Acropora Help

[majormaz]

When can I introduce acropora into my tank? My water is as follows

Trates-0
Trites-0
Ammonia-0
Calcium-450
ph-8.4

I have had tremendous success with all other types of coral, what are the requirements for this?

[b16drag]

What is your Mg level? dkH? What is your S.G.? How big is your tank? What kind of lights?

Make sure your dKH is around 8-12 and mag around 1100-1300. These are rough estimates. The key for SPS is stability, stability, stability...

If you think your tank is ready, start with some hardy corals first and see what the growth is like on them, i.e. Montipora caps and digitas...

[majormaz]

Originally Posted by b16drag

What is your Mg level? dkH? What is your S.G.? How big is your tank? What kind of lights?

Make sure your dKH is around 8-12 and mag around 1100-1300. These are rough estimates. The key for SPS is stability, stability, stability...

If you think your tank is ready, start with some hardy corals first and see what the growth is like on them, i.e. Montipora caps and digitas...

Yes I have monti caps and those are growing surprisingly well. As for lights, I have a 300w metal halide.

[b16drag]

Originally Posted by majormaz

Yes I have monti caps and those are growing surprisingly well. As for lights, I have a 300w metal halide.

Those are SPS's I think you might be on your way buddy. Make sure to keep the "triad" aka Ca, Mg, and dKH in check, and keep your tank's parameter's stable. I like to keep my S.G. as close to 1.026 as possible. If you find that you aren't growing very well, you might want to try phosphate reactor or GFO at a later point in time...

[b16drag]

Another very important thing is to make sure you quarantine all coral pieces, and if you can't make sure you dip them in some kind of treatment before placing in your tank. Be very wary of "red bugs," flatworms, and montipora nudies...

[majormaz]

Originally Posted by b16drag

Those are SPS's I think you might be on your way buddy. Make sure to keep the "triad" aka Ca, Mg, and dKH in check, and keep your tank's parameter's stable. I like to keep my S.G. as close to 1.026 as possible. If you find that you aren't growing very well, you might want to try phosphate reactor or GFO at a later point in time...

yep I knew they were SPS, thanks for your help, I want an acro of some kind have any recommendations?

[b16drag]

You can always start with the millepora's if you want, but in all honesty if the caps are growing and doing well, I'm sure you'll be just fine with the acropora. Try to get a frag from friend that knows for sure it grows quickly... This will generally help you out a bit in terms of how its doing.

Also keep in mind as you start getting more SPS's and as your caps grow, your Ca and carbonate requirements will increase. Are you dosing? Calcium reactor?

[luvmylo]

Your best bet is just give it a whirl=) Go to the lfs or find a buddy and get a small frag and try it for a month or two and see what happens. this is what I did with acro and it grew surprisiingly well. Most people are scared of acro because those who have had figity systems can't keep them. If your system is stable you should be ok.