First Coral Bought! - Some Question(s)

Aqualoon · 05/12/2015, 07:46 AM

My tank finished cycling last week. Wanted to wait a week just to make sure and the plan was to get a little bit of stock on Monday (yesterday). Only picked up one coral as if I messed things up I wanted it to be on one piece of coral instead of a few.

So, my first pick in the 2015 tank draft was the Green Star Polp. Loved the way it looked plus have been reading that it's a good one for a beginner.

Alright, question time...

1. In the store it was all open and pretty and flow-y. Now in my tank it's all closed. Before adhering it to my live rock I wanted to make sure I got the placement right. So I placed it in a good spot (or so I think - has good flow and lighting) but its still pretty closed up. Does it take a few days for it to open back up (if it likes its spot) in a new tank? Or should I move it if it doesn't open up today?

I guess that was my only question - well multiple questions within a question.

What I had planned to do with corals as I get them is to place them in the tank without adhering them to the rock first to get the placement right and just secure them with the rock so they don't fall.

gone fishin · 05/12/2015, 07:50 AM

It is not uncommon for new corals in a tank to close up for a few hours to a few days. Personally I place them and leave them alone for a few days to see how they react. Try to resist the urge to keep moving them, give them time. Good luck

Aqualoon · 05/12/2015, 07:53 AM

Ok, I'll give it a week in this location - will take pictures of how they look now so I have something to compare to in a week.

First coral - over nervous yet excited at the same time.

scooter31707 · 05/12/2015, 07:56 AM

GSP are very easy to take care of, they will grow fast will take over your tank if you are not careful. Mines took couple of days before they open fully. I recommend to put it on the sandbed for a couple of days so it can get acclimated to your lights. Then move it up every couple days until you find the final spot for it. Mines have done good in medium to high light and flow. You might want to try to isolate it, maybe on a rock by itself because they will overtake and grown over other corals.

Sk8r · 05/12/2015, 09:07 AM

Set it on a rock that you can remove if it gets too happy. If it spreads onto your non-removable rock it can be a pita, but it is a pretty texture. Use its 'open' and 'closed' states (once it settles) as an early warning for water quality. It likes alkalinity to be about 8.3, temp about 79.

homer1475 · 05/12/2015, 09:12 AM

I also just recently purchased some GSP. After a dip in coralRX, it took roughly a full day for it to open back up. I was worried when it didn't open up right away like the rest of my corals did, but it eventually did and is doing great.

Heatherabel3 · 05/12/2015, 09:45 AM

Mine took 3 days to open back up but is doing beautifully and spreading like crazy. We put it on a solitary rock by itself so as not to run into any problems later on with it getting in places we don't want it to go. Give it some time.

Aqualoon · 05/12/2015, 10:17 AM

Thanks all, really do appreciate it.

lilyep125 · 05/12/2015, 10:47 PM

It seems like a very common issue for GSPs to be moody when new in a tank. If it doesn't open after a week or so I would just try a new place for it. It was the first coral I got and it took 3 weeks, i thought it was dead but now it looks great

Aqualoon · 05/13/2015, 11:44 AM

Well, guess all I needed to do was wait a day.

gone fishin · 05/13/2015, 11:47 AM

Very nice.

scooter31707 · 05/13/2015, 11:57 AM

Nice congrads on your first coral purchase. 1 down and about 30 to go. LOL, it's addicting!!

billdogg · 05/13/2015, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scooter31707

Nice congrads on your first coral purchase. 1 down and about 30 tanks to go. LOL, it's addicting!!

ftfy

ryeguyy84 · 05/13/2015, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

Set it on a rock that you can remove if it gets too happy. If it spreads onto your non-removable rock it can be a pita, but it is a pretty texture. Use its 'open' and 'closed' states (once it settles) as an early warning for water quality. It likes alkalinity to be about 8.3, temp about 79.

You are right on with the early warning for water quality. Whenever my GSP closes up I know something is not right.

OrQidz · 05/13/2015, 08:54 PM

Looks great!

Aqualoon · 05/14/2015, 07:25 AM

Well here's a question. Since the location seems to be great how do you guys go about sticking it to your rock when you're unable to bring the rock out of the tank?

It's secure in the sense that it's not going to fall over, should I just leave it and eventually after some time it will grow over from the plug to my rock?

gone fishin · 05/15/2015, 04:29 AM

When I want to attach to a rock, I use the sandwich method. I use a little ball of JB waterweld epoxy putty. Then I put a spot of super glue gel on the bottom, stick it to the rock then another spot of superglue gel on top and place the coral on it. I try to hold it for a minute or so to let everything take hold and set up. Good luck

Aqualoon · 05/15/2015, 12:58 PM

Instead of making multiple threads I'm just going to keep going on this one.

