Acropora austera

dvmsn · 08/14/2008, 06:34 PM

Is it hard to keep and where do you have yours? Does it hold color?

ReefWreak · 08/14/2008, 09:53 PM

I rescued an A. Austera (only discovered that's what it was after researching the coral you asked about in this post!) from an LFS. It was brown and looked like crap, and had a gorilla crab in it (LFS said/thought it was an acro crab. Sheesh!).

The coral has been brown for about a month now, but since I've put it directly under my Superactinic VHOs, and I've given it about a month of R&R, it's starting to color up much more.

I placed it today in it's permenant home, about 8" or so from my 250w 10k Reeflux in a Luminarc Mini. It looks good, but time will tell. The colors coming from it are very impressive though! I'm happy that I rescued it, and that it's turning out to look very nice. I can't wait until I can afford to get Radiums

dots · 08/14/2008, 11:13 PM

In general, as with all Acro, it depends on your tank and conditions. Yes, some pieces tend to be less forgiving than others, but I don't think the Austera is one of these per se. But definatly, not a "common" acro to see just laying around all the time in the stores.

Though I find it to be a commonly mis identified piece.

Interesting piece, Ming @ Atlantis in the SF Bay Area seems to have quite a few go through his place from what I have seen over the years.

Kip · 08/15/2008, 05:11 AM

IMO/IME austeras are tough to keep... well... tough to color up and tough to get to grow.... i think they like TONs of flow. only time i ever started having success with one is when i started hammering it with current. (but then i had tank-wide acro issues and never saw a final result)

dvmsn · 08/15/2008, 07:03 AM

Thanks, the spot I have is neither high light or flow. Research always pays off.

Kip · 08/15/2008, 07:10 AM

per Veron: "Habitat: Upper reef slopes, especially where exposed to turbulence."

best of luck with it

dvmsn · 08/15/2008, 07:20 AM

I didn't buy it yet, and won't.

Oldude · 08/15/2008, 10:21 AM

I think you should make room for it, they are a good addition to a reef IMO.

mclaman · 08/15/2008, 10:28 AM

I love mine. I have in high light and high flow. It has grown really fast and looks like a Christmas Tree.

mclaman · 08/15/2008, 10:30 AM

Here it is from a couple of months ago:

tfp · 08/15/2008, 11:38 AM

mine grows kinda flat but its thick. can't believe it was grown from a 1/2" nub!

ReefWreak · 08/15/2008, 12:42 PM

Wow tfp, those colors are really making me re-think my constant knocking against Reeflux 12ks....

I've got a very similar setup to yours (except about 1/2 the size, but similar equipment). Is the setup in your sig your current setup and what is in the picture?

tfp · 08/16/2008, 09:52 AM

thanks reefwreak. yep, i'm still using reeflux12k's on old icecap electronics.

08/14/2008, 06:34 PM	#1
dvmsn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Surfside Beach, SC Posts: 3,008	Acropora austera Is it hard to keep and where do you have yours? Does it hold color?

08/14/2008, 11:13 PM	#3
dots Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 6,258	In general, as with all Acro, it depends on your tank and conditions. Yes, some pieces tend to be less forgiving than others, but I don't think the Austera is one of these per se. But definatly, not a "common" acro to see just laying around all the time in the stores. Though I find it to be a commonly mis identified piece. Interesting piece, Ming @ Atlantis in the SF Bay Area seems to have quite a few go through his place from what I have seen over the years. __________________ ~Doug

08/15/2008, 05:11 AM	#4
Kip Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Dropping 2, hitting 3 Posts: 2,495	IMO/IME austeras are tough to keep... well... tough to color up and tough to get to grow.... i think they like TONs of flow. only time i ever started having success with one is when i started hammering it with current. (but then i had tank-wide acro issues and never saw a final result) __________________ Sept'06 TOTM Taking a break from the hobby while we move to a new house.

08/15/2008, 07:10 AM	#6
Kip Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Dropping 2, hitting 3 Posts: 2,495	per Veron: "Habitat: Upper reef slopes, especially where exposed to turbulence." best of luck with it __________________ Sept'06 TOTM Taking a break from the hobby while we move to a new house.

08/16/2008, 09:52 AM	#13
tfp Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Folsom, CA Posts: 3,225	thanks reefwreak. yep, i'm still using reeflux12k's on old icecap electronics. __________________ Go with what works for you. Current Tank Info: Envisions 400g (96x32x30) online January 2012. 4-72" VHOs,7-OceanRevive T247,Aquamaxx Cone 6 Skimmer, Aquamaxx S3 CR,Aquariumplants CO2 regulator, Jebao SOW20's, 80w Emperor UV, tang dominated with anthias and longspine cards

08/14/2008, 09:53 PM	#2
ReefWreak Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Astoria, NYC Posts: 10,159	I rescued an A. Austera (only discovered that's what it was after researching the coral you asked about in this post!) from an LFS. It was brown and looked like crap, and had a gorilla crab in it (LFS said/thought it was an acro crab. Sheesh!). The coral has been brown for about a month now, but since I've put it directly under my Superactinic VHOs, and I've given it about a month of R&R, it's starting to color up much more. I placed it today in it's permenant home, about 8" or so from my 250w 10k Reeflux in a Luminarc Mini. It looks good, but time will tell. The colors coming from it are very impressive though! I'm happy that I rescued it, and that it's turning out to look very nice. I can't wait until I can afford to get Radiums

08/15/2008, 07:03 AM	#5
dvmsn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Surfside Beach, SC Posts: 3,008	Thanks, the spot I have is neither high light or flow. Research always pays off.

08/15/2008, 07:20 AM	#7
dvmsn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Surfside Beach, SC Posts: 3,008	I didn't buy it yet, and won't.

08/15/2008, 10:21 AM	#8
Oldude Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 4,479	I think you should make room for it, they are a good addition to a reef IMO.

08/15/2008, 10:28 AM	#9
mclaman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ladera Ranch, CA Posts: 587	I love mine. I have in high light and high flow. It has grown really fast and looks like a Christmas Tree.

08/15/2008, 10:30 AM	#10
mclaman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ladera Ranch, CA Posts: 587	Here it is from a couple of months ago:

08/15/2008, 11:38 AM	#11
tfp Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Folsom, CA Posts: 3,225	mine grows kinda flat but its thick. can't believe it was grown from a 1/2" nub!

08/15/2008, 12:42 PM	#12
ReefWreak Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Astoria, NYC Posts: 10,159	Wow tfp, those colors are really making me re-think my constant knocking against Reeflux 12ks.... I've got a very similar setup to yours (except about 1/2 the size, but similar equipment). Is the setup in your sig your current setup and what is in the picture?