what do these corals need?

1sttimer · 11/24/2016, 09:15 PM

Got them last week and it seems that the zoa isn't as bright and the star polyps used to be purple.
Not enough light? Need to feed them??

Fish Friend · 11/25/2016, 02:58 AM

They are unhappy about something, light could be possible.
I am no coral-expert at all but I guess you should move them up if you think it is the light.

The star polyp (Briareum or Pachyclavularia? Pachyclavularia makes tubes for the polyps, Briareum is more flat) has not been scientifically recorded as capturing food particles from the water column so it cannot be about feeding that one

A hobbyists rumour is that it does better with nitrates than with zero nitrates.

The zoa I think you can target feed (just speaking from memory, I think they are actually a kind of colony dwelling tube anemones and have a central mouth you can offer seafood to!)

Zoas of the Palythoa types have very potent poison, so remember to treat it all like you are shaking hands with some monsters from space and you are not entirely sure that you trust them

1sttimer · 11/25/2016, 04:16 AM

My fixture is a current USA orbit marine.
I have it on coral acclimation setting which is 60% intensity I think.
Been like this for a week. Should I increase it to 100% ?

heathlindner25 · 11/25/2016, 05:48 AM

How old is the tank? If I had to guess I would say it's the wrong light Spectrum. Usually when a coral wants more light it will "reach". Yours are not doing that, they appear to be turning brown.

Fish Friend · 11/25/2016, 06:50 AM

Hmm interesting, do they need blue or full-spectrum lights?

1sttimer · 11/25/2016, 07:34 AM

The tank is 2 months old. Maybe I should increase the white?

Fiver · 11/25/2016, 10:15 AM

I'm no expert either, but here goes: Could be lighting, could be the water. I have the same corals (and others) and the same light fixture. My tank is shallow (12 inches deep), so keep that in mind. I run 100% blue and 60% white, and the corals are doing well. I have a monitpora that's grown huge in the time I've had it.

That said, I've read that the current orbit marine LED isn't the best on the market. I'll probably upgrade soon; don't know to which light, though.

If you ramp up lighting, go slow and not all at once.

heathlindner25 · 11/25/2016, 10:39 AM

What are your nitrate & phosphates at?

1sttimer · 11/25/2016, 10:53 AM

Nitrate 5 phosphate 0

1sttimer · 11/25/2016, 10:54 AM

I have it on M2 which is 60% for both

Sk8r · 11/25/2016, 01:05 PM

Blue light is strong light. Raise that button polyp to the top level by stages (every few days.) The gsp looks happy enough: do NOT let it onto your main rocks: it can take over. Keep it on a moveable rock by itself.

1sttimer · 11/25/2016, 01:16 PM

How about the clove polyps?

1sttimer · 11/25/2016, 01:19 PM

I changed the settings to 80% blue and 70% white.

heathlindner25 · 11/25/2016, 01:23 PM

All in all your tank looks a little raw, the lights might be a little on the underside, I'm sure they would all be happier with a little phosphate in the water, but you're Coral look fine. My first year in the hobby I had a hard time keeping color in a lot of Coral. The more you read and the more experience you get ,the better things will look.

1sttimer · 11/25/2016, 03:02 PM

I moved the button polyp and clove polyp a bit higher and increased the light intensity. We'll see how they react to it.

Flippers4pups · 11/25/2016, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1sttimer

The tank is 2 months old. Maybe I should increase the white?

You need to slow down. Two months in and you haven't hit the "ugly" tank stage yet. Your tank will go through many changes between now and a year. Be patient and don't make any sudden changes. Focus on maintaining stable water parameters and keep a log to record any changes.

1sttimer · 11/25/2016, 03:54 PM

Meaning no more corals for now?
I'm planning on adding hermit crabs and turbo snails.
Is this ok?

heathlindner25 · 11/25/2016, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1sttimer

Meaning no more corals for now?
I'm planning on adding hermit crabs and turbo snails.
Is this ok?

This is your tank, go ahead and add some snails and crabs if you like, just don't go overboard.

1sttimer · 11/25/2016, 05:25 PM

Just asking to see if it's OK to do so now or if I should wait.

schnebbles · 11/26/2016, 09:08 AM

I use that same light on M1 - try that - my corals look ok as far as I can tell. I think that setting is more for acclimating corals.

ericarenee · 11/26/2016, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1sttimer

How about the clove polyps?

Clove polyps are kinda hit and miss. sometimes they will do great and then just die out for no real reason. other times they will try to over run your tank .

ADAMMP · 11/26/2016, 05:48 PM

I was using the orbit lights and had the same problem. Went to t5 I had laying around huge difference. Turn the blue up 100 percent and white up to at lead 80 percent.

1sttimer · 11/26/2016, 07:26 PM

Thanks for the advice. Is it too soon to turn it up a bit.
They've been in my tank for a week.