Got a yellow colony polpy on some rock and when I google and search for images some of the coloration I'm seeing are bright yellows. How can I get these guys to pop that kind of color?

And here is the location in the tank...

Sorry for the big pictures, will eventually learn how to reduce the size before posting.

05/12/2015, 07:46 AM	#1
Aqualoon Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 123	First Coral Bought! - Some Question(s) My tank finished cycling last week. Wanted to wait a week just to make sure and the plan was to get a little bit of stock on Monday (yesterday). Only picked up one coral as if I messed things up I wanted it to be on one piece of coral instead of a few. So, my first pick in the 2015 tank draft was the Green Star Polp. Loved the way it looked plus have been reading that it's a good one for a beginner. Alright, question time... 1. In the store it was all open and pretty and flow-y. Now in my tank it's all closed. Before adhering it to my live rock I wanted to make sure I got the placement right. So I placed it in a good spot (or so I think - has good flow and lighting) but its still pretty closed up. Does it take a few days for it to open back up (if it likes its spot) in a new tank? Or should I move it if it doesn't open up today? I guess that was my only question - well multiple questions within a question. What I had planned to do with corals as I get them is to place them in the tank without adhering them to the rock first to get the placement right and just secure them with the rock so they don't fall.

05/12/2015, 07:50 AM	#2
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	It is not uncommon for new corals in a tank to close up for a few hours to a few days. Personally I place them and leave them alone for a few days to see how they react. Try to resist the urge to keep moving them, give them time. Good luck __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

05/12/2015, 09:07 AM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Set it on a rock that you can remove if it gets too happy. If it spreads onto your non-removable rock it can be a pita, but it is a pretty texture. Use its 'open' and 'closed' states (once it settles) as an early warning for water quality. It likes alkalinity to be about 8.3, temp about 79. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/12/2015, 09:12 AM	#6
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	I also just recently purchased some GSP. After a dip in coralRX, it took roughly a full day for it to open back up. I was worried when it didn't open up right away like the rest of my corals did, but it eventually did and is doing great. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

05/13/2015, 11:47 AM	#11
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	Very nice. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

05/12/2015, 07:53 AM	#3
Aqualoon Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 123	Ok, I'll give it a week in this location - will take pictures of how they look now so I have something to compare to in a week. First coral - over nervous yet excited at the same time.

05/12/2015, 07:56 AM	#4
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	GSP are very easy to take care of, they will grow fast will take over your tank if you are not careful. Mines took couple of days before they open fully. I recommend to put it on the sandbed for a couple of days so it can get acclimated to your lights. Then move it up every couple days until you find the final spot for it. Mines have done good in medium to high light and flow. You might want to try to isolate it, maybe on a rock by itself because they will overtake and grown over other corals.

05/12/2015, 09:45 AM	#7
Heatherabel3 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 182	Mine took 3 days to open back up but is doing beautifully and spreading like crazy. We put it on a solitary rock by itself so as not to run into any problems later on with it getting in places we don't want it to go. Give it some time.

05/12/2015, 10:17 AM	#8
Aqualoon Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 123	Thanks all, really do appreciate it.

05/12/2015, 10:47 PM	#9
lilyep125 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 65	It seems like a very common issue for GSPs to be moody when new in a tank. If it doesn't open after a week or so I would just try a new place for it. It was the first coral I got and it took 3 weeks, i thought it was dead but now it looks great

05/13/2015, 11:44 AM	#10
Aqualoon Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 123	Well, guess all I needed to do was wait a day.

05/13/2015, 11:57 AM	#12
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	Nice congrads on your first coral purchase. 1 down and about 30 to go. LOL, it's addicting!!

05/13/2015, 08:54 PM	#15
OrQidz Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 825	Looks great!

05/14/2015, 07:25 AM	#16
Aqualoon Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 123	Well here's a question. Since the location seems to be great how do you guys go about sticking it to your rock when you're unable to bring the rock out of the tank? It's secure in the sense that it's not going to fall over, should I just leave it and eventually after some time it will grow over from the plug to my rock?

05/15/2015, 04:29 AM	#17
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	When I want to attach to a rock, I use the sandwich method. I use a little ball of JB waterweld epoxy putty. Then I put a spot of super glue gel on the bottom, stick it to the rock then another spot of superglue gel on top and place the coral on it. I try to hold it for a minute or so to let everything take hold and set up. Good luck __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

05/15/2015, 12:58 PM	#18
Aqualoon Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 123	Instead of making multiple threads I'm just going to keep going on this one. Got a yellow colony polpy on some rock and when I google and search for images some of the coloration I'm seeing are bright yellows. How can I get these guys to pop that kind of color? And here is the location in the tank... Sorry for the big pictures, will eventually learn how to reduce the size before posting.