My Acro Nursery - Page 3

maoiwowie · 12/14/2014, 10:06 PM

I have bought over 100 kinds of frags from different reefers here over the course of 2014. I found a few to have red bugs, but none had AEFWs. I have only bought two maricultured pieces back in March when I first began collecting. They were from a sponsor here. I will never buy maricultured pieces again. Of the two pieces I purchased, one was found to have AEFW. I dipped this piece in Bayer and cut it from the base. Of course you become worried that they would spread. I was lucky as I just began collecting and didnt have many frags to begin with. I did not see any worms on the other frags either. Since taking care of this piece, i have not seen any evidence of AEFW since. It is my experience that acroporas will recover quickly when you remove the AEFWs. Bite marks will heal in a matter of days.

maoiwowie · 12/15/2014, 04:51 PM

Some corals will lay a big base. Some just dont. These were put in about the same time. Prostrata? (Coral Obsessions) February.

Blue Gomezi (Jrpdriver) March

maoiwowie · 12/15/2014, 05:17 PM

Another slow baser. Tyree Ponape Tort (Garrets) March 2014

Macscale · 12/21/2014, 05:10 PM

That's pretty cool!

Torture · 12/22/2014, 01:53 PM

that is an awesome collection!
I envy you so much right now!
I only have 2 acros and I am struggling to get them to color up.

maoiwowie · 12/22/2014, 02:34 PM

You need patience and any changes you make that improve color will be seen weeks if not months later. I still have a few frags from March that have not grown at all and are still brownish. Like this Pink lemonade (Yariel0527) that has only based in 8 months.

maoiwowie · 12/22/2014, 02:45 PM

But with patience you get these results.
GregC. Granulosa (Garrets Acropolis)

Exquisita 2 (Garrets Acropolis) You can see the new growth is colorful, while the center is still brownish.

PurpleStylo (Garrets Acropolis)

njones · 12/23/2014, 10:28 PM

That all is amazing!!

pirate2876 · 12/24/2014, 10:52 AM

I think your reefing philosophy is spot on. Tank looks great.

maoiwowie · 12/24/2014, 12:35 PM

Thanks for the compliments! I used to pull my hair out over things because of unreasonable expectations due to ignorance and impatience. I have followed advice here simply because it sounded good or not followed advice because it was too much trouble. The newbie section is where we all start... and unfortunately many creatures are gonna perish because experience is gained through living, not reading. Tis life... Peace tonight, and always... Happy Holidays!

Reefvet · 12/24/2014, 07:10 PM

So I'm curious if you thought the egg crate leached any phosphates or was it was just the old live rock ?

maoiwowie · 12/24/2014, 10:16 PM

Reefvet - I read that it leached phosphate too, so I tested it myself. When the hair algae was thickest on the eggcrate, i started to get a little concerned. I put pieces of white eggcrate in a cup with RO water and let it sit for a month. Came up 0 PO4. Not quite a controlled experiment so cant draw too many conclusions, but the hair algae no longer grows on the eggcrate either.

maoiwowie · 12/25/2014, 06:06 PM

2014 progression
March

December 24, 2014

nanoreefer1000 · 01/02/2015, 12:42 AM

Wow!

Hudds · 01/02/2015, 03:16 AM

Great thread. Thanks for sharing your (sincere) experiences.

potterjon · 01/02/2015, 07:34 AM

Very nice! I had a small frag tank for awhile and then I had racks in my display. Eventually, I got very tired of looking at them and it just didn't seem worth it anymore. But yours look great!

count2k3 · 01/02/2015, 11:29 AM

Beautiful Acros! Looks like they have a good growth rate too

maoiwowie · 01/03/2015, 12:22 PM

Thanks again. The corals seem very well adjusted now as indeed the growth rate seems to be accelerating. It didnt seem like too long ago I still had room to grow.

