My new obsession

[Charlie’s Frags]

Sorry I missed the launch on this thread, but wow! That is some fun new eye candy you have cooking.

I've got the Veron book out now trying to ID.

Humilis?
Suharsonoi?

I just traded a bucket of blue and green staghorn for a small, Indo/mari suharsonoi colony that has some promising color. Sitting in my T5 tank for QT but will move it next week or so.

My photo skills/equipment stink. Maybe the new iphone is better so I will give it a try once I move under LED blues.

Malaysian speciosa’s

 

[ScottB]

No3/Po4 5-35/0.10-0.35

Remember: STABILITY IS KEY
/s

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Remember: STABILITY IS KEY
/s

Mr Stability is my nickname

 

[ScottB]

Mr Stability is my nickname

How many times have you read "ALK spike killed all my acros: massive change from 7.2 to 7.6 wiped out everything"

I butt dialed "ON" for the APEX DOS once for the ALK head. Put in a liter overnight. Blastos didn't care for it much; nobody else noticed. Well, my pumps were also pretty bothered.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

How many times have you read "ALK spike killed all my acros: massive change from 7.2 to 7.6 wiped out everything"

I butt dialed "ON" for the APEX DOS once for the ALK head. Put in a liter overnight. Blastos didn't care for it much; nobody else noticed. Well, my pumps were also pretty bothered.

So many times that I’m not really participating much in those threads anymore. Between that and arguing with the hobbyists thinking 0.15 Po4 is causing sps tank crashes is just too much of a head ache.

 

[jda]

I am sure that you know that I don't subscribe to the "alk swing killing tanks" thing (or any one parameter for the most part) and that all of those threads are usually overblown, but you will probably find the long term keeping of A. Speciosa to be different than A. Tenuis. Usually, everything is Ok until there is just one event that is the final straw and then people are scratching their heads with both a). everything was fine yesterday and b). my other acros are fine. You can tell me to F Off and I will never post about it again, but just trying to help since you really appear to like those corals. Don't make the mistake of thinking that all acropora have the same care levels. There have been some REALLY solid acropora farmers and keepers who have lost A. Speciosa, and other smoothies, to minor events when most every other acropora was OK. Of course, there appears to be both easier and harder specific A. Speciosa, just like any other kind. If you don't have to tighten it up, then that is great, but be prepared since many others have had to...

 

[Sweet Reef Corals]

I am sure that you know that I don't subscribe to the "alk swing killing tanks" thing (or any one parameter for the most part) and that all of those threads are usually overblown, but you will probably find the long term keeping of A. Speciosa to be different than A. Tenuis. Usually, everything is Ok until there is just one event that is the final straw and then people are scratching their heads with both a). everything was fine yesterday and b). my other acros are fine. You can tell me to F Off and I will never post about it again, but just trying to help since you really appear to like those corals. Don't make the mistake of thinking that all acropora have the same care levels. There have been some REALLY solid acropora farmers and keepers who have lost A. Speciosa, and other smoothies, to minor events when most every other acropora was OK. Of course, there appears to be both easier and harder specific A. Speciosa, just like any other kind. If you don't have to tighten it up, then that is great, but be prepared since many others have had to...

I am not gonna discount your observations regarding A. Speciosa but we really don’t know what goes on behind the scenes of someone’s setup that none of us know about. I know very well known acro keepers that can’t seem to stop tinkering with their systems, upgrading this, trying out that, installing this new gadget all the while never testing their NO3 & PO4 which are as equally important to keep track of as Calcium & Magnesium. A. Speciosa may just be a bit more susceptible to the lack of close attention but get blamed for being finicky. If you don’t have the time to keep an eye on ALL your numbers when you have high end acros, then you have too much money and/or too little time. This is just my anecdotal analysis of some Speciosa keepers that I know that have failed at keeping them. Myself included!

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

I am sure that you know that I don't subscribe to the "alk swing killing tanks" thing (or any one parameter for the most part) and that all of those threads are usually overblown, but you will probably find the long term keeping of A. Speciosa to be different than A. Tenuis. Usually, everything is Ok until there is just one event that is the final straw and then people are scratching their heads with both a). everything was fine yesterday and b). my other acros are fine. You can tell me to F Off and I will never post about it again, but just trying to help since you really appear to like those corals. Don't make the mistake of thinking that all acropora have the same care levels. There have been some REALLY solid acropora farmers and keepers who have lost A. Speciosa, and other smoothies, to minor events when most every other acropora was OK. Of course, there appears to be both easier and harder specific A. Speciosa, just like any other kind. If you don't have to tighten it up, then that is great, but be prepared since many others have had to...

