Q About Acanthastreas

FSOL · 02/18/2006, 08:06 PM

Are acanthastreas difficult to maintain? Are they considered a SPS type of coral or what? I saw a few nice ones online and would like to purchase.

What are their lighting/flow needs, etc....?

While on this topic, how about Symphillia and Montastrea?

Info about my tank - 220g total water volume, zero amm/trites/trates, 0.1ppm PO4, 1250 mag, 460 cal, 11dkh alk, 750W of MH + 330W of VHO actinics.

Thanks so much

tankfly · 02/18/2006, 08:17 PM

Acanthastrea are large polyp stoney corals. they can be kept under VHO up to MH. You should have no problem. Acans grow very fast if fed occasionally. Mine will eat any fish food. Symphillia and Montastrea grow more slowly.

FSOL · 02/18/2006, 08:22 PM

thanks Thankfly

Are all these easier to maintain than SPS corals? I have a lot of open room on my sandbed and would like to throw some colorful stuff on it.

integlikewhoa · 02/18/2006, 08:28 PM

Yup they are fairly easy to take care of just not as easy on your pocket book.

FSOL · 02/18/2006, 08:30 PM

hehe, you can say that again. I put a few in the shopping cart and it sums to about $600, but that's ok, my tax return should come in any day now

Thanks

tankfly · 02/18/2006, 08:31 PM

Yeah, just put them on the sandbed. If I get one that has an uneven bottom to the rock, I just epoxy a small rock to it somehow to make it stable on the sandbed. You want to make sure the polyps are not in the sand.

FSOL · 02/18/2006, 09:03 PM

thanks for the help. I got 2 acanthastreas, 1 favia, 1 symphilia, and 1 montastrea.

TCU Reefer · 02/18/2006, 09:06 PM

I've got mine under 130w of PC's. They're doing great. I feed them mysis every other night. The growth is very noticable.

These corals are easy to care for.

02/18/2006, 08:06 PM	#1
FSOL Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 926	Q About Acanthastreas Are acanthastreas difficult to maintain? Are they considered a SPS type of coral or what? I saw a few nice ones online and would like to purchase. What are their lighting/flow needs, etc....? While on this topic, how about Symphillia and Montastrea? Info about my tank - 220g total water volume, zero amm/trites/trates, 0.1ppm PO4, 1250 mag, 460 cal, 11dkh alk, 750W of MH + 330W of VHO actinics. Thanks so much

02/18/2006, 08:28 PM	#4
integlikewhoa Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Arcadia, CA Posts: 1,381	Yup they are fairly easy to take care of just not as easy on your pocket book. __________________ I think of one later. Current Tank Info: 28G JBJ Nano for sale

02/18/2006, 09:06 PM	#8
TCU Reefer Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 1,044	I've got mine under 130w of PC's. They're doing great. I feed them mysis every other night. The growth is very noticable. These corals are easy to care for. __________________ Steve - DFWMAS Member Click on the red house to view my build thread Current Tank Info: 215g starboard SPS in-wall, AC Jr, 3 x 250w MH's, 10k Reeflux, 320w VHO actinics, closed loop w/ Sequence Dart and OM 4-Way, Tunze wavebox, VorTech, 2x modded MJ 1200's, ASM G4 recirc/meshwheel, Geo 618 Ca reactor, custom Melev sump, Mag 9.5 return

02/18/2006, 08:17 PM	#2
tankfly Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 212	Acanthastrea are large polyp stoney corals. they can be kept under VHO up to MH. You should have no problem. Acans grow very fast if fed occasionally. Mine will eat any fish food. Symphillia and Montastrea grow more slowly.

02/18/2006, 08:22 PM	#3
FSOL Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 926	thanks Thankfly Are all these easier to maintain than SPS corals? I have a lot of open room on my sandbed and would like to throw some colorful stuff on it.

02/18/2006, 08:30 PM	#5
FSOL Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 926	hehe, you can say that again. I put a few in the shopping cart and it sums to about $600, but that's ok, my tax return should come in any day now Thanks

02/18/2006, 08:31 PM	#6
tankfly Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 212	Yeah, just put them on the sandbed. If I get one that has an uneven bottom to the rock, I just epoxy a small rock to it somehow to make it stable on the sandbed. You want to make sure the polyps are not in the sand.

02/18/2006, 09:03 PM	#7
FSOL Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 926	thanks for the help. I got 2 acanthastreas, 1 favia, 1 symphilia, and 1 montastrea.