ID Acro, first one ever

[ssgatbliss]

All,

Never had SPS cprals, only soft and LPS. My daughter knew I wanted to try some so she picked me up a frag from a pet store out of town but she didin't write down what kind it was. I was looking for some help in IDing it.

Thanks!

Jan 1.JPG - Windows Live

 

[returnofsid]

It's definitely an Acropora species, of some kind. My guess would be Acropora valida or Acropora nana. I'll move this thread to our SPS forum, so Kevin can chime in. Kevin will give a much more dependable guess.

 

[ssgatbliss]

Great, thanks for your help.

 

[kevinpo]

Hello,
It is very hard to ID Acropora when grown into a colony. A frag is even more difficult. It is most certainly an Acropora species but almost impossible identify which one. Give it six months or so and post another picture.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[ssgatbliss]

Kevin,

Will do, and thanks!

 

[mcoomer]

In the mean time, what kind of lighting, circulation, and water chemistry do you have this piece sitting in? Being your first piece you need to be certain that you're able to support it so that it can color up and begin to grow. I'm sure you know the drill. Good lighting and flow, calcium >350, alkalinity >8, and magnesium >1300.

BTW...be sure to tell your daughter that corals are like crack and she needs to be ready to support your new habit. Corals are more addictive than crack.

Mike

 

[ssgatbliss]

It's sitting in a 29 long with a 10 gallon refugium (5inch DSB filled with cheato). Calcium is at 420, alk @8.9, mag 1400, ph 8.3 maybe 8.4, strontium 9-10, temp 78. ATO (old Kent salt bucket with Kalk), return from refgium is a Mag5 with a hydor flo adapter, Two skimmers (AquaC Ramora and Coralife seaclone 100), three koralia nano's (one blows across bottom back, one far left mouunted to back blowing directly to front wall, and third on far upper front right blowing across lengthwise the left. Lighting is a 4 lamp t5 (4X31w), 1 6500K, 2 10000K, 1 Act. Tank has been up for about 5 years, a tad neglected over the last two due to work but bringing it back slowly. Making a trip up to Denver tomorrow to purchase a SWC BH 500 skimmer (getting rid of the two useless ones I have now) and possibly another frag or two.

So far frag #1 seems to be doing OK, has a little poylp extension and has started to encrust the mount it came on. It looks like it's grown a bit but can't tell for sure since I never measured it when I purchased it 3-4 weeks ago. Could be wishful thinking.