Acan frag question

[jencheung]

I have a quick question about my new acan frags... I've read that they grow outwards and then build skeleton underneath. I have a single polyp that is mounted on a frag plug with about 3/4" of skeleton between the fleshy part of the polyp and the frag disc. Will that hinder its growth in any way since it won't have a flat surface to grow out on? Will it do better if I somehow remove that piece of skeleton? I'd need bone cutters or a saw or something to do that though, right? My other two frags have the polyps sitting directly on the frag disc. Would it be best to epoxy those to rocks so that they have more surface to grow out on? These are my first acans and I just want to be sure I'm doing what's best for them. If I can do right by these I feel a new addiction coming on... Thanks!

 

[afboundguy]

Acans grow two different ways... They can encrust if they have a rock or something else to encrust on or they make their own skeleton... When they encrust they grow faster because they don't have to waste energy making a skeleton... I personally like the balled up look when they have to create their own skeleton but if you like the flatter look stick them on something flat. I have a few acans I put on shells so they grow into a colony so I can frag them and not the balled up ones...

As for that specific frag I wouldn't cut out the skeleton, the new baby heads will encrust on it and eventually go down to the frag plug and either make it's own skeleton or if you put it on something it will encrust...

If you spot feed them when their feeders are out they will grow much faster and have much better coloring IMO/IME...

 

[jencheung]

Thanks Dave! I didn't realize that they had the two different growth forms. I agree, I like the balled up look, I just didn't realize that they weren't on a rock to create that shape. In that case I will just leave them as they are. I just got them on Saturday but I've spot fed them every night (including Saturday night, just an hour after I got them in the tank!).

One other question. I just have them under PC's (right now they're 72w of 50/50's but I'm going to be switching to 36w of 10K and 36w actinic). If they're going to change or lose their color because of a change in the lighting, how soon would I start seeing that? I've got a red one, a green one and a purplish one with sort of iridescent blue flecks.

Thanks!

 

[afboundguy]

I don't remember how fast it took for mine to morph but it wasn't like overnight... And I would think switching from 72W of 50/50 is pretty much the same as 36w of 10k and 36w of actinic so you should be fine...