Test frags.

[XNavyDiver]

So, for a few weeks now I've had a few "tester frags" of some acropora in my DT.
Some background: I started this tank with the sole goal of propagating acros. I started the tank with pukani, not realizing how long the tank would take to support acropora. Soooooo, fast forward about 6 months and I've had some more forgiving sps species like catspaw, pocilipora, in there, and they're thriving, additions of pods (numerous times), GARF Grunge (twice), all in an effort to expidite the maturity of the once sterile tank, coraline algae exploding, and the continued stability of the big 3 inspired me to put some acro testers in.

So without further ado, here are these testers that my lfs guy sold me cheap. I have no idea what kind of acros they are. All I know is that they seem to be liking their conditions, which is a milestone for my tank. I guess I just had to share a little of my enthusiasm this morning.

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[77railer]

Looking good so far. Good luck on your adventure into SPS land...it can be full of highs and lows for sure

 

[HB AL]

Those look great, might as well go get some more cheap frags!

 

[Wrasse-cal]

Did you acid wash and/or bleach your pukani before putting it in your DT?

I'm curious what you did because I'm looking for a good source for reintroducing bacteria and coralline algae without introducing undesirable hitchhikers. What do you recommend?

 

[XNavyDiver]

Those look great, might as well go get some more cheap frags!

Yeah, well, you know how it is in this hobby. Cheap is a relative term. They're not JF Homewreckers. They're no name acro frags, two of which have "unknown" color. I just wanna keep em alive. If they color up, well that would be icing on the cake.

 

[azbigjohn]

Congrats on great results!

I am absolutely the wrong person for names, but I recognize happy SPS when I see them! (I just never see them in my tank...)

 

[XNavyDiver]

Did you acid wash and/or bleach your pukani before putting it in your DT?

I'm curious what you did because I'm looking for a good source for reintroducing bacteria and coralline algae without introducing undesirable hitchhikers. What do you recommend?

No, I did none of that. I put em in a brute container, saltwater and a heater for a month or so.
The coralline came in on the shells of the CUC. I know many say led's won't grow coralline. My tank says otherwise.

 

[XNavyDiver]

Congrats on great results!

I am absolutely the wrong person for names, but I recognize happy SPS when I see them! (I just never see them in my tank...)

Well until recently, my tank was a death sentence for acro. So seeing this is so bizarre.

 

[Fishfinder]

What did you change? I've read your past troubles

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Great choices.
Yea, it's really about the journey.
It's just this year that my ugly and sometimes pretty acros got to the point that I should really pop for one with a name, (Besides ASD brown one ) that brown one is huge now.

 

[Zagreus]

Good luck...i know you have been working hard to mature your tank and had many of the same issues i did. Great choice of testers and moving forward. Coraline explosion as I believe JDA put it as a great sign for being able to support Acros. Im rooting for you and those are some cool looking no names you scored.

 

[XNavyDiver]

What did you change? I've read your past troubles

I didn't really change anything. I just think it was time. I added a few minor things like the grunge and pods, but the tank didn't do a 180 turnaround the day after these additions. It's been a slow, gradual change.
The one major change hasn't happened yet. I'm adding a hybrid t5 fixture to my radions. Problem is the fixture is on back order. I've got the bulbs for it already, just don't know when the fixture will be in yet.

 

[aarbutina]

I didn't really change anything. I just think it was time. I added a few minor things like the grunge and pods, but the tank didn't do a 180 turnaround the day after these additions. It's been a slow, gradual change.
The one major change hasn't happened yet. I'm adding a hybrid t5 fixture to my radions. Problem is the fixture is on back order. I've got the bulbs for it already, just don't know when the fixture will be in yet.

How much grunge did you add and how did you add it? Did you place it in your display tank or did it go in a fuge?

 

[XNavyDiver]

Great choices.
Yea, it's really about the journey.
It's just this year that my ugly and sometimes pretty acros got to the point that I should really pop for one with a name, (Besides ASD brown one ) that brown one is huge now.

Thank you Salty, and I've been following you and your trials. It almost got to a point with me that I was contiplating buying cured live rock, and replacing all my rockwork, piece by piece. Did you find out what that stuff was that did in that huge acro colony in your tank? It was so bizarre looking, like Rasta dreds.

 

[XNavyDiver]

How much grunge did you add and how did you add it? Did you place it in your display tank or did it go in a fuge?

Both. I did two orders about 2 months apart. I spread it out between the DT and the sump/fuge. The stuff is chock full of mature tank goodness. I highly recommend it for someone with a new tank and dry rock.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Thank you Salty, and I've been following you and your trials. It almost got to a point with me that I was contiplating buying cured live rock, and replacing all my rockwork, piece by piece. Did you find out what that stuff was that did in that huge acro colony in your tank? It was so bizarre looking, like Rasta dreds.

Falling off the bike is Normal. And as a kid I liked to find very creative ways to do it.
Lol.
And no, all the microscope offers flaked. Still have a bit in the tank I'm trying to look at , or not.

The other tank however seems fine

(Look right above the clam mantle)

 

[XNavyDiver]

Falling off the bike is Normal. And as a kid I liked to find very creative ways to do it.
Lol.
And no, all the microscope offers flaked. Still have a bit in the tank I'm trying to look at , or not.

The other tank however seems fine

(Look right above the clam mantle)

Or not is right. I'm glad to hear and see your other tank is okilydokily.

 

[aarbutina]

Both. I did two orders about 2 months apart. I spread it out between the DT and the sump/fuge. The stuff is chock full of mature tank goodness. I highly recommend it for someone with a new tank and dry rock.

From the looks of their website it doesn’t look like GARF would even be around anymore. I might seriously consider looking into picking up. I seriously think my tank is suffering due to lack of biodiversity in the micro fauna. Did you go with the 1 pound per 10 gallons recommendation?

 

[XNavyDiver]

From the looks of their website it doesn’t look like GARF would even be around anymore. I might seriously consider looking into picking up. I seriously think my tank is suffering due to lack of biodiversity in the micro fauna. Did you go with the 1 pound per 10 gallons recommendation?

Yeah they're a bit behind the times with their online presence. Yes, I did the bigger of their grunge packages. I say go for it.

 

[cracker]

hello Diver, You will like the new fixture.