Vampire Acro??

Palting · 10/08/2010, 06:48 AM

Got your attention, I hope

Got this hi-color branching Fiji acro several days ago. I placed it on the substrate 24" from the surface as the first step to light acclimate it. I noticed it start bleaching after 48 hours, so I immediately put it up high, 9" under the surface and directly under one 150W MH, and directly in the path of one of my koralias. Been keeping a close eye on it. Getting some bluish color on the tips, no more bleaching, but wasn't opening. Or so I thought. Looked into the tank this morning, moonlights were out 4 hours ago and the tank in total darkness, and the polyps are out! Little tiny fingers by flashlight!

I thought acros like a lot of light, and that was why it was bleaching when it was on the substrate? I made this "penthouse" shelf specifically for the light demanding corals. Could it still just be acclimating? Or do I have a vampire acro? LOL!

bs21 · 10/08/2010, 06:56 AM

If it is a wild collected Acro then polyps out at night makes sense to me. In the wild they typically feed at night. It will probably continue to do this until it adjusts to your aquarium. The Bleaching is probably from the change of environment, shipping stress, etc... that is why wild colonies are said to have a lower captive survival rate because they are more sensitive to changes.

Palting · 10/08/2010, 07:43 AM

So, I DO have a vampire acro! Boy, now I have 3 night owls. I have a silk coral, a chili coral, and now a branching coral. That wasn't in the plan!

Dustin1300 · 10/08/2010, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palting

So, I DO have a vampire acro! Boy, now I have 3 night owls. I have a silk coral, a chili coral, and now a branching coral. That wasn't in the plan!

I typically try to stay away from the wild colonies for this specific reason. Success rates are low and I'm also worried about introducing pests!

Palting · 10/08/2010, 08:06 AM

This was a frag. A good sized frag, but still a frag. No base rock, no mount, so hopefully, no pests. Anyhoo, I've got pest eaters like my 6 line and dragonette as well as snails, shrimp and the rest of the CUC.

I don't know if this was wild harvested or not. If it is, I feel a little guilty 'cuz it's a good size and I believe in preserving wild coral reef. I'll have to ask the lfs.

Dustin1300 · 10/08/2010, 08:27 AM

Yeah....you can typically tell if it is harvested based on the size in my experience. I typically stay away from the LFS any more and support local reefers in terms of coral. I go to LFS for fish but that's just because I have to. Save a lot of money because of the limited overhead of a reefer

Sisterlimonpot · 10/08/2010, 08:37 AM

Palting, it isn't true unless there are pictures to support it!!!!!

Let's see some pics????

Palting · 10/08/2010, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sisterlimonpot

Palting, it isn't true unless there are pictures to support it!!!!!

Let's see some pics????

No need to ask me twice

Here's the acro. Actinics are on, so it's retracted again. Below and under shade is my chili. The chili has adapted to the shade and stays open with the actinics, and retracts only under the MH now.

rayn · 10/08/2010, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sisterlimonpot

Palting, it isn't true unless there are pictures to support it!!!!!

Let's see some pics????

Lol I told him the same in a different thread.

Palting · 10/08/2010, 10:29 AM

Just to complete the rogue's gallery of my night owls, here is the silk coral under lights (looks like wadded bubble gum), and in the dark with flash pic.

Dustin1300 · 10/08/2010, 11:01 AM

My guess based on the chunk is that this is a wild colony

My bet the LFS can confirm but I would not purchase those from them as I don't like supporting that behavior.

Love the silk coral though....I need some nice looking 'night owls' that brings life to the aquarium. I love it when people see my tank at night...They think it has went down hill but it is such a different thing in light

Palting · 10/08/2010, 01:46 PM

I thought so. Well, what's done is done. I'll have a chat with the lfs about natural reef preservation.

Now for the challenge of not only keeping this wild thing alive, but prospering! I feed my chili and silk at "night" with the moonlights. I'll see if this acro is open under moonlights, and he'll get fed as well. He's in the swirling current between one koralia and one return nozzle, directly under the daylight power of an MH. That's about as close to natural as I can get him in my tank..

10/08/2010, 06:48 AM	#1
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	Vampire Acro?? Got your attention, I hope Got this hi-color branching Fiji acro several days ago. I placed it on the substrate 24" from the surface as the first step to light acclimate it. I noticed it start bleaching after 48 hours, so I immediately put it up high, 9" under the surface and directly under one 150W MH, and directly in the path of one of my koralias. Been keeping a close eye on it. Getting some bluish color on the tips, no more bleaching, but wasn't opening. Or so I thought. Looked into the tank this morning, moonlights were out 4 hours ago and the tank in total darkness, and the polyps are out! Little tiny fingers by flashlight! I thought acros like a lot of light, and that was why it was bleaching when it was on the substrate? I made this "penthouse" shelf specifically for the light demanding corals. Could it still just be acclimating? Or do I have a vampire acro? LOL! __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

10/08/2010, 07:43 AM	#3
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	So, I DO have a vampire acro! Boy, now I have 3 night owls. I have a silk coral, a chili coral, and now a branching coral. That wasn't in the plan! __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

10/08/2010, 08:06 AM	#5
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	This was a frag. A good sized frag, but still a frag. No base rock, no mount, so hopefully, no pests. Anyhoo, I've got pest eaters like my 6 line and dragonette as well as snails, shrimp and the rest of the CUC. I don't know if this was wild harvested or not. If it is, I feel a little guilty 'cuz it's a good size and I believe in preserving wild coral reef. I'll have to ask the lfs. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

10/08/2010, 08:37 AM	#7
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	Palting, it isn't true unless there are pictures to support it!!!!! Let's see some pics???? __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

10/08/2010, 10:29 AM	#10
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	Just to complete the rogue's gallery of my night owls, here is the silk coral under lights (looks like wadded bubble gum), and in the dark with flash pic. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

10/08/2010, 06:56 AM	#2
bs21 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 133	If it is a wild collected Acro then polyps out at night makes sense to me. In the wild they typically feed at night. It will probably continue to do this until it adjusts to your aquarium. The Bleaching is probably from the change of environment, shipping stress, etc... that is why wild colonies are said to have a lower captive survival rate because they are more sensitive to changes.

10/08/2010, 08:27 AM	#6
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	Yeah....you can typically tell if it is harvested based on the size in my experience. I typically stay away from the LFS any more and support local reefers in terms of coral. I go to LFS for fish but that's just because I have to. Save a lot of money because of the limited overhead of a reefer

10/08/2010, 11:01 AM	#11
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	My guess based on the chunk is that this is a wild colony My bet the LFS can confirm but I would not purchase those from them as I don't like supporting that behavior. Love the silk coral though....I need some nice looking 'night owls' that brings life to the aquarium. I love it when people see my tank at night...They think it has went down hill but it is such a different thing in light

10/08/2010, 01:46 PM	#12
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	I thought so. Well, what's done is done. I'll have a chat with the lfs about natural reef preservation. Now for the challenge of not only keeping this wild thing alive, but prospering! I feed my chili and silk at "night" with the moonlights. I'll see if this acro is open under moonlights, and he'll get fed as well. He's in the swirling current between one koralia and one return nozzle, directly under the daylight power of an MH. That's about as close to natural as I can get him in my tank.. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Acro diagnosis ?	lanshark	SPS Keepers	3	11/28/2011 11:40 AM
Blue Acro?	Jim96SC2	SPS Identification	1	10/08/2010 11:55 PM
best acro id site	dudley moray	SPS Keepers	2	03/24/2010 11:06 PM