Acans always die...

[Chrysus]

For some reason I can not keep acans alive to save my life. It doesn’t seem to matter where I put them in the tank, I’ve had three separate frags die at different times. I had one with about 5 heads that lasted a few weeks when I first set added corals, an Aussie acan with 2 heads that lasted less than 14 hours, and most recently another one with 2 heads that lasted a week or two.

Tank info:
40 gallon breeder sumpless and skimmerless, just runs on a canister
2x 840gph (roughly) hydor powerheads on the hydor wavemaker, alternating flow every 30s

Parameters:
0/0/10 Nitrate
80F
Salinity: 1.026
KH: 7-8
pH: 8.0
Calcium: 440
Phosphate: 0 (on API test)

If there is anything else I should test let me know.

Tank was getting 25% water changes once a week, I have been neglecting it a bit recently but will get back to those before I add anything else. These parameters are without a water change for a few weeks.

Other corals: asst euphyllia, a red goniopora, chilli coral, a few ricordia, zoas, a brain of some sort, a leather.. There are also 4 very happy mini carpets.

Lighting is 2x Kessil a160 and 1x Kessil a360.

Does anything stand out as off? Why would it be specifically acans that I have problems with? Any special tips for them?

Thanks for any help.

 

[pelphrey]

What percentages are the kessils at?

 

[Chrysus]

I don’t have a controller but the 160s are on just shy of max and the 360 about 50%. The first Acans were before the addition of the 360, the most recent were after, and I can’t remember with the Aussies. Although they actually died before the lights came on, so I guess it wouldn’t matter with them. I’ve tried the acans on the sand and on mid and top rocks.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

I don’t have a controller but the 160s are on just shy of max and the 360 about 50%. The first Acans were before the addition of the 360, the most recent were after, and I can’t remember with the Aussies. Although they actually died before the lights came on, so I guess it wouldn’t matter with them. I’ve tried the acans on the sand and on mid and top rocks.

I'd try them in shade

 

[Ryan Toovey]

How do they react when they “die” (bleaching, browning, turning to goo, etc) I haven’t been in the hobby very long but this will help others with making suggestions.

-Ryan

 

[Chrysus]

How do they react when they “die” (bleaching, browning, turning to goo, etc) I haven’t been in the hobby very long but this will help others with making suggestions.

-Ryan

Hm... I definitely not turning to goo and I wouldn’t say they bleach either. They usually just don’t fully expand and then the flesh “disappears” pretty quickly so it’s just exposed skeleton.

 

[Jamie Allbritton]

Raise your phosphate to about 0.03 - 0.06 and lower nitrates to about 5.

 

[Chrysus]

Raise your phosphate to about 0.03 - 0.06 and lower nitrates to about 5.

API doesn’t have that level of sensitivity so I’d be surprised if phosphates were actually a true 0. I might pick up a more accurate test soon. I’ll continue to work on nitrates - they’re a lot lower than they used to be!

 

[Bayareareefer18]

API doesn’t have that level of sensitivity so I’d be surprised if phosphates were actually a true 0. I might pick up a more accurate test soon. I’ll continue to work on nitrates - they’re a lot lower than they used to be!

Love the hannah. Worth every penny

 

[A sea K]

I don’t have a controller but the 160s are on just shy of max and the 360 about 50%. The first Acans were before the addition of the 360, the most recent were after, and I can’t remember with the Aussies. Although they actually died before the lights came on, so I guess it wouldn’t matter with them. I’ve tried the acans on the sand and on mid and top rocks.

Too much light too fast IMO. I have quite a few in my 80 gal that is 18 tall so its close to the same water depth as your 40. My kessil 160 have been about 55 percent and they all seem happy on the sand. I have been slowly upping the intensity and so far so good, up to 65% now.

 

[Sean Fitz]

Ive had the same issue, no matter where I put them they shrink to oblivion... unless I regularly target feed them.

 

[homer1475]

I have the same issue. Doesn't matter where I put them, on the sandbed, up on rocks, in the shade, in direct lighting, etc. It doesn't matter, they just slowly wither away and eventually die. any other coral(gonipora, acropora, many LPS, etc) thrives and has for a couple years. Before moving to this bigger tank, back in my biocube I could grow any acan I wanted.

I have given up on keeping them.

 

[Sean Fitz]

I have the same issue. Doesn't matter where I put them, on the sandbed, up on rocks, in the shade, in direct lighting, etc. It doesn't matter, they just slowly wither away and eventually die. any other coral(gonipora, acropora, many LPS, etc) thrives and has for a couple years. Before moving to this bigger tank, back in my biocube I could grow any acan I wanted.

I have given up on keeping them.

I can tell by your profile picture you must be bitter about it lol

 

[homer1475]

My profile pic is of the last acan I bought. It also withered away after 2 months. They are just my favorite coral.

I should probably change it to something thats still alive in my tank. lol

 

[Chrysus]

Well glad to know I’m not the only one! I’ve tried starting them in shaded areas as well, although that one didn’t even last the night. I don’t think it’s something worth experimenting on, I’m happy with my surviving corals lol.

 

[eggplantparrot]

Well glad to know I’m not the only one! I’ve tried starting them in shaded areas as well, although that one didn’t even last the night. I don’t think it’s something worth experimenting on, I’m happy with my surviving corals lol.

Where are you getting the frags from? All from same place?

 

[Oshengems]

This was my issue with blastos my favorite coral, too much light and maybe too much flow for me, def putting them in a shaded area helped. When I say shaded I literally mean it too they barely get any light where they add but they are thriving now

 

[JohnMzreef]

acan killers:

• 0 phosphate
• too much flow
• too much light
• inadequate feeding

I run a 29 gallon tank. I believe the footprint is 12" by 30". My lighting is a single Kessil 360 tuna blue about 10" off the water set to blue: 60 white: 35. The light is centered over the tank. I keep my acans in the corners - not directly under the light.
Flow should be easy to set as this will be directly reflected in polyp extension.
Now I think it is a little weird that you have 0 phosphate.. How are you achieving that with your setup?? I think you might need to either do your water change every 2 weeks and/or feed more often.

 

[ReefJake123]

From my experience they seem to like the cooler water my tank temp is at 76-77° and they love it

 

[A sea K]

From my experience they seem to like the cooler water my tank temp is at 76-77° and they love it

I have never really given any consideration to water temp (within normal ranges) and I am at the lower end 76-77 as well so that may be part of my success. I have one blasto in direct light but on the sandbed (shallow tank) and it has done well also.