Blastomusa or Acanthstria

[NanoReef]

which one of these is the better coral? i love the look of both but dont know if i want both. Also, are they both a farely high light coral?? They will be for my 120 so no lighting issue there, i was just curious! thanks

[Funky_Fish14]

Both are fairly easy to keep corals, however blastos dont always take well to shipping and can get stressed quite easily. You can feed acans alot and this will help growth but they will grow just fine without feedings. I've heard that blasto will eat but neither of my two have ever eaten. My acans will eat a ton! Lighting, nothing too intense for acans, your 150W should do them both just fine(for both acans and blastos). Flow, low to moderate, but not high.

Chris

[demon666]

what do theses corals look like any1 have any pics?

[digital-audiophile]

My blastos eat like mad! They take pellets, mysis, brine, heck, anything I put near them. As soon as food touches their outer rim they pull it all towards their moths and chow down!

[NanoReef]

Acan:
http://re2.mm-c1.yimg.com/image/1023690317
Blasto:
http://rds.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=blastomussa/v=2/SID=e/l=IVI/SIG=121epl773/EXP=1136567609/*-http%3A//reef.geddis.org/o/1376-blastomussa.jpg
there are many different colors but these are the only ones i could find.

[demon666]

kool thanks for posting the pics

[NanoReef]

not at all a problem. Anyone else have opinions?

[OCDP]

As mentioned, both are fairly easy to keep. Now it's up to you, which you would rather prefer.. blasto or acan? If it were me, depending on colours I'd go with the acan (if some nice colours were available) If it's a bland looking colour, blastos are sweet looking... without being really colorful. Just my opinion.

[Willow]

did someone say acans :mrgreen:

[rickjames]

not at all a problem. Anyone else have opinions?

Get the one you like the most. :D

They are many species/varieties of each and I don't think they can be easily compared on a level of which one is best. Just get the one that looks best to you. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder :S

[Funky_Fish14]

There are 2 species of Blasto, Merletti and Welsi. There are many different color varieties in both species. There are several species of acanthastrea(at least 6, but I cant remember exactly how many). They also mave many different color varieties of each species.

If you can find a nice acan, I'd say go for it!

Chris

[digital-audiophile]

Rookie question that I've been trying to figure out. What exactly is the difference bewteen wellsi and merletti? When I look at examples of both they look exactly the same to me?


Greg

[NanoReef]

i THINK that there are just different color variants and one is more rare??? Wellsi i think??? im sure someone else that it more experianced at these will chime in

[rickjames]

Rookie question that I've been trying to figure out. What exactly is the difference bewteen wellsi and merletti? When I look at examples of both they look exactly the same to me?


Greg

Good question, I don't know either, but I know where to find out:

http://whelk.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/coralsearch.php

Blastomussa merleti
http://whelk.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/html/101-200/Species%20pages/107.htm

Blastomussa wellsi
http://whelk.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/html/101-200/Species%20pages/108.htm

[AndyL]

Merletti have smaller polyps and have a branching type growth, each polyp grows its own little tube, and grows as a colony (think parachute/umbrella type growth, it spreads up and outwards).

Wellsi is a little closer to an acanstrea in overall shape/growth (they're quite different seen side by side).

If you were local I'd say swing on by and have a look, I've got a little corner of my reef with both blastos and two different species of acans.

Andy

[Funky_Fish14]

I'll try to sum it up quickly. Merleti tends to be less common, although still readily available. The skeletal structure is comprised of branches, one for each polyp.. Many color variations are available.

Wellsi skeletal structure is moreso one piece with the skeleton of each polyp attached together. These tend to be the more typically found blastos, and have many color variations available as well.

Hope this helps!

Chris

[Funky_Fish14]

Haha I see Andy got to it before me, and I just peeked at those articles.... very good and informative!

[digital-audiophile]

Thanks for all the info guys! I think I'm starting to understand a little bit better.

Andy- can you show a photo of the two blastos side by side? That will help me get a better understanding.

Thanks!

Greg

[Funky_Fish14]

If you look at the two articles, there is a clear difference in skeletal structure in the provided pictures. Just thought I'd let you know, so less hassle for Andy... hehe.

Chris

[AndyL]

I'll see if I can get a clear picture, my cameras suck so I'm not making any promises

[digital-audiophile]

Ah, the best pictures on that site are the ones that show just the skeleton, you can really see the difference between the structures. With the flesh on them they don't look that much different. I think thats where I am getting confused.

Greg

[AndyL]

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/1293b_acorner.jpg
Wellsi - Big red skirted, green centered thing dominating, merletti is the green/brown directly underneath (not in the bottom left corner)

If y'all wanna play name that acan - feel free, still trying to understand those myself, 3 different "acans" (as labeled by retailers) in that picture, all look radically different (the green one before anyone says - is recovering from serious lighting shock, pcs over a deep tank to being 6" under a hqi...)

[digital-audiophile]

Thanks Andy! That picture really shows the difference.

Did you get the bottom left lord from Golds?


Greg

[AndyL]

I got the bottom left and top right (half dead one) acans from golds. Merletti came from golds too, got some nice red/pink merletti there too (other side of the tank though).

Don't think that bottom left one however is a lord... But like I said I'm no acan id expert.

Andy

[AndyL]

Acan sub Echinata on the left, the red/white one is a Lord

Green one is in rough shape to know for sure, see how it looks when it recovers.

[Funky_Fish14]

Bottom Left is not a Lord, the orange or red one or whatever it is, is a lord, well, at least, I think so. I think the bottom left one may be a hillae? No idea though.. And the green one, well im lost on those acan shapes, lol.

Chris

[Funky_Fish14]

Lol, ok well I see Andy gets to it all a minute before me again, haha.

Chris

[meltdownaverted]

couple lords

[meltdownaverted]

where is the photo gallery,why can't I attch photos, what is wrong with this sight?