Coral Question.

amandaxl3 · 02/26/2015, 10:39 PM

So I've made the first rookie mistake of attempting to order a reef package from saltwaterfish.com during the dead of an Ohio winter. As soon as I pulled the first of 6 bags out of the box (one contained blue legged crabs that were not even moving), my heart almost stopped as I could immediately tell the water was entirely too cold. Long story short, I am not familiar enough with corals to tell if they are alive or not and I think I am in denial because I still put them all in my tank to give them a chance. It is a randomly picked reef package which also does not help someone who is already unfamiliar with identifying a species. I am certain the one that has now turned completely white is toast but I will still post a photo. Thanks in advance for your help.

banthonyb71 · 02/26/2015, 10:42 PM

yep, the one that is white is dead and the other may have dead tissue but look in a good enough state to have a fighting chance. the zoas are alive, just closed.. does the website offer any type of arrival guarantee?

amberjade53 · 02/26/2015, 10:43 PM

Really don't think they look to bad. Good Luck give them a day or two and they will probably open up. Yeah fourth might be gone

amandaxl3 · 02/26/2015, 10:51 PM

I do believe they have a 15 day return policy for store credit which is reassuring. They have been in my tank for only three days now. Thank you both so much for your responses! I will take the one that is white out and continue to monitor the other ones.

30g · 02/26/2015, 11:40 PM

not 100% white, coulda left it awhile to see just in case

JoelA7 · 02/27/2015, 12:28 AM

Cold slows metabolism. Give everything some time and cross fingers. Maybe you'll get some life!

amandaxl3 · 02/27/2015, 01:45 AM

Okay. They are all still in there. I am trying not to bother them and also haven't moved them. Hopefully that is good procedure. I guess I never asked if I should squirt in some marine snow or just let them chill out.

Puffyluv · 02/27/2015, 05:26 AM

That first one is a black sun coral...non photosynthetic. Tough to keep...try spot feeding him as often as possible!

Agreed...have patience...too cold is better than too hot!

pyithar · 02/27/2015, 06:55 AM

i would let them chill out. all 5 of them look still alive to me. just keep the water parameters in check. the galaxea is aggresive so it could sting the neighbors.

banthonyb71 · 02/28/2015, 04:57 PM

I dont see where anyone is seeing anything resembling life in that fourth picture. looks like an exoskeleton to me

billdogg · 02/28/2015, 06:17 PM

There is a good chance that 4 out of 5 will be fine. Corals are a lot more resilient than they are often given credit for.

#1 - black sun coral - NPS - very difficult to keep - certainly not a beginner coral.
#2 - I vote for a chalice or perhaps encrusting montipora - either way, it will like plenty of flow, lots of light.
#3 - zoanthid sp. - difficult to kill, can easily spread. IMO, should be kept isolated from the rest of the Live Rock to keep it from taking over.
#4 - either a galaxea or gonipora - although there is some color still there, it fared the worst
#5 - not too sure, but should be fine.

As for "exoskeleton" - Beetles and other insects have them, as do shrimp/crabs/etc - corals do not

Betta132 · 02/28/2015, 07:50 PM

Looks like there are some ultra-withdrawn polyps on the fourth, I'd give it a chance.

banthonyb71 · 03/01/2015, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

As for "exoskeleton" - Beetles and other insects have them, as do shrimp/crabs/etc - corals do not

MY bad. "looks like an endoskeleton to me" even though I can find numerous articles using the word calcareous exoskeleton. my point is, it looks dead!

Sk8r · 03/01/2015, 04:29 PM

Even dead white coral CAN put forth buds on the skeleton in some species, especially euphyllias.

banthonyb71 · 03/01/2015, 05:24 PM

well, I'm willing to make a wager that op does not come back onto this thread and show us that this coral has made a comeback.

02/27/2015, 12:28 AM	#6
JoelA7 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,056	Cold slows metabolism. Give everything some time and cross fingers. Maybe you'll get some life! __________________ New 48x24x26.25 w Precision Marine R30 sump, Vertex Omega 150 skimmer, 2@Vertex 1.5L reactors for carbon & phosban, GEO Ca reactor w Aquarium Plants regulator. 2 MP40's 2@Radions. #120 live rock & #12

02/27/2015, 06:55 AM	#9
pyithar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: yangon,burma(myanmar) Posts: 1,786	i would let them chill out. all 5 of them look still alive to me. just keep the water parameters in check. the galaxea is aggresive so it could sting the neighbors. __________________ take it easy, pyithar Current Tank Info: 150G display, 50G sump, mixed reef

02/28/2015, 06:17 PM	#11
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	There is a good chance that 4 out of 5 will be fine. Corals are a lot more resilient than they are often given credit for. #1 - black sun coral - NPS - very difficult to keep - certainly not a beginner coral. #2 - I vote for a chalice or perhaps encrusting montipora - either way, it will like plenty of flow, lots of light. #3 - zoanthid sp. - difficult to kill, can easily spread. IMO, should be kept isolated from the rest of the Live Rock to keep it from taking over. #4 - either a galaxea or gonipora - although there is some color still there, it fared the worst #5 - not too sure, but should be fine. As for "exoskeleton" - Beetles and other insects have them, as do shrimp/crabs/etc - corals do not __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

02/28/2015, 07:50 PM	#12
Betta132 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 2,239	Looks like there are some ultra-withdrawn polyps on the fourth, I'd give it a chance. __________________ When you put an animal of any kind in a situation where it can no longer fend for itself, such as an aquarium, it's your job to care for it to the best of your ability. It's that simple.

03/01/2015, 04:29 PM	#14
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Even dead white coral CAN put forth buds on the skeleton in some species, especially euphyllias. __________________ 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%.

02/26/2015, 10:42 PM	#2
banthonyb71 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Southeast Michigan Posts: 635	yep, the one that is white is dead and the other may have dead tissue but look in a good enough state to have a fighting chance. the zoas are alive, just closed.. does the website offer any type of arrival guarantee?

02/26/2015, 10:43 PM	#3
amberjade53 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 77	Really don't think they look to bad. Good Luck give them a day or two and they will probably open up. Yeah fourth might be gone

02/26/2015, 10:51 PM	#4
amandaxl3 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Ohio. Posts: 8	I do believe they have a 15 day return policy for store credit which is reassuring. They have been in my tank for only three days now. Thank you both so much for your responses! I will take the one that is white out and continue to monitor the other ones.

02/26/2015, 11:40 PM	#5
30g Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 121	not 100% white, coulda left it awhile to see just in case

02/27/2015, 01:45 AM	#7
amandaxl3 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Ohio. Posts: 8	Okay. They are all still in there. I am trying not to bother them and also haven't moved them. Hopefully that is good procedure. I guess I never asked if I should squirt in some marine snow or just let them chill out.

02/27/2015, 05:26 AM	#8
Puffyluv Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 419	That first one is a black sun coral...non photosynthetic. Tough to keep...try spot feeding him as often as possible! Agreed...have patience...too cold is better than too hot!

02/28/2015, 04:57 PM	#10
banthonyb71 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Southeast Michigan Posts: 635	I dont see where anyone is seeing anything resembling life in that fourth picture. looks like an exoskeleton to me

03/01/2015, 05:24 PM	#15
banthonyb71 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Southeast Michigan Posts: 635	well, I'm willing to make a wager that op does not come back onto this thread and show us that this coral has made a comeback.