Blue lace coral

Dani1403 · 07/05/2013, 11:37 PM

Hi I'm new to the forum, I bought a blue lace coral about 1-2 mths ago, it has started to get red growth on it. I was wondering if this is normal and what it is, if its not normal what can I do to help it? The first photo is when I bought it and the second is the red growth on it.

Dani1403 · 07/05/2013, 11:39 PM

Here is the second photo of the red growth

Dapg8gt · 07/05/2013, 11:57 PM

I've never seen a lace coral but from the before pic to the after pic it looks like your coral has moved on and you have macro algae growing in its place.. I will look up lace coral to see what I can find but that sure does look like macro to me

Edit; found this on live aquaria says needs regular feeding and expert only and well established tanks only.. But pics show there is a red variant also but they look nothing like yours I'd say my first guess is reality due to the shape and skeleton showing in the middle FWIW .. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...470&pcatid=470

mikem101 · 07/06/2013, 12:57 AM

+1 ^ its a gonner,those are VERY hard to keep. Ive only seen one guy be able to keep them alive but, dont get discouraged try something thats not quite as tough. How long has your tank been set up and what kind of lights do you have? Last question what do you plan on keeping?

bnumair · 07/06/2013, 01:37 AM

is its sps family and looks bleached and on its way out in the first pic . no personal experience but just from the pics it looks like not happy.

Note: i saw the second pic and discription. yes its gone and algae has taken over.

Dani1403 · 07/06/2013, 02:18 AM

The tank has been going since march I have the aqua one 400 and just running that lights that were in it, I have bubble coral, leather, scollys, morphs and more that I'm not sure what they are called the aqua one was to upgrade my aqua medic nano that we bought setup with coral in it already

mikem101 · 07/06/2013, 02:30 AM

With the light that came with it you should be able to grow softies, zoes, and mushrooms. Your not going to be able to grow SPS and hard corals with those lights would have upgrade those lights.

Gary Majchrzak · 07/06/2013, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dani1403

Hi I'm new to the forum, I bought a blue lace coral about 1-2 mths ago, it has started to get red growth on it. I was wondering if this is normal and what it is, if its not normal what can I do to help it? The first photo is when I bought it and the second is the red growth on it.

your coral is Distichopora spp. Related to fire corals (Millepora).
Not a small polyp stony ("SPS") coral.
This coral does not occur in bright light- it is naturally found growing in caves, ledges, overhangs etc.
Proper conditions would be strong water movement and less intense lighting.
Feeding of phytoplankton would be good for it. As a matter of fact, I would treat this one like non photosynthetic coral. RC has a forum for reef critters that doen't require light. The vast majority of those animals are best left to experienced reefkeepers.

FWIW, judging from the second photo I don't believe your coral is completely dead. Placed in the proper environment it could bounce back. Do you know of any experienced reefkeepers near you?
Perhaps they would trade corals with you.

07/05/2013, 11:57 PM	#3
Dapg8gt Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Pacifica Posts: 3,741	I've never seen a lace coral but from the before pic to the after pic it looks like your coral has moved on and you have macro algae growing in its place.. I will look up lace coral to see what I can find but that sure does look like macro to me Edit; found this on live aquaria says needs regular feeding and expert only and well established tanks only.. But pics show there is a red variant also but they look nothing like yours I'd say my first guess is reality due to the shape and skeleton showing in the middle FWIW .. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...470&pcatid=470 __________________ 15 years in the hobby yet still learning every day. 280g radium lit sps flat living in my garage rent free. Current Tank Info: 105g SPS dominant euro braced powered by 4 ecotech pumps and lit by an ATI powermodule controlled by a reef angel =). Last edited by Dapg8gt; 07/06/2013 at 12:05 AM.

07/06/2013, 01:37 AM	#5
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	is its sps family and looks bleached and on its way out in the first pic . no personal experience but just from the pics it looks like not happy. Note: i saw the second pic and discription. yes its gone and algae has taken over. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

07/06/2013, 12:57 AM	#4
mikem101 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 819	+1 ^ its a gonner,those are VERY hard to keep. Ive only seen one guy be able to keep them alive but, dont get discouraged try something thats not quite as tough. How long has your tank been set up and what kind of lights do you have? Last question what do you plan on keeping?

07/06/2013, 02:30 AM	#7
mikem101 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 819	With the light that came with it you should be able to grow softies, zoes, and mushrooms. Your not going to be able to grow SPS and hard corals with those lights would have upgrade those lights.