Help with my first Acan- coral is remaining deflated

[Butchy21]

So I just recently bought a really nice Acan and have had it in the tank for ~3 days and the coral has remained deflated. As of this morning I have not seen it get puffy or any feeding tenctacles out but the colors have not changed. They usually prefer low-moderate light and I have a taller tank (21 inches substrate to light) so I placed it middle of the tank from the start. The guy I bought it from runs higher intensity lights (MH?) in the winter and LEDs in the summer.

 

Currently, I'd consider the frag to be in a medium light range with low-medium flow. I have a USA marine orbit LED running at about 80% strength and all of the other corals look healthy (elegance, trumpets, frogspawn, hammer, zoos, mushrooms). Also, water parameters have been checked and our solid.

 

Should I wait for a few more days or move the coral lower?

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[DCUEVAS74]

I always start low and then move high. My last frags of acans took 2 to 3 weeks to acclimate to my LEDs. If they are moving from MHs they're probably going to be stressed for bit. I wouldn't fret, they're pretty hardy.

[Butchy21]

I always start low and then move high. My last frags of acans took 2 to 3 weeks to acclimate to my LEDs. If they are moving from MHs they're probably going to be stressed for bit. I wouldn't fret, they're pretty hardy.

 

Ok, good to know thanks. I always seem to think MH are much stronger than LEDs but I suppose it all depends on what the coral is used to. I will put it down on the sand for a few weeks and then move it up after I can start feeding it.

[Bingo1213]

IMO Acans are one of the hardest things to care for. I have tons of very sensitive corals such as gorgonians, gonioporas, and tons of SPS that do wonderful but all 3 of the Acan colonies I tried died within a month. I tried different combinations of lighting and flow with each on still with no luck. I've just come to terms with the fact I can't keep them! Hopefully someone will have some better advice than I can give haha

[Mr. Microscope]

I find quite the opposite of Bingo. Acans are really hearty for me. Yours looks fine, just a little peeved. You might want to move it away from your trumpet coral. There might be something going on there. IME, acans retain their color best near the bottom.

[Butchy21]

I find quite the opposite of Bingo. Acans are really hearty for me. Yours looks fine, just a little peeved. You might want to move it away from your trumpet coral. There might be something going on there. IME, acans retain their color best near the bottom.

Yes, I was thinking the same thing- I already moved the large trumpet away from the acan last night! I'd like to pop the acan off the square plug so it can grow on the actual rock but only after it appears healthy.

[Bingo1213]

I find quite the opposite of Bingo. Acans are really hearty for me. Yours looks fine, just a little peeved. You might want to move it away from your trumpet coral. There might be something going on there. IME, acans retain their color best near the bottom.

Yes haha most people have better experiences idk what's wrong with my system that only that coral doesn't do well haha

[Butchy21]

Yes haha most people have better experiences idk what's wrong with my system that only that coral doesn't do well haha

Well at least you know that now- the real question is, do you keep trying them?! haha

[Bingo1213]

Well at least you know that now- the real question is, do you keep trying them?! haha

Haha no I haven't tried Acans in 8 months now. I am considering trying again though since I now have bigger tank and maybe for some reason it'll work now. I know tank size has nothing to do with it but maybe a new system and a new start will for some reason help haha

[Butchy21]

Haha no I haven't tried Acans in 8 months now. I am considering trying again though since I now have bigger tank and maybe for some reason it'll work now. I know tank size has nothing to do with it but maybe a new system and a new start will for some reason help haha

Hey, you never know- different light, flow, etc could all make the difference. So now after 6 days- I moved the acan into a mostly shaded area but still looks about the same. Hoping for some improvement in the next few days then I can slowly move it into more light.

[Butchy21]

So an update- after a week, the Acan is starting to puff up. I placed it completely under an overhang 3-4 days ago so it's not getting any direct light. What's the best way to acclimate it to my leds?

 

I was thinking of moving it out from the ledge an inch a day or so, let site for a week then move higher in tank. Is that a reasonable pace?

[Bingo1213]

Ya that should be the way to go but do keep in mind Acans will have better colors in lower lighting. I know that doesn't sound credible coming from the person who can't keep them but I have researched it a bunch trying to figure out why mine died. They do need light so don't starve them but less light = more color. They are really one of the few corals where this is true lol

[Butchy21]

Ya that should be the way to go but do keep in mind Acans will have better colors in lower lighting. I know that doesn't sound credible coming from the person who can't keep them but I have researched it a bunch trying to figure out why mine died. They do need light so don't starve them but less light = more color. They are really one of the few corals where this is true lol

Ha, no worries I've read a ton about them and came to the same conclusion. I have a small overhang midway point of tank so wanted to get them to coat some of the live rock under that instead of balling up at the bottom.

[Butchy21]

Finally cut off the coral from the plug, epoxyed it to a ledge about 10 inches off the sandbed with a small overhang above it and the acan has never looked better. Fully open and doing much better!