Acropora Propagation

[PacificEastAquaculture]

We grow Acropora in our greenhouse under unshaded full sunlight. We periodically cut frags from our colonies and offer them for sale at various stages from fresh cut to fully encrusted. These colonies have been growing and actively propagated for years.

 

[Silver14SS]

Very nice! How much do the water temps vary in the summer? Thank you for your continued aquaculture efforts!

 

[PacificEastAquaculture]

Very nice! How much do the water temps vary in the summer? Thank you for your continued aquaculture efforts!

No temp fluctuations, we use geothermal for heating and cooling the water in the systems as well as air temp, water temp is 78 yearround, air temp 74. What does change is light levels and that is more difficult to control.

 

[PacificEastAquaculture]

 

[PacificEastAquaculture]

 

[PacificEastAquaculture]

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

We grow Acropora in our greenhouse under unshaded full sunlight. We periodically cut frags from our colonies and offer them for sale at various stages from fresh cut to fully encrusted. These colonies have been growing and actively propagated for years.

I'm curious, do you use chillers or cool whole green house? In Papua New Guinea they use chillers, 5 tons each, qty 10?

 

[tautog83]

You guys should have a section of what acro frags have been aquacultured versus the ones that are cut directly from a recent order. The one under that ssc is beautiful

 

[PacificEastAquaculture]

You guys should have a section of what acro frags have been aquacultured versus the ones that are cut directly from a recent order. The one under that ssc is beautiful

All of these are aquacultured

 

[PacificEastAquaculture]

I'm curious, do you use chillers or cool whole green house? In Papua New Guinea they use chillers, 5 tons each, qty 10?

No chiller are used, just geothermal. Titanium heat exchangers connected 250ft wells, closed loops.

 

[PacificEastAquaculture]

 

[PacificEastAquaculture]

 

[PacificEastAquaculture]

 

[PacificEastAquaculture]

 

[PacificEastAquaculture]

 

[PacificEastAquaculture]

Our greenhouse has been running about 20 years and we are a state licensed and inspected coral aquaculture facility. Much of our equipment is old school, not much automation. Big downdraft skimmers, calcium reactors and continuous kalk drip with daily monitoring. In the shaded areas are SPS other than Acropora, such as Stylophora, Pocillopora, Seriatopora, etc. In double shaded areas are most other corals such as Cyphastrea, Favia & Favites, Pachyseris, Chalices, softies, etc. Under an overhang are mushrooms and other lower light demand corals. We also have another larger system indoors using LED lighting.

 

[PacificEastAquaculture]

 

[PacificEastAquaculture]

Tricks to maintaining and growing corals consistently in a greenhouse are temp control and light control. Seasonal changes including pollen and weather are important factors. Temps in the greenhouse can vary here on Maryland's Eastern Shore from -5 to 100+ like today! Hurricanes and regular thunderstorms are real hazards. Automatic generators are a must.

 

[PacificEastAquaculture]

Feeding is critical to long term success. We grow a variety of phytoplankton, rotifers, pods, and brine shrimp. Each phytoplankton has a different nutritional profile and multiple cultures of brine shrimp, rotifers, and pods are grown using a variety of phytoplankton. We are fortunate to be able to work closely with the University of Maryland both at Salisbury University and their Center for Environmental Science at Horn Point. We can obtain 20+ different cultures and grow our own including unique blends.

Here are some continuous batches of live foods we grow. Densities are high and we feed it fresh daily. We feed late at night when polyps are open and receptive.

 

[tautog83]

All of these are aquacultured

So thsts all new growth under the greenhouse ?