Care of these CORALS/INVERTS (any specific care requirements)

chrisbenavides · 07/19/2006, 10:09 AM

I will be buying the following corals/inverts, and would like to know their requirements before I buy them:

Giant Sun Coral
Green Ricordea
Blue Ricordea Polyp
Neon Blue Zoanthid Polyps
Purple Plume Gorgonia
Yellow Frilly Sponge
Lettuce Sea Slug

Question: Do these Ricordea get bigger than 1.5 inches? Whats their max size in an aquarium, and how long does it take to reach it?

Question: What is the placement for the Giant Sun Coral? Is 260w Pc lights enough?

Question: Yellow Frilly Sponge - I have have heard so many negative comments about them dying and ruining the tank. Is this true? What is their survivablity rate? I am assuming they need plenty of flow, but what about light?

Question: The Purple Plume