Excellent collection, Thank yfor sharing and giving us the common coral name with each picture. Tagging along to see these frags turn colonies soon...