Please help! Acans are struggling!

[brandowelsh]

I have acan frag that I’ve had for a about a month that seems to be struggling a bit. Water parameters are solid and all other lps and softies are thriving. I’ve read that acans generally like lower flow and moderate to lower lighting. I have it in a little alcove in the sand bed. I’ve tried target feeding mysis, reef roids, and reef energy with little to no response. My water parameters are as follows:
PH: 8.3
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 5ppm
Alkalinity: 10dKH
Phosphate: 0ppm
Calcium: 420ppm

Any suggestions on what I can try are greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance!

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I suspect your nitrate and phosphate are too low. Lps and softies need dirtier water...

 

[Auto-pilot]

What other corals do you have?? How are they doing

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Also, your alk is on the high side... Is that a stable level? If so, increasing nutrients will help protect the coral from the effects of high alk. If not stable, that could also be an issue.

 

[brandowelsh]

I suspect your nitrate and phosphate are too low. Lps and softies need dirtier water...

Thanks for the feedback! I’m pretty new to the hobby and I probably do try to keep the tank overly clean. What is a reasonable nitrate/phosphate level to maintain?

 

[brandowelsh]

What other corals do you have?? How are they doing

Pretty much every other coral in the tank is thriving. I have GSP, xenia, a few leathers, 1 mushroom, several zoas, 1 hammer, a few duncans, 1 gorgonian

 

[PocketGoose]

Agree with keeping proper nutrient levels. I feed mine daily as well. I was struggling with these corals for a while and after getting my nutrient levels elevated noticed a rapid turnaround. LPS in my experience does better with dirtier water.

I shoot for 10-20 NO3 and .05 or greater PO4. You'll probably get different answers from everybody haha, but it's important to have some detectable nutrients for all corals.

 

[brandowelsh]

Also, your alk is on the high side... Is that a stable level? If so, increasing nutrients will help protect the coral from the effects of high alk. If not stable, that could also be an issue.

Also, your alk is on the high side... Is that a stable level? If so, increasing nutrients will help protect the coral from the effects of high alk. If not stable, that could also be an issue.

Everything I’ve read seems to indicate to keep alkalinity between 8-12dKH. I’ve always kept it stable at 10.

 

[ZoWhat]

@brandowelsh

I hope you take this advice to heart. I've kept Acans since 2006.

The best thing for them is REDSEA AB+ (amino acids + vitamins)

I broadcast feed my acans 3x a week with all Return flow OFF fir 3hrs right when lights go out for the night. I feed them 5ml of REDSEA AB+ 3x a week.

In 4 weeks your Acans will get fleshy and start growing again

I hope you take this advice bc REDSEA AB+ is a gamechanger.... an absolute 100% must-have choice to dose with Acans

 

[ZoWhat]

0 nitrate?
0 phosphate?

You are STARVING these things to death.

Read my post above about AB+

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Thanks for the feedback! I’m pretty new to the hobby and I probably do try to keep the tank overly clean. What is a reasonable nitrate/phosphate level to maintain?

My tank likes Nitrates 30-50+ and phosphates 0.25-0.5.

 

[jabberwock]

There is a lot of coral competition in your small tank. I would suggest spot feeding the acans, but your cleaner shrimp would likely just steal all the food.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have acan frag that I’ve had for a about a month that seems to be struggling a bit. Water parameters are solid and all other lps and softies are thriving. I’ve read that acans generally like lower flow and moderate to lower lighting. I have it in a little alcove in the sand bed. I’ve tried target feeding mysis, reef roids, and reef energy with little to no response. My water parameters are as follows:
PH: 8.3
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 5ppm
Alkalinity: 10dKH
Phosphate: 0ppm
Calcium: 420ppm

Any suggestions on what I can try are greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance!

View attachment 3177925

As they are easily irritated by sand, I would start with elevating the coral. Similar to melting, I would check phosphate-salinity and alk to assure not elevated and provide moderate light and water flow. Mysis shrimp is a good meal for them and what fish do you have in tank which may be nibbling at them?

 

[REEFERADDICT01]

I have acan frag that I’ve had for a about a month that seems to be struggling a bit. Water parameters are solid and all other lps and softies are thriving. I’ve read that acans generally like lower flow and moderate to lower lighting. I have it in a little alcove in the sand bed. I’ve tried target feeding mysis, reef roids, and reef energy with little to no response. My water parameters are as follows:
PH: 8.3
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 5ppm
Alkalinity: 10dKH
Phosphate: 0ppm
Calcium: 420ppm

Any suggestions on what I can try are greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance!

View attachment 3177925

Your water is to clean. Acans thrive in 10 to 15 ppm nitrate, also .05 to .19 phosphate and lps like cooler water like 75 to 77 degrees max.

 

[brandowelsh]

I have acan frag that I’ve had for a about a month that seems to be struggling a bit. Water parameters are solid and all other lps and softies are thriving. I’ve read that acans generally like lower flow and moderate to lower lighting. I have it in a little alcove in the sand bed. I’ve tried target feeding mysis, reef roids, and reef energy with little to no response. My water parameters are as follows:
PH: 8.3
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 5ppm
Alkalinity: 10dKH
Phosphate: 0ppm
Calcium: 420ppm

Any suggestions on what I can try are greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance!

View attachment 3177925

As they are easily irritated by sand, I would start with elevating the coral. Similar to melting, I would check phosphate-salinity and alk to assure not elevated and provide moderate light and water flow. Mysis shrimp is a good meal for them and what fish do you have in tank which may be nibbling at them?

Appreciate the suggestions! I’ll make sure parameters are where they should be and are stable. I only have one clownfish and a yellow watchman goby as far as fish go. I do have a pretty hefty cuc including nassarius snails, an assortment of hermit crabs, an emerald crab, and a pair of cleaner shrimp, all of which could be irritating the acans on the sand bed. I’ll try to get it a little higher up in the scape and see how it goes. I always try to target feed most of my corals and usually include some meatier foods like mysis. Thanks again for the help!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Appreciate the suggestions! I’ll make sure parameters are where they should be and are stable. I only have one clownfish and a yellow watchman goby as far as fish go. I do have a pretty hefty cuc including nassarius snails, an assortment of hermit crabs, an emerald crab, and a pair of cleaner shrimp, all of which could be irritating the acans on the sand bed. I’ll try to get it a little higher up in the scape and see how it goes. I always try to target feed most of my corals and usually include some meatier foods like mysis. Thanks again for the help!

It’s point of sale The watchman May be fanning sand inadvertently on the acan

 

[merkmerk73]

I have one acan doing fantastic and another that was doing great then shriveled up and died off

My new one - rather expensive one - is now shriveling up too

I also have super clean water but if I try to make it dirtier the GHA will just gobble it up