Acanthastrea Growth

[UncleJT]

Back when Acanthastreas first started becoming "the coral to have" a few years ago is just about when I disappeared from the hobby for awhile. I see a lot of ya'll fragging these awesome LPS (one of the few LPS I like*) on a fairly regular basis. How quickly are these growing for people in captivity?

Edit: Well, I probably like more LPS then I realize so this statement may not be completely accurate.

 

[reeferpj]

not so good in my tank. but i can't get my alk above 4. my sps is going hog wild

 

[Cherokee_Dude]

I get a new head per frag every month or so... Could take a few months to settle in though. They do grow faster if you directly feed. I do not.

 

[afboundguy]

I have some that grow like crazy and some that haven't... Spot feeding def helps them growing and IMO/IME they grow faster when they encrust on a flat surface then when they have to make their own skeleton when they're on the sandbed...

 

[UncleJT]

Dave, what types of food do you spot feed them with?

 

[afboundguy]

Mysis, brine and krill...

 

[Joel A]

everyone said duncans grow fast too.. mine doesn't =(

i think spot feeding LPS truly makes a huge difference.

 

[snowmaker]

I have some that grow like crazy and some that haven't... Spot feeding def helps them growing and IMO/IME they grow faster when they encrust on a flat surface then when they have to make their own skeleton when they're on the sandbed...

Totally agree. Even species of same Genus seem to have vastly different growth rates. The Citrus acan (your picture) is the fastest growing one I have.. I've 2 other lords. that have only a little new growth.
Feeding them is a big factor. Acans, Duncans, Blastos I like to feed daily - PE mysis, frozen adult brine... pretty much anything that'll fit in their mouths.

 

[UncleJT]

Thanks guys. Guess I'll be looking to Dave in a couple months once my tank is cycled for a couple frags.

 

[Mike McConville]

Mine have exploded. I think the growth rate is pretty closely tied with how much you feed them. I feed mine frozen mysis shrimp pretty often. They're really nice corals, and while I don't usually like popularity fads, this one has caused there to be a lot more varieties in the hobby.

 

[chris8903]

I heard that if you feed them oyster feed that they can grow pretty fast and puff out....Is this true??

 

[jprince]

My Acans are spot fed every other day with Mysis. I have had 6 babies pop in the last 2 months alone.

 

[afboundguy]

I heard that if you feed them oyster feed that they can grow pretty fast and puff out....Is this true??

I've never fed them oyster but they do get a little fatter when they've eaten. I had a lettuce nudi get eaten by an acan and that puffed it up a ton

 

[coralcor]

when do you guys feed your acans? after lights out? before they turn on? when there on?

 

[afboundguy]

Usually the feeders are out more when the lights are out. Mine are usually out all the time because I feed them a lot... The lights are out now and have been for over an hour and they're really extended

I've also sucked up some water that the food sits in without the food; so basically shrimpy water, and squirted it at new acans to try to train them to eat. I try to do this before I start feeding the other acans and feed the picky new ones last...

 

[coralcor]

Usually the feeders are out more when the lights are out. Mine are usually out all the time because I feed them a lot... The lights are out now and have been for over an hour and they're really extended

I've also sucked up some water that the food sits in without the food; so basically shrimpy water, and squirted it at new acans to try to train them to eat. I try to do this before I start feeding the other acans and feed the picky new ones last...

well when school starts i go to bed right when the lights shut off. so i feed when the lights are on.
i use the shrimpy water to "baste" them to get there feeders out.

 

[jprince]

I feed mine after lights out also. I used to feed them by putting the top from a liter bottle of soda over them and squirting in some Cyclopeeze, but they are too big for that now. I just take tweezer fulls of Mysis, and stick it to their feeders.

 

[SharkLover]

lights out with a turkey baster and power heads off. easy 1.2.3.

 

[chris8903]

I concur with sharklover that is the best way to feed them. Just shut off your powerheads and make sure they stay off until the last mysis is gone. Then just turn on the powerheads on.