Pearlberry show no PE, red bug?

FLAdaboy · Sep 30, 2017

Not sure that's a pearlberry. No bugs though. IMO, with deeper water acros, ph swings are brutal. I usually have to acclimate slower and keeping my water cooler helps. And, as somebody mentioned earlier, pearlberry is a very sensitive acro. Here is a pearlberry colony from my tank.

ReefBeta · Oct 1, 2017

Knowing it's not red bug is a relief.

If 400+ PAR is required, it's definitively not getting that much. Actually to the top of the rockwork is only ~300 PAR. Will have to rank up the LED if that's the case.

Temperature maybe a big reason now you mention it. My tank is usually 80+ as I'm only cooling with fans. The tank it comes from it's 74 or 76. Do I really need to get a chiller now? Price is not a problem, but finding place to put it is.

FLAdaboy · Oct 1, 2017

zsxking said:
Knowing it's not red bug is a relief.

If 400+ PAR is required, it's definitively not getting that much. Actually to the top of the rockwork is only ~300 PAR. Will have to rank up the LED if that's the case.

Temperature maybe a big reason now you mention it. My tank is usually 80+ as I'm only cooling with fans. The tank it comes from it's 74 or 76. Do I really need to get a chiller now? Price is not a problem, but finding place to put it is.

Oh yeah! 80+ is too hot. I keep mine around 74-76. PE right away usually. If I get frags from someone, I will QT. I have done some swaps with my own tanks and just temp acclimate and throw right in. Temp makes a world of difference.

ritter6788 · Oct 1, 2017

That acro doesn't need 400 par and 80 is not too hot. IMO

nashorn · Oct 1, 2017

Yea that a hard call to move or not but since it's doesn't seem to be doing well where it's at anyway I would move and take a chance.
One thing I did learn from my frags if it doesn't like it's location its really slow to encrest.
I losted a rainbow milli because I was afraid to move.

ritter6788 · Oct 1, 2017

Move/not move is likely the last of that acros problem. I stand by what I posted before. Doesn't look like an aquacultured coral to me. Could still be but it's unhealthy and needs time.

If you leave it and it dies you'll say it should have been moved up/down. If you move it and it dies you'll say it should have been moved up/down.

ReefBeta · Oct 1, 2017

So you mean, just leave it there and give it more time?

ritter6788 · Oct 1, 2017

zsxking said:
So you mean, just leave it there and give it more time?

I mean there's no way do know from here. Just from my limited experience that looks like a locked up acro which can take time to show life.

22bfan · Oct 2, 2017

My pearlberry frag doesn't grow if I don't give it 400+ PAR and around 15-20 nitrates. I recently lowered my 400 watt MH and this frag is now seeing around 550 par + ramp up/down with LEDs. Also started dosing Red Sea Colors. It's very happy now.

ReefBeta · Oct 2, 2017

22bfan said:
My pearlberry frag doesn't grow if I don't give it 400+ PAR and around 15-20 nitrates. I recently lowered my 400 watt MH and this frag is now seeing around 550 par + ramp up/down with LEDs. Also started dosing Red Sea Colors. It's very happy now.

Can you post a picture of yours?

22bfan · Oct 2, 2017

22bfan · Oct 2, 2017

Also, I used to keep my alk around 10. Since dropping it to between 8-8.5 dkh polyps on my acros have exploded!! Calcium around 430. Basically the Red Sea SPS program recommendations.

nashorn · Oct 3, 2017

Top down shot
High light under a radion

Ibn · Oct 3, 2017

Pearlberry in 225 PAR of LEDs.

ReefBeta · Oct 4, 2017

I peak with flash light last night and happy to see that there are tiny polyps sticking out of their pits. They are white, same color as the tissue. But I think that's my first time noticing them, and I were definitively not seeing them last month. I guess I will leave them alone for several more months to see how it goes.