I set up this 25 cube with a RazorNano LED to make room. Should be interesting to see how the corals react to the LED. Everything is plumbed together.

Reefvet · 01/05/2015, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maoiwowie

I set up this 25 cube with a RazorNano LED to make room. Should be interesting to see how the corals react to the LED. Everything is plumbed together.

It should be very interesting. I ran MH for more than 15 years and converted to all LEDs when Kessil made the A350. I've got plenty of growth and much better colors now.

Also I noticed that's the light you had on your refugium. Is it the 10K or the 16K ?

maoiwowie · 01/05/2015, 11:44 AM

Yes, its the same light. This is the 10K version. Im not too sure what the big difference between the two outside of the obvious. With the adjustments you can produce almost any K, and I havent seen too many tanks that run at 100%.

doctorwhoreefer · 01/05/2015, 08:37 PM

Very nice corals sir!

Out of curiosity, what's your average orp?

maoiwowie · 01/05/2015, 10:07 PM

Thanks Doctor... I have an Apex that monitors ORP; however i dont give it much weight. It normally sits in the range of 380 to 410 but after cleaning the probe with a vinegar bath it will read 280 for a day or two then gradually climb back to its "normal" range. I used to run Ozone and would monitor ORP more closely; but since stopping Ozone completely, i never worry about ORP levels.

Reefvet · 01/05/2015, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maoiwowie

This is the 10K version. Im not too sure what the big difference between the two outside of the obvious.

The difference is the compliment of LEDs and the output it can achieve in a given color range, 10K vs. 16K.. You'll do fine growing frags with the 10K, but it'll be very different from the big sister frag tank.

I just bought the same light, but 16K, off a friend for the very same purpose. But then I also just bought an ATI 6X24 Sunpower for another frag tank. I've got a weak spot for good deals on used lighting gear.

maoiwowie · 01/05/2015, 11:13 PM

Reefvet - You think I can expect better colors with LED? How so? I will document with pictures what I take from the big tank to put under the LEDs. I plan on trying the pieces I feel are rather dull under the MH to begin with, like some of the monotone greens I have.

Reefvet · 01/05/2015, 11:18 PM

Better because of the broader spectrum of light. Growth may be slower, depends on the coral.

01/02/2015, 12:42 AM	#64
nanoreefer1000 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bay Area,CA Posts: 1,040	Wow! __________________ 6 gallon reef

01/02/2015, 03:16 AM	#65
Hudds Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Greece Posts: 116	Great thread. Thanks for sharing your (sincere) experiences. __________________ Giorgos Thalassographia Reef

12/14/2014, 10:06 PM	#51
maoiwowie Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 621	I have bought over 100 kinds of frags from different reefers here over the course of 2014. I found a few to have red bugs, but none had AEFWs. I have only bought two maricultured pieces back in March when I first began collecting. They were from a sponsor here. I will never buy maricultured pieces again. Of the two pieces I purchased, one was found to have AEFW. I dipped this piece in Bayer and cut it from the base. Of course you become worried that they would spread. I was lucky as I just began collecting and didnt have many frags to begin with. I did not see any worms on the other frags either. Since taking care of this piece, i have not seen any evidence of AEFW since. It is my experience that acroporas will recover quickly when you remove the AEFWs. Bite marks will heal in a matter of days.

12/15/2014, 04:51 PM	#52
maoiwowie Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 621	Some corals will lay a big base. Some just dont. These were put in about the same time. Prostrata? (Coral Obsessions) February. Blue Gomezi (Jrpdriver) March

12/15/2014, 05:17 PM	#53
maoiwowie Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 621	Another slow baser. Tyree Ponape Tort (Garrets) March 2014

12/21/2014, 05:10 PM	#54
Macscale Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Lakewood Ranch, Florida. Posts: 15	That's pretty cool!

12/22/2014, 01:53 PM	#55
Torture Moved On Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 31	that is an awesome collection! I envy you so much right now! I only have 2 acros and I am struggling to get them to color up.

