Anacropora help.

Propane · Aug 14, 2023

A month ago this coral looked a lot worse. I fixed my water parameters (still some work to do) and noticed it was turning green again on the right hand side. Polyps are returning but the top isn’t changing much and has algae on it. Do I trim the top or see if the polyps return after ridding it of algae? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

ReefingDreams · Aug 14, 2023

It won't likely grow over the algae, so try to manually remove the algae. Sometimes the coral can beat back the algae with some warfare at the growth edge, but not likely if the algae is more than a dusting (as in this case). If after manually removing the algae it keeps coming back, I'd snip that tip if it were me. That said, algae could just grow right back over the exposed area before the coral heals over and you'll be in the same spot. So, in short, manually remove and keep it clean for a while and see what happens.

bobnicaragua · Aug 14, 2023

I’ve got three different types of anacropora. My green goblin dies back at the tips occasionally. I have that coral in several spots in my tank and they all do this at the same time.

I’d go ahead and cut the dead part off. Anacroporas aren’t the best encrusters, those tips aren’t coming back.

Propane · Aug 14, 2023

Do I use bone cutters or should I use the dremmel?

bobnicaragua · Aug 14, 2023

I would just snip it with bone cutters.

bobnicaragua · Aug 14, 2023

Anacropora are quick growers when happy and not picky about par. They don’t tolerate low nutrients well.

Roatan Reef · Aug 14, 2023

bobnicaragua said:
Anacropora are quick growers when happy and not picky about par. They don’t tolerate low nutrients well.

Agreed, and as you noted above, not the best encrusters....

However, I have mine placed in the upper section and it has quadrupled in 8 months, I even have multiple frags now... lol...partly because it's not a great encruster...and sometimes when doing even the most basic tank maintenance or WC, it gets bumped off, and a piece or 2 breaks off, thus creating frags....but I've found it to be very tolerant of lots of things.

I do find with my frags, it's best to rotate them and move them around as 1 side or section tends to stay more blueish and not bright green.

Op...try dusting off algae, if not clip off dead stuff, trust me Anacropora are very forgiving.

pandn1021 · Aug 15, 2023

Roatan Reef said:
Agreed, and as you noted above, not the best encrusters....

However, I have mine placed in the upper section and it has quadrupled in 8 months, I even have multiple frags now... lol...partly because it's not a great encruster...and sometimes when doing even the most basic tank maintenance or WC, it gets bumped off, and a piece or 2 breaks off, thus creating frags....but I've found it to be very tolerant of lots of things.

I do find with my frags, it's best to rotate them and move them around as 1 side or section tends to stay more blueish and not bright green.

Op...try dusting off algae, if not clip off dead stuff, trust me Anacropora are very forgiving.

I do agree with Roatan Reef about the rotating of anacropora my golden rod with have smooth spots with no polyps and much lighter color if I don't rotate frags every once in a while. Also I'd agree with snipping the dead part off, it should regrow rather quickly, rather than deal with manually battling algae growth.