Help me with my coral placement?

[SaltLifeCam]

I'd like to hear some input on where I should place my corals. I have a 10 gallon with an acan, Duncan and pulsing Xenia in the sand right now. I was kind of thinking just where they are only on the rocks. They seems to be doing great and sprouting heads left and right-Duncan only has one as it's new.
Please let me know where would be good for the coral as well as aesthetics!
Pic is attached,
Thanks

Acans- bottom left
Duncan-middle/left
Xenia- bottom far right (hard to see with the lighting and iPhone camera)

FWIW- I have 2 aquaclears running, an ac70 on the left so pretty strong current there. And my powerhead is on the right back wall facing the front glass at an angle so it flows clockwise but the pulsing xenia gets left-right flow because of the deflection.

[SaltLifeCam]

Any suggestions?

[blowmecius]

I would move the acan up onto that flat rock behind where the firefish is. This will allow it to spread better than if you just leave it in the sand where it will tend to ball up. It looks like it it still on the plug, if so, cut it off and set it on the rock. You could glue it with a nice dab of superglue after you see if it is happy there.

[Optionman]

I put 1 tiny frag of Xenia in a 150 gal reef 8 months ago and it's now several square feet. It's beautiful but please take my advice.....buy more acans and remove the Xenia. It will take over your entire tank. It grows faster then you can give it away.


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[Diana A]

agree with optionman comment on the xenia

[SaltLifeCam]

Originally Posted by blowmecius

I would move the acan up onto that flat rock behind where the firefish is. This will allow it to spread better than if you just leave it in the sand where it will tend to ball up. It looks like it it still on the plug, if so, cut it off and set it on the rock. You could glue it with a nice dab of superglue after you see if it is happy there.

I like that acan placement. Should I lower the light intensity or is that not necessary?
I'll have to look up how to cut it off the plug..

Thanks

[SaltLifeCam]

Originally Posted by Optionman

I put 1 tiny frag of Xenia in a 150 gal reef 8 months ago and it's now several square feet. It's beautiful but please take my advice.....buy more acans and remove the Xenia. It will take over your entire tank. It grows faster then you can give it away.


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Even if I keep it on the plug in the sand where it is now?

[Optionman]

Originally Posted by SaltLifeCam

Even if I keep it on the plug in the sand where it is now?

Might be slightly easier to control in a 10 gal vs large/deep tank. Eventually, if it's thriving, it will show up on other rock work. You will see one little pulsing head. 30 days later that 1 is 20. Be prepared, get tweezers and a scalpel.

Green star polyp is easier to control and doesn't grow as fast, just a thought on a colorful alternative. Or a colorful chalice.

Enjoy


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[SaltLifeCam]

Originally Posted by Optionman

Might be slightly easier to control in a 10 gal vs large/deep tank. Eventually, if it's thriving, it will show up on other rock work. You will see one little pulsing head. 30 days later that 1 is 20. Be prepared, get tweezers and a scalpel.

Green star polyp is easier to control and doesn't grow as fast, just a thought on a colorful alternative. Or a colorful chalice.

Enjoy


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I like the gsp but imo it gets ugly when it spreads a lot. Starts to look more like algae.

As far as my scape, do you (all) think how I have it now looks nice or should I change it up? I've had it like this for a little over a year but the corals will be permanently on the rocks so I want to make sure it looks nice as is.

Constructive criticism is much appreciated!

Thanks

[Diana A]

I like the rock scrap.

[blowmecius]

Originally Posted by SaltLifeCam

I like that acan placement. Should I lower the light intensity or is that not necessary?
I'll have to look up how to cut it off the plug..

Thanks

I don't think moving it up a couple inches will make much difference so don't worry about lowering the light intensity.

To cut it off the plug, just use diagonal cutters or a bonecutter if you have them. Look for where the frag skeleton is glued to the flat top of the plug and use the cutters to break the glue joint to separate them. If the frag is already encrusting the plug, you could simply cut of the stem of the plug.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8Vc__Cb-SI

[SaltLifeCam]

Originally Posted by blowmecius

I don't think moving it up a couple inches will make much difference so don't worry about lowering the light intensity.



To cut it off the plug, just use diagonal cutters or a bonecutter if you have them. Look for where the frag skeleton is glued to the flat top of the plug and use the cutters to break the glue joint to separate them. If the frag is already encrusting the plug, you could simply cut of the stem of the plug.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8Vc__Cb-SI

Very informative video! Thanks for sharing

[SaltLifeCam]

Random update.. about a year later. new tank, new scape, same rocks, same livestock/coral (minus the firefish)

You all were right about the xenia

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[NO3]

Imo.....a 10 gal tank isn't very deep so I would say your light PAR (intensity of light) is roughly the same anywhere on any of your rocks.

Research each coral to see at what ocean DEPTH it thrives at:

1-5 feet = high light coral
5-15 feet = med light coral
15-30+ feet = low light

Your only option for a low light coral is to put it in the shade underneath one of your rocks

[NO3]

**********

[SaltLifeCam]

I have since upgraded to a red sea max nano.

Interesting chart! I will definitely keep that in mind.

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[SaltLifeCam]

I haven't found such chart yet.. maybe there is no definitive answers/depths?

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[huhhh]

Man, I really want a blah, blah, blah. They are hard to find though.