Should I keep new frags on a rack? For how long?

[BASVillanova]

I have been trying to grow acros for the first time, but have not been succeeding to date despite stable and consistent alkalinity, calcium, magnesium and salt levels. I also have my nitrates and phosphates at good levels (around 10 and 0.1 ppm, respectively). I have been buying frags from POTO, but they have not survived once I mount them on the rock at proper par (around 300 par). I have noticed many people keep their frags on frag racks. I usually put my new frags on a frag rack near the bottom of the tank and then gradually raise them towards the top of the tank over a period of around one week. Once near the top, I have mounted them on my aquascape (top of tank with strong, indirect and alternating flow), but they don't survive thereafter. Should I keep my new frags on racks for a prolonged period of time? If so, for how long? Where should they be placed in the tank (side, back etc.) and at what level? Am I doing something wrong by raising them on the glass over a week's period then mounting them on rock? Thank you!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Do you have photos of the frags and of your tank?

 

[exnisstech]

Are you completely removing the coral from the plug? I like to let them encrusted the plug first so I know they are growing. Then I cut the stem off and glue the plug down. Once they grow out I can't tell there is even a plug there.

PS this is assuming your talking about SPS

 

[BASVillanova]

Are you completely removing the coral from the plug? I like to let them encrusted the plug first so I know they are growing. Then I cut the stem off and glue the plug down. Once they grow out I can't tell there is even a plug there.

PS this is assuming your talking about SPS

I do not remove the coral from the plug. Should I keep them on a rack until they encrust on the plug?

 

[BASVillanova]

I do not remove the coral from the plug. Should I keep them on a rack until they encrust on the plug?

Yes, SPS.

 

[Jasonak]

I have been trying to grow acros for the first time, but have not been succeeding to date despite stable and consistent alkalinity, calcium, magnesium and salt levels. I also have my nitrates and phosphates at good levels (around 10 and 0.1 ppm, respectively). I have been buying frags from POTO, but they have not survived once I mount them on the rock at proper par (around 300 par). I have noticed many people keep their frags on frag racks. I usually put my new frags on a frag rack near the bottom of the tank and then gradually raise them towards the top of the tank over a period of around one week. Once near the top, I have mounted them on my aquascape (top of tank with strong, indirect and alternating flow), but they don't survive thereafter. Should I keep my new frags on racks for a prolonged period of time? If so, for how long? Where should they be placed in the tank (side, back etc.) and at what level? Am I doing something wrong by raising them on the glass over a week's period then mounting them on rock? Thank you!

Does not sound like your doing anything wrong.

I normally start mine at on the rack in the middle of my tank. If the frags have had a really ruff trip I might put them at the bottom. Some corals are just touchy.
Ill leave them on the rack for two weeks to let them get over shipping shock then glue the plug to a rock and place it out into the aquascape. Sometimes I glue them directly out into the aquascape. 300 would be on the lower end for PAR in my tank but still shouldn't be a problem.

Do you have any other SPS in the tank how are they doing ?

How often are you checking your parameters ? ALK CAL NIT ?

 

[exnisstech]

I do not remove the coral from the plug. Should I keep them on a rack until they encrust on the plug?

Not everyone does but I like like to do it that way so I at least know the coral is growing before being glued down. Not sure about the frags your buying but I have had poor luck buying fresh cut frags. I try to only buy frags that are already encrusting. I think they have better survival rate if they're allowed to heal in the system they grew in. At least that has beens my experience.

 

[BASVillanova]

Does not sound like your doing anything wrong.

I normally start mine at on the rack in the middle of my tank. If the frags have had a really ruff trip I might put them at the bottom. Some corals are just touchy.
Ill leave them on the rack for two weeks to let them get over shipping shock then glue the plug to a rock and place it out into the aquascape. Sometimes I glue them directly out into the aquascape. 300 would be on the lower end for PAR in my tank but still shouldn't be a problem.

Do you have any other SPS in the tank how are they doing ?

How often are you checking your parameters ? ALK CAL NIT ?

These are my first SPS. I have a Trident that checks the parameters regularly. The acro that is on the top (in the picture) is getting more than 300 par. I will try keeping them on a rack in the middle of the tank for 2 weeks and see how that works. I am expecting new frags this week. Thanks for your help.

 

[Jasonak]

I have been trying to grow acros for the first time, but have not been succeeding to date despite stable and consistent alkalinity, calcium, magnesium and salt levels. I also have my nitrates and phosphates at good levels (around 10 and 0.1 ppm, respectively). I have been buying frags from POTO, but they have not survived once I mount them on the rock at proper par (around 300 par). I have noticed many people keep their frags on frag racks. I usually put my new frags on a frag rack near the bottom of the tank and then gradually raise them towards the top of the tank over a period of around one week. Once near the top, I have mounted them on my aquascape (top of tank with strong, indirect and alternating flow), but they don't survive thereafter. Should I keep my new frags on racks for a prolonged period of time? If so, for how long? Where should they be placed in the tank (side, back etc.) and at what level? Am I doing something wrong by raising them on the glass over a week's period then mounting them on rock? Thank you!

It also never hurts to double check your trident. When I notice my tank is looking a little off I always double check with a my Hanna just to be sure the tridents putting out the right numbers. I would say 75 percent of the time my trident is correct but it does go out of whack on me. Get a hold of a Tri-color Valida if you can, thats a hardy beast. Most vendors have a selection of beginner acros.

 

[BASVillanova]

It also never hurts to double check your trident. When I notice my tank is looking a little off I always double check with a my Hanna just to be sure the tridents putting out the right numbers. I would say 75 percent of the time my trident is correct but it does go out of whack on me. Get a hold of a Tri-color Valida if you can, thats a hardy beast. Most vendors have a selection of beginner acros.

Ok. Thank you again!