Betaktical · 11/26/2016, 08:07 PM

U can add snails and carbs whenever u like. They might push around your frags but they add character to the tank and actually do help with clean up

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

SammyL · 11/26/2016, 09:07 PM

Ok, I am going to say it. Your tank is way to young and immature to have corals in my opinion.

11/24/2016, 09:15 PM	#1
1sttimer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 173	what do these corals need? Got them last week and it seems that the zoa isn't as bright and the star polyps used to be purple. Not enough light? Need to feed them??

11/25/2016, 01:05 PM	#11
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Blue light is strong light. Raise that button polyp to the top level by stages (every few days.) The gsp looks happy enough: do NOT let it onto your main rocks: it can take over. Keep it on a moveable rock by itself. __________________ 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%.

11/26/2016, 09:07 PM	#25
SammyL Reefer Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Mohnton, PA Posts: 313	Ok, I am going to say it. Your tank is way to young and immature to have corals in my opinion. __________________ Sammy Current Tank Info: 180 DT, 705 Hydor Skimmer, 55 gallong sump with fuge, 2 x Lumentek 240 Pro

11/25/2016, 02:58 AM	#2
Fish Friend Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 96	They are unhappy about something, light could be possible. I am no coral-expert at all but I guess you should move them up if you think it is the light. The star polyp (Briareum or Pachyclavularia? Pachyclavularia makes tubes for the polyps, Briareum is more flat) has not been scientifically recorded as capturing food particles from the water column so it cannot be about feeding that one A hobbyists rumour is that it does better with nitrates than with zero nitrates. The zoa I think you can target feed (just speaking from memory, I think they are actually a kind of colony dwelling tube anemones and have a central mouth you can offer seafood to!) Zoas of the Palythoa types have very potent poison, so remember to treat it all like you are shaking hands with some monsters from space and you are not entirely sure that you trust them

11/25/2016, 04:16 AM	#3
1sttimer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 173	My fixture is a current USA orbit marine. I have it on coral acclimation setting which is 60% intensity I think. Been like this for a week. Should I increase it to 100% ?

11/25/2016, 05:48 AM	#4
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	How old is the tank? If I had to guess I would say it's the wrong light Spectrum. Usually when a coral wants more light it will "reach". Yours are not doing that, they appear to be turning brown.

11/25/2016, 06:50 AM	#5
Fish Friend Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 96	Hmm interesting, do they need blue or full-spectrum lights?

11/25/2016, 07:34 AM	#6
1sttimer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 173	The tank is 2 months old. Maybe I should increase the white?

11/25/2016, 10:15 AM	#7
Fiver Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 365	I'm no expert either, but here goes: Could be lighting, could be the water. I have the same corals (and others) and the same light fixture. My tank is shallow (12 inches deep), so keep that in mind. I run 100% blue and 60% white, and the corals are doing well. I have a monitpora that's grown huge in the time I've had it. That said, I've read that the current orbit marine LED isn't the best on the market. I'll probably upgrade soon; don't know to which light, though. If you ramp up lighting, go slow and not all at once.

11/25/2016, 10:39 AM	#8
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	What are your nitrate & phosphates at?

11/25/2016, 10:53 AM	#9
1sttimer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 173	Nitrate 5 phosphate 0

11/25/2016, 10:54 AM	#10
1sttimer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 173	I have it on M2 which is 60% for both

11/25/2016, 01:16 PM	#12
1sttimer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 173	How about the clove polyps?

11/25/2016, 01:19 PM	#13
1sttimer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 173	I changed the settings to 80% blue and 70% white.

11/25/2016, 01:23 PM	#14
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	All in all your tank looks a little raw, the lights might be a little on the underside, I'm sure they would all be happier with a little phosphate in the water, but you're Coral look fine. My first year in the hobby I had a hard time keeping color in a lot of Coral. The more you read and the more experience you get ,the better things will look.

11/25/2016, 03:02 PM	#15
1sttimer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 173	I moved the button polyp and clove polyp a bit higher and increased the light intensity. We'll see how they react to it.

11/25/2016, 03:54 PM	#17
1sttimer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 173	Meaning no more corals for now? I'm planning on adding hermit crabs and turbo snails. Is this ok?

11/25/2016, 05:25 PM	#19
1sttimer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 173	Just asking to see if it's OK to do so now or if I should wait.

11/26/2016, 09:08 AM	#20
schnebbles Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 475	I use that same light on M1 - try that - my corals look ok as far as I can tell. I think that setting is more for acclimating corals.

11/26/2016, 05:48 PM	#22
ADAMMP Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Monroe county Posts: 106	I was using the orbit lights and had the same problem. Went to t5 I had laying around huge difference. Turn the blue up 100 percent and white up to at lead 80 percent.

11/26/2016, 07:26 PM	#23
1sttimer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 173	Thanks for the advice. Is it too soon to turn it up a bit. They've been in my tank for a week.

11/26/2016, 08:07 PM	#24
Betaktical Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 363	U can add snails and carbs whenever u like. They might push around your frags but they add character to the tank and actually do help with clean up Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk