Acan and Blasto Compatibility

[Falco]

I have recently started to keep more and more Acans and Blastos in my mixed reef and I am unsure of what they can be placed close to without killing or being killed.

My tank is a 135g mixed reef with 5 72" VHO's for lighting. I currently have a 4" frag of Acanthastrea echinata, a 3" frag of Acanthastrea lordhowensis and a large colony of Blastomussa wellsi

I have read that the echinata's are the most aggressive and they will take out lords if placed close enough. Can echinata's be placed near other echinata's and lords be placed near other lords?

Also, if blasto's come close to either of the Acanthastrea's will they be taken out?

-Chris

 

[Deanos]

All my echinatas are grouped together, as are my lords. Echinatas will attempt to consume the blastomussas.

 

[scarf_ace1981]

in a 135g! isn't there enough space to leave some room between all three?

 

[Falco]

in a 135g! isn't there enough space to leave some room between all three?

:lol: Yes but before they start spreading to the main rocks and I am unable to move the frags I want to place them in a more long term place

-Chris

 

[scarf_ace1981]

play it safe. place the acans on opposite ends of the tank and the blastos in the middle of the tank. that should give you enough time.

or do your corals spread a foot month? if they do you gotta let me know the secret :biglaugh:

 

[NYReef]

I have a smaller tank and put an Acan too close to another frag and after a day I found the Acan had engulfed a blasto in a clear jelly that killed it. Learned my lesson from then on and don't overcrowd! :headache:

 

[DevIouS]

All my echinatas are grouped together, as are my lords.

I'm like Dean.....
I have different morphs of the same kind together........separated from the others.

 

[Falco]

Thanks guys, thats kinda what I wanted to know. I am going to make a section for just lords and another for echinatas.

Also I am guessing echinatas would kill zoo's of they are to close right?

thanks again.
Chris

 

[DevIouS]

One of my hermits had pushed over a zoo frag next to my Acan E.
The zoos were closed, but I didn't see any damage.

Deepwater just sold a Acan/Zoo rock & it looked fine.


:scratch:

 

[DevIouS]

Ummmmm....
Scratch what I said in the above post.

This weekend my PHE zoos got pushed into my Acan E. & 2 polyps got burned (whitish color) & another polyp is completely closed.:grumpy:

 

[masterswimmer]

I've had my acan echinata too close to mushrooms. Found a shroom engulfed in the 'cocoon'.
I've had my acan echinata too close to an sps. Found the sps (just one 1" tip) covered in the 'cocoon'.

I've learned my lesson. :lol: The problem is, I've got all these guys in my 16 gallon. Not much room there.

swimmer

 

[Falco]

Thanks again guys for the feedback. It sounds like echinata's are the ones to really watch where you place so I will make an area in my tank just for them.

-Chris