Placement for corals?

Weboh · 02/25/2018, 05:43 PM

I have a couple corals that I don't think are doing as well as they could be

I have a hammer coral that hasn't opened up fully in the two weeks since I've gotten it. My parameters have stayed stable and within acceptable ranges, so I don't think that's the reason why. I left it alone for a week in the middle right side of the tank (I'm attaching pictures so you'll know what I'm talking about) but after it still didn't open I figured it wasn't getting enough light. So I rearranged the rockwork and have it more under the light now. But it's been another week and it's still not fully open. Should I just wait and see?

I also have a seriatopora frag that only has polyps on the side facing the light. I have an LED light (AI Prime) and I've heard that they cause shadowing issues sometimes. Is there anything I can do to fix it beyond getting another light? Would moving the frag directly under the light help? Should I find a way to raise my light higher above the tank to stop the shadowing?

lapin · 02/25/2018, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weboh

I have a hammer coral that hasn't opened up fully in the two weeks since I've gotten it. My parameters have stayed stable and within acceptable ranges, so I don't think that's the reason why. I left it alone for a week in the middle right side of the tank (I'm attaching pictures so you'll know what I'm talking about) but after it still didn't open I figured it wasn't getting enough light. So I rearranged the rockwork and have it more under the light now. But it's been another week and it's still not fully open. Should I just wait and see?

I had 3 hammers that were not fully open for months in a 125. I had sea swirls that created mulit directional flow but not a whole lot. I increased the flow around them but that didnt help. I made the flow like it was originally. I added a kessil 360 over the top of them. I was using black boxes for lights. The hammers were down on the sand bed. A week after I added the light they opened up fully and did great. Not that is your solution but it did the trick for me.

Weboh · 02/26/2018, 12:13 PM

Okay, I'm upping the intensity of the light a bit over a week. We'll see how it turns out.

JP Reef · 02/26/2018, 12:23 PM

usually if there isn't enough light they stretch. That is my experience. I usually have to put mine in a nice medium flow area to get them to open up. Mine have never liked to be in the direct flow path of the powerhead.

Weboh · 02/26/2018, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP Reef

usually if there isn't enough light they stretch. That is my experience. I usually have to put mine in a nice medium flow area to get them to open up. Mine have never liked to be in the direct flow path of the powerhead.

So you think I should turn down the light intensity?

JP Reef · 02/26/2018, 12:57 PM

It is out, so I would leave it. You can try some type of mesh over the tank in that area to see if it helps. I have to put mesh on my tank every time I get a new coral to acclimate them to lower the intensity, so dimming should accomplish the same.

02/26/2018, 12:13 PM	#3
Weboh Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 217	Okay, I'm upping the intensity of the light a bit over a week. We'll see how it turns out.

02/26/2018, 12:23 PM	#4
JP Reef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Greensburg, PA Posts: 207	usually if there isn't enough light they stretch. That is my experience. I usually have to put mine in a nice medium flow area to get them to open up. Mine have never liked to be in the direct flow path of the powerhead.

02/26/2018, 12:57 PM	#6
JP Reef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Greensburg, PA Posts: 207	It is out, so I would leave it. You can try some type of mesh over the tank in that area to see if it helps. I have to put mesh on my tank every time I get a new coral to acclimate them to lower the intensity, so dimming should accomplish the same.