COTM: Acropora Gomezi, March 2011

Acropora Gomezi: The good and the bad.




Distribution: Bali and surrounding Indonesia, on reef sloops.
Coloration: Variable, from green but more commonly blue and other variations of true blue that is dependent on lighting. The images are with a flash and appear pink/purple, the true blue is not captured on my camera.
Care level: Difficult.
Lighting requirements: Intense lighting.
Placement: Mid to high.
Flow:Moderate

SG: 1.023-1.026.
Calcium: 350-450.
Alk: 8-10.
Magnesium: 1350-1500.
Temperature: 78-82, does poorly with any temperature swings.
Growth: Reported to be extremely slow and that has proven true in my experience with this acropora.

First reported in 2000 by Veron.

Appearance is similar to tortuosa, with small polyps and smooth skin. All coralites have thick walls and rounded openings.

This coral was a wild colony and has proved to be very temperamental to both flow and temperature. I tried multiple placement, and it responded best mid level, and with only mod flow. With higher flow I saw STN within 48 hours. Any temperature changes also resulted in STN quickly. STN resolved when both flow and temperature issues were corrected.
Wild colonies are available as well as smaller frags, I have never found a site offering aquacultured pieces.
Nitrates and phosphates should be as close to 0 as possible, otherwise you will see a color shift to a brown.
In my opinion this acropora would do better in larger ULNS (ultra low nutrient systems) with very intense lighting provided by metal halide and T5 combination fixtures.
It is a stunning coral in person, one of the most attractive I have ever seen, but it comes with it's challenges. Finding information and care requirements is difficult because information is sparse.
Hopefully over time I will be able to keep this coral with success. I have had it for 5 months and that is not nearly enough time to call it a success.

 

Very nice coral. Thank you for sharing your data/info with us. Best of luck with it.

 

great write up Corailline

thanks for the information

you have it at mid level under MH at present IIRC
can you remind me of the wattage lamp you are using and where is the coral in relation to the lamp (directly underneath? or off towards the side)

also the STN incidents, did you save by fragging or have you allowed the coral to remain un fragged and the STN has just stopped spreading?

just interested
thanks in advance

 

Great write up!!

 

Thanks JP, I am glad you found it informative.

The lighting is 150w/20k Radium, photo period is 7 hours and it is about 16 inches away from the bulb, directly below.

No I have not resorted to fragging yet, I did however do the super glue trick and it seemed to work. STN on this corals seems to go in spurts, any slight variations in parameters and it starts all over.

Hopefully one day I will find information and images from people that keep it stable in larger tanks.

Thank you very much. ;D

 

holy cow it's March already!

nice work here and nice coral.

 

very interesting and great write up!

 

Any feeding pics?

 

Great write up, thanks for the information and personal experience.

 

This coral has never shown any active feeding response, in fact it is all I can do to see any PE. I think it is one of those corals that if some one can aquaculture it for a few years it might be a little hardier. Perhaps others are having more luck, I just can not find out who they are.

Thanks John, I am glad you enjoyed it.