F OFF hahaha
Just kidding @jda
I appreciate your concern and agree they are different than Tenuis…but not for the same reasons. They’ve actually been easier than most Tenuis for me. I had 1 a couple years ago that was growing better than any acro but I lost it to these new parasitic copepods that have come out since indo opened back up. Long story, but I basically trusted a well respected hobbyists that heard about a new “dip” concoction from a certain vendor (1 of your favorites btw) instead of my usual Bayer. Skip to….I got the bugs and lost it before I could get my hands on dr G’s or interceptor.

I’m fully aware that these corals are considered “sensitive”, and I’m pretty sure I know of the collector(s) you’re referring to but those hobbyists and most others I know that have failed all have 1 thing in common. They’re terrified of po4….which I am not. So we’ll see. All of these didn’t cost me much believe it not, so it won’t be the end of the world if you’re right. But so far….my methods are working pretty well.
I know you’re only trying to help

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

.

 

[Perry]

I thought some more about your specific differences. I’m not afraid to throw ai under the bus but I actually believe the t5s are causing your issues. I know they are great for growing corals but the caveat to that is the color. Think about all the times you’ve heard ppl remark about the “flat” color t5s produce. I know all the Tenuis I’ve received from t5 users are flat/washed out looking. They start to “pop/glow” more a couple months under high powered LEDs. Just my anecdotal observations.

Hey Charlie, I can see your point, but I would lean on husbandry over lighting, as well as nutrient levels. I actually had a LFS back in 2016, bring over several frag racks loaded with acros, to color up in my old 120 for a couple months prior to RAP. They ran exclusively radion pro g4's. The owner of the LFS, would give me frags all the time, just to see what they would do in my system. I was using AF Probiotic method back then, I believe that system attributed to my crazy colors. Anecdotal observation here as well.
Cheers

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Hey Charlie, I can see your point, but I would lean on husbandry over lighting, as well as nutrient levels. I actually had a LFS back in 2016, bring over several frag racks loaded with acros, to color up in my old 120 for a couple months prior to RAP. They ran exclusively radion pro g4's. The owner of the LFS, would give me frags all the time, just to see what they would do in my system. I was using AF Probiotic method back then, I believe that system attributed to my crazy colors. Anecdotal observation here as well.
Cheers

Of course those play a role. That conversation was more specific to @SweetReefOH differences with his prime/t5 hybrid vs his ocean revives all LEDs.

Here’s another tank quirk of mine
These 2 Tenuis are both directly under a fixture. They grow straight up. Drives me nuts

 

[Sweet Reef Corals]

Not only do you have good polyp extension, you’ve got great coral extension!

 

[ScottB]

Of course those play a role. That conversation was more specific to @SweetReefOH differences with his prime/t5 hybrid vs his ocean revives all LEDs.

Here’s another tank quirk of mine
These 2 Tenuis are both directly under a fixture. They grow straight up. Drives me nuts

Looking pretty crowded in there Charlie. Somebody steal your clippers? Is your backyard this cluttered? Somebody is going to rat you out to the ASPCA if you don't start rehoming some of your pets.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Looking pretty crowded in there Charlie. Somebody steal your clippers? Is your backyard this cluttered? Somebody is going to rat you out to the ASPCA if you don't start rehoming some of your pets.

That will be 1 of my spring cleaning chores

 

[KevinC]

You know, I’ve not discounted the T5’s causing the bad color. Hence the reason I swapped out the Aquablue bulb for the actinic. So you may be on to something. I’d love a good reason to have to totally replace my lighting setup on the DT! Lol

I can’t say I’ve ever got coral from a T5 user.... Most all the sellers I’ve purchased from use LED’s and a couple used Halides. But you’ve got me anxious to find out if that’s the culprit. I’ll give this bulb combo a month to see changes. It’s usually noticeable about week 3 under the Revives.

T5 combo is also a factor, I did an experiment with a 4 bulb fixture, my solar flare which is under actinic and purple plus (back) brought out the pink. Another piece in the front under 1 blue plus and coral plus made it look like a sunset mille with hint of red

 

[ScottB]

That will be 1 of my spring cleaning chores

I am here for you Chuck. You have my address already. What are friends for?

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

 

[ScottB]

.31 Phosphates huh?

Excuse me while I finish this coffee and take a huge dump in my sump.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

.31 Phosphates huh?

Excuse me while I finish this coffee and take a huge dump in my sump.

Nah…..just pee in it

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

I’m not suggesting everyone should go and start pouring in Po4 or start soiling their sump (@ScottB). I do get some unwanted hair algae and some great growth, slow growth and zero growth with my numbers/methods. This is more to show that elevated po4 is not going to cause “browning” or a death sentence.