Top 10 smooth skin SPS must have

[spsick]

@spsick
Here she is up close, hands down my favorite

Beautiful! How old is that specimen?

 

[Perry]

Beautiful! How old is that specimen?

Under a year, it has been a great grower. I find Granulosa to express themselves to full, or beyond targeted lineage, as they mature. This one is now putting some stretch on her branches. She is getting close to that phase where they become showoffs, lol

 

[RockBox13]

When it comes to “smooth skin” Acropora, I think it’s kind of a phase many or most go through like an appreciation of a certain artist and then something else catches our eye and tables or crazy polyp extension becomes the new obsession. When I see certain Acropora species that are unique and for me it was the carloliniana that defines what a “smooth skin” Acro is even though the suharsonoi is the King of the smooth skins. Another thing is that “smooth skins” whether they branch, table or are corymbose, they are generally from deeper water and seem to really love the lower intensity and blue lighting that most people seem to be using and they look great.
(Not my pic) Acropora suharsonoi

From Corals of the World

My picture of Acropora caroliniana.

 

[Charlie the Reefer]

When it comes to “smooth skin” Acropora, I think it’s kind of a phase many or most go through like an appreciation of a certain artist and then something else catches our eye and tables or crazy polyp extension becomes the new obsession. When I see certain Acropora species that are unique and for me it was the carloliniana that defines what a “smooth skin” Acro is even though the suharsonoi is the King of the smooth skins. Another thing is that “smooth skins” whether they branch, table or are corymbose, they are generally from deeper water and seem to really love the lower intensity and blue lighting that most people seem to be using and they look great.
(Not my pic) Acropora suharsonoi

From Corals of the World

My picture of Acropora caroliniana.

Thanks for this perspective. I’ve had the same thought, as a relatively newer Reefer / SPS keeper. That said I’m still waiting for the smooth skin “bug” to pass but I take your word that one day it will…

 

[RockBox13]

Thanks for this perspective. I’ve had the same thought, as a relatively newer Reefer / SPS keeper. That said I’m still waiting for the smooth skin “bug” to pass but I take your word that one day it will…

I feel like I want to put my hand on your shoulder and say, “Let me tell you about tabling Acropora my friend…” It’s a new world now too. LED has been a blessing. Coral divers have blue LED lights too and that’s how they have found such better pieces in all SPS & LPS that reefheads want. I remember breaking Ushio double ended metal halide bulbs at $80 a pop and the top of my head sizzling when you reached into the the tank and it touched the glass cover. The only colors were 10K, 14K & 20K. Try looking at a tank lit with 10K for a few minutes now and it’s almost depressing. Just be careful because those tables will getcha! They’re wicked ways will hypnotize you. Sometimes you can get frag vision and colors mean everything, then you see the growth pattern on a efflorescens or a turaki or hyacinthus or an echinata and you’re stuck for as long as it takes. Look what happened to my hand! I touched my Acros so much that some sort of virus caused my beautifully mutated and disfigured right hand.

 

[Charlie the Reefer]

I feel like I want to put my hand on your shoulder and say, “Let me tell you about tabling Acropora my friend…” It’s a new world now too. LED has been a blessing. Coral divers have blue LED lights too and that’s how they have found such better pieces in all SPS & LPS that reefheads want. I remember breaking Ushio double ended metal halide bulbs at $80 a pop and the top of my head sizzling when you reached into the the tank and it touched the glass cover. The only colors were 10K, 14K & 20K. Try looking at a tank lit with 10K for a few minutes now and it’s almost depressing. Just be careful because those tables will getcha! They’re wicked ways will hypnotize you. Sometimes you can get frag vision and colors mean everything, then you see the growth pattern on a efflorescens or a turaki or hyacinthus or an echinata and you’re stuck for as long as it takes. Look what happened to my hand! I touched my Acros so much that some sort of virus caused my beautifully mutated and disfigured right hand.

Hah. Fair, my friend Again if there is anything this hobby has taught me it is to approach everything with the utmost humility Still always trying to gain perspective, understanding, and appreciation for all sorts of acro species

Still got the smooth skin bug tho (;

 

[RockBox13]

Battle Corals Mother of Pearl

 

[REEFRIED!]

For those of you with the TGC Bugatti, does it do well in lower par? I want to keep the opaque white and wondering if it will do well lower in the tank?

 

[Sabellafella]

For those of you with the TGC Bugatti, does it do well in lower par? I want to keep the opaque white and wondering if it will do well lower in the tank?

Yes absolutely. This I believe is in around 250. On that matter, i keep all of this style of acropora in about 250 par seems to do the best job in terms of color

 

[Sabellafella]

250 as well

 

[Sabellafella]

 

[legacy2mj]

Mine gets slightly higher PAR. During the days light cycle it will see 200-350. To me, the color is great. I know Bugatti has a long reach with the colors it can pull. I’d say try not to force it to be something it’s not, healthy and growing is good to me

 

[RockBox13]

I really like this Acropora a lot. Probably loripes, maybes granulosa, but I love seeing the growth color. Blue base, violet around the corallite and a yellow polyp is pretty sweet.

 

[REEFRIED!]

Yes absolutely. This I believe is in around 250. On that matter, i keep all of this style of acropora in about 250 par seems to do the best job in terms of color

Beautiful pics. This piece is fantastic. I know that the coral can handle higher par. The guy I got it from was blasting it and it looked great. And I know that ideally I would place it somewhere in my tank receiving 225-300-ish. However my tank gets a ton of light. I don’t have any of those spots available. I do but I don’t want to burry this beautiful piece where I can’t see it!!! I was wondering if it would do ok and keep that nice pale/creamy white at around 125-160 par? Like literally 3” from the bottom of the tank? Thoughts? Anyone keep the Bugatti that low?

 

[Backreefing]

Hawkins acropora picture 1 month old . Second picture is when I got it in November.

 

[Perry]

Thermans Sublime Granulosa

 

[Sabellafella]

Beautiful pics. This piece is fantastic. I know that the coral can handle higher par. The guy I got it from was blasting it and it looked great. And I know that ideally I would place it somewhere in my tank receiving 225-300-ish. However my tank gets a ton of light. I don’t have any of those spots available. I do but I don’t want to burry this beautiful piece where I can’t see it!!! I was wondering if it would do ok and keep that nice pale/creamy white at around 125-160 par? Like literally 3” from the bottom of the tank? Thoughts? Anyone keep the Bugatti that low?

The pale cream color comes on the growth. So either way I think it's best in the higher numbers opposed to the super low.

From what I noticed with atleast some of the smooth skins, they can individually flourish in either those high numbers or those mediocre lows. Bughatti seems like one of those pieces that benefit from both.

There's also some like like the budgie smuggler I posted sits in 450 par. I have 2 other small colonys that sit in lower par numbers that barely look just as good as my main piece. I have other stuff as well that looks struggling for color due to not having enuff par.

It's one of those look and find out pieces, thankfully that Bugatti seems pretty bulletproof to tinker with.

 

[Sabellafella]

I really like this Acropora a lot. Probably loripes, maybes granulosa, but I love seeing the growth color. Blue base, violet around the corallite and a yellow polyp is pretty sweet.

this was my first one I grown out was absolutely stunning under heavy blue light.

 

[Perry]

Pengs Purple Tip is developing into something special.

 

[Perry]

Sticking to the OG Peng corals, here are a couple more coveted pieces...

Pengs Cherry Tip about to do something special

Pengs Blue Monster is another great Granulosa, once she encrusted, watch out, lol...