12/22/2014, 02:34 PM	#56
maoiwowie Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 621	You need patience and any changes you make that improve color will be seen weeks if not months later. I still have a few frags from March that have not grown at all and are still brownish. Like this Pink lemonade (Yariel0527) that has only based in 8 months.

12/22/2014, 02:45 PM	#57
maoiwowie Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 621	But with patience you get these results. GregC. Granulosa (Garrets Acropolis) Exquisita 2 (Garrets Acropolis) You can see the new growth is colorful, while the center is still brownish. PurpleStylo (Garrets Acropolis)

12/23/2014, 10:28 PM	#58
njones Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 32	That all is amazing!!

12/24/2014, 10:52 AM	#59
pirate2876 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: san diego CA Posts: 70	I think your reefing philosophy is spot on. Tank looks great.

12/24/2014, 12:35 PM	#60
maoiwowie Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 621	Thanks for the compliments! I used to pull my hair out over things because of unreasonable expectations due to ignorance and impatience. I have followed advice here simply because it sounded good or not followed advice because it was too much trouble. The newbie section is where we all start... and unfortunately many creatures are gonna perish because experience is gained through living, not reading. Tis life... Peace tonight, and always... Happy Holidays!

12/24/2014, 07:10 PM	#61
Reefvet Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,941	So I'm curious if you thought the egg crate leached any phosphates or was it was just the old live rock ?

12/24/2014, 10:16 PM	#62
maoiwowie Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 621	Reefvet - I read that it leached phosphate too, so I tested it myself. When the hair algae was thickest on the eggcrate, i started to get a little concerned. I put pieces of white eggcrate in a cup with RO water and let it sit for a month. Came up 0 PO4. Not quite a controlled experiment so cant draw too many conclusions, but the hair algae no longer grows on the eggcrate either.

12/25/2014, 06:06 PM	#63
maoiwowie Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 621	2014 progression March December 24, 2014

01/02/2015, 07:34 AM	#66
potterjon Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 933	Very nice! I had a small frag tank for awhile and then I had racks in my display. Eventually, I got very tired of looking at them and it just didn't seem worth it anymore. But yours look great!

01/02/2015, 11:29 AM	#67
count2k3 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Gainesville Posts: 22	Beautiful Acros! Looks like they have a good growth rate too

01/03/2015, 12:22 PM	#68
maoiwowie Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 621	Thanks again. The corals seem very well adjusted now as indeed the growth rate seems to be accelerating. It didnt seem like too long ago I still had room to grow. I set up this 25 cube with a RazorNano LED to make room. Should be interesting to see how the corals react to the LED. Everything is plumbed together.

01/05/2015, 11:44 AM	#70
maoiwowie Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 621	Yes, its the same light. This is the 10K version. Im not too sure what the big difference between the two outside of the obvious. With the adjustments you can produce almost any K, and I havent seen too many tanks that run at 100%.

01/05/2015, 08:37 PM	#71
doctorwhoreefer Moved On Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 353	Very nice corals sir! Out of curiosity, what's your average orp?

01/05/2015, 10:07 PM	#72
maoiwowie Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 621	Thanks Doctor... I have an Apex that monitors ORP; however i dont give it much weight. It normally sits in the range of 380 to 410 but after cleaning the probe with a vinegar bath it will read 280 for a day or two then gradually climb back to its "normal" range. I used to run Ozone and would monitor ORP more closely; but since stopping Ozone completely, i never worry about ORP levels.

01/05/2015, 11:13 PM	#74
maoiwowie Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 621	Reefvet - You think I can expect better colors with LED? How so? I will document with pictures what I take from the big tank to put under the LEDs. I plan on trying the pieces I feel are rather dull under the MH to begin with, like some of the monotone greens I have.

01/05/2015, 11:18 PM	#75
Reefvet Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,941	Better because of the broader spectrum of light. Growth may be slower, depends on the coral.