Acropora Digitate question

[Brandon McHenry]

Hey all!

My LFS just got in a few large acropora colonies maricultured in Bali. Most are fairly colorful but there is a large acropora digitate with some faint color behind it but overall it's kind of dark. It's very unique and I have nothing like it in my tank. I've never had a digitate and I was wondering where they fall on the difficulty scale and if it would be worth the investment in the hopes that it becomes a great show piece. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[happyhourhero]

If the price is right and you like it, go for it. Some of the Mari colonies will RTN and also bring in pests so prepare accordingly.

 

[Tahoe61]

Acropora digitate in my experience is an extremely hard Acropora to keep. It requires the most intense lighting and strong alternating flow. I would not purchase one as the corals needs are hard to met. I would consider Digitate to be expert only, especially any maricultured pieces.

 

[Brandon McHenry]

If the price is right and you like it, go for it. Some of the Mari colonies will RTN and also bring in pests so prepare accordingly.

How's drip acclimation plus coral dip?

 

[Brandon McHenry]

Acropora digitate in my experience is an extremely hard Acropora to keep. It requires the most intense lighting and strong alternating flow. I would not purchase one as the corals needs are hard to met. I would consider Digitate to be expert only, especially any maricultured pieces.

I have 512 watts of T5 over a 150gallon tank with 9000 gph from two MP40QD. Does that sound like it would be enough to keep this colony happy and healthy?

 

[andys]

Only one way to find out. give it your best shot. put it on the bottom for a couple of days then move it to the middle for a few days then mount it in its finale place up top. but like happyhourhero said you may see RTN or STN in the future but i would go for it

 

[Tahoe61]

Depends on the price. Myself I stay away from the maricultured pieces. Typically they do fine for a couple months and then go down hill. Of course there are always the exceptions.
If you have experience keeping Acorpora, and the systems chemistry is stable long term and the price is reasonable then go for it.
If you're fairly new to keep Acropora, Ca/Alk/Mag levels are not dialed in for consistency then I would give the coral a pass.
I love the compact look and growth of the coral, but those growth characteristics are secondary to the intense wave action and lighting found in nature, it's hard to replicate those conditions.

 

[Brandon McHenry]

Depends on the price. Myself I stay away from the maricultured pieces. Typically they do fine for a couple months and then go down hill. Of course there are always the exceptions.
If you have experience keeping Acorpora, and the systems chemistry is stable long term and the price is reasonable then go for it.
If you're fairly new to keep Acropora, Ca/Alk/Mag levels are not dialed in for consistency then I would give the coral a pass.
I love the compact look and growth of the coral, but those growth characteristics are secondary to the intense wave action and lighting found in nature, it's hard to replicate those conditions.

I'm getting a good deal from the manager. Hes letting me buy one colony (about 6-7 inches) for $40. They are all very healthy.

I've got just about 2 years experience with acropora and other SPS. I've always kept them healthy I've just never gotten that extreme color that the masters get. Lol. My parameters are quite solid around NSW levels.

I just think that the growth form is nothing like anything that I have already.

 

[Tahoe61]

Then go for it, consider it a challenge. I would love to see it so put up some images if you feel so inclined.

:-)

 

[revhtree]

For $40 I would give it a shot!

 

[Brandon McHenry]

Then go for it, consider it a challenge. I would love to see it so put up some images if you feel so inclined.

:)

While I do like a challenge it is very tempting to have already colored up pieces to chose from right next to it. I have no idea what it will turn out to be!

 

[Brandon McHenry]

For $40 I would give it a shot!

That's my thought as well! I just wanted to make sure that it wouldn't be a terrible idea before I did it!

 

[Graffiti Spot]

Great deal, I agree with most of the above. But the difficulty for me has been with certain species within the digitate description. By far my favorite acros ever! Color could be tan and the cool thick growth still gets me excited. I would be worried about having more flow when it starts growing to keep it from growing skinny odd looking branches. In my 3' cube I have an mp60qd, two mp40qds, and a gyre150 just to make branching thick and compact.

 

[Brandon McHenry]

Decided to take the plunge! About 6 inches across and after about and hour and a half drip acclimation, the colony went in with little apparent stress. Not the best picture but it will have to do until I break the camera out.

 

[saltyhog]

When you guys are talking about digitate acropora is A. spathulata one of the species you're referring to?

 

[Tahoe61]

Decided to take the plunge! About 6 inches across and after about and hour and a half drip acclimation, the colony went in with little apparent stress. Not the best picture but it will have to do until I break the camera out.

Stunning, love the stubby blunt growth.

Thanks for the follow up. :-)

When you guys are talking about digitate acropora is A. spathulata one of the species you're referring to?

Member evolved and I had this discussion. It's the corals that actually look like digits/fingers. Acropora humilis is another that has that growth pattern.

 

[Brandon McHenry]

Stunning, love the stubby blunt growth.

Thanks for the follow up. :)




Member evolved and I had this discussion. It's the corals that actually look like digits/fingers. Acropora humilis is another that has that growth pattern.

Me too! I couldn't help but scoop it up! Funnily enough, I got to look at the purchase invoice and I think it actually is an Acropora humilis.

 

[saltyhog]

That's a great looking piece Brandon. I would have jumped on that one for that price.

I have struggled with A. spathulata but finally had success with this one. Sadly it was a friends that I "coral sat" for him for about a year. It went from brown to a beautiful pink with green highlights.

 

[Brandon McHenry]

That's a great looking piece Brandon. I would have jumped on that one for that price.

I have struggled with A. spathulata but finally had success with this one. Sadly it was a friends that I "coral sat" for him for about a year. It went from brown to a beautiful pink with green highlights.

Thanks! I can't wait to get a better picture. I hope it does well and I'm excited to see what color it becomes!