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SPS: Acropora 18 (cont.)

Fortunately, I managed to save a tiny bit of it. It has also proved itself to be a pretty fast grower so I'm sure it'll come back…though given its history of morphing, I'm not quite sure what it'll comeback as.

Acropora #19 As some of you may recall, this once huge colony (and Green Chromis crash pad) had to finally be fragged early last fall but we managed to salvage three good sized pieces. Well, I'm happy to report that two of those three pieces are still with us,encrusting their bases, and growing quite well

. I've even seen a few of the chromis snuggling up close to them when 'lights out' approaches. But because all of the corals surrounding it are doing so much better now that they're not being shaded, I plan to be vigilant in my pruning from now on.

So I'm afraid some of the fish may have to find other accommodations or at the very least, learn to share.

Acropora #21

Doing well and growing although due to the recent lighting changes, it's color has recently faded a bit (temporarily, I hope). I wish I had more pieces of this type; small and compact, as they make a nice contrast to the more massive columnar and faster growing staghorn corals that seemed to dominate. Unfortunately, as with proper names, you usually just can't tell.

Acropora #22

One of, if not THE showpiece of the tank now, this coral has done wonderfully and came through my recent spate of problems completely unscathed. Its whirling, fan shaped growth pattern is breath taking, particularly from above. It also displays great polyp extension, and although it is perhaps closer to the lights than any other coral in the tank, the recent changes haven't seemed to have affected it at all.Even its little daughter colony is doing well and apparently trying to grow in a pattern very similar to mama

. Of course, there will be a fragging issue to contend with in the future but now I'd just like to sit back and enjoy this piece; one of the few problem free corals I've managed to maintain lately…Or should I have not even said that?

Acropora #23

If #22 isn't the showpiece of the tank then #23 has to be. It certainly seems to be a favorite among local reefers who loudly lament the fact that it's an incredibly slow grower as they put their bids in for a frag. But the piece IS growing; I'd even go so far as to say it'spiking up steam as it has probably moved 1/4” upward so far this year. It's spreading its base very nicely too (I used to always worry about snails knocking it over) and the tips are also turning purple, creating a quite unusual color combination, which only serves to tease the people even more.