How do you acclimate your Acropora?

[JonoH]

Coral is used to changing Par (think daylight cycle) - as long as you dial your lights down when putting them in the tank, it shouldnt shock them.

Sometimes they may brown out, but normally they come back every better, just need to be patient with them.

I normally just put them where i want and let them be, most tend to take a few months to get used to the change, wild colonys seem to take around 6 months. (I frag these also a little and the frags will take off faster).

 

[legendhua]

I will adjust the position of the coral in time according to its current condition, so that it has the right light and water flow.
The water flow requirements are roughly the same, they must be strong and chaotic enough, but the light requirements are very different.

Adjusting the light intensity will affect other corals in the tank at the same time, so changing the position is a more convenient approach.

The following example is an Acropora prostrata I received from a friend that was in poor condition.

2024_0724
tip burn
P7240057 正彩單 金魚鱗 金龍 by legendhua, 於 Flickr


2024_0818
First place it on the bottom sand, where the flow is quite turbulent and the light intensity is slightly lower.
P8180029 金魚鱗 by legendhua, 於 Flickr


2024_1013
The color was better
PA130071 金魚鱗 by legendhua, 於 Flickr


2024_1110
PB100440 金魚鱗 by legendhua, 於 Flickr


2025_0104
Try to place it in a location with stronger light.
P1040124 金魚鱗 by legendhua, 於 Flickr



2025_0202
I put it in a bright light location, but after observing it for a while, I found that the situation was not getting better!
P2020126 金魚鱗 澳洲糖果腦 by legendhua, 於 Flickr



2025_0224
So I moved it to a location with weaker light.
P2240014 金魚鱗 by legendhua, 於 Flickr



2025_0426
After more branches grow, I will try a brighter position.
P4230031 金魚鱗 黃鐵牛 by legendhua, 於 Flickr

 

[njmaddreefer]

Ya, I’ve only tried easy ones. And I can get them to grow in the frag rack so I think my water is fine. Just frustrating to see them struggle so immediately after moving them to the scape.

Is it typical for people to have to try multiple locations before an acro looks happy?
Do people start them low and gradually move them up into higher light and flow?

If I move my Acropora a lot or do a sudden change some of my Acropora might be unhappy for 2 weeks to a month.

 

[Hemmbone20]

I will adjust the position of the coral in time according to its current condition, so that it has the right light and water flow.
The water flow requirements are roughly the same, they must be strong and chaotic enough, but the light requirements are very different.

Adjusting the light intensity will affect other corals in the tank at the same time, so changing the position is a more convenient approach.

The following example is an Acropora prostrata I received from a friend that was in poor condition.

2024_0724
tip burn
P7240057 正彩單 金魚鱗 金龍 by legendhua, 於 Flickr


2024_0818
First place it on the bottom sand, where the flow is quite turbulent and the light intensity is slightly lower.
P8180029 金魚鱗 by legendhua, 於 Flickr


2024_1013
The color was better
PA130071 金魚鱗 by legendhua, 於 Flickr


2024_1110
PB100440 金魚鱗 by legendhua, 於 Flickr


2025_0104
Try to place it in a location with stronger light.
P1040124 金魚鱗 by legendhua, 於 Flickr



2025_0202
I put it in a bright light location, but after observing it for a while, I found that the situation was not getting better!
P2020126 金魚鱗 澳洲糖果腦 by legendhua, 於 Flickr



2025_0224
So I moved it to a location with weaker light.
P2240014 金魚鱗 by legendhua, 於 Flickr



2025_0426
After more branches grow, I will try a brighter position.
P4230031 金魚鱗 黃鐵牛 by legendhua, 於 Flickr

Great progression photos.. thanks!

 

[REEFRIED!]

I typically (after dip) leave them on a frag rack for two week. Then based on the acro, and its par requirements, I mount it to its hopeful permanent home.

 

[56longroof]

I just float them to temp acclimate and put them on a rack. Mostly i do this to decide where I want to put them. Been working pretty good for me so far.

 

[reefpanda]

Will place them at the designated spot in the tank after dipping. If they start bleaching then will move them down or if they start browning then I move them up.

 

[BeanAnimal]

DIp - Rinse - Dump.

It may go down low for a few days if I have room, but often right to its home.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Will place them at the designated spot in the tank after dipping. If they start bleaching then will move them down or if they start browning then I move them up.

pretty much and I am usually in no hurry. They sit on the counter sometimes waiting for me to glue them. Dry coral is easier to glue than wet, for sure :)

 

[Curiousbranching]

If your tank is stable and the coral is healthy, you can place it anywhere you like and it will adapt on its own. However, if the coral is stressed due to any factor, it's best to place it in an area with moderate lighting, around 150–200 PAR, and give it time to recover. During this period, I usually avoid dosing carbon or amino acids, as newly added corals are more likely to suffer from STN/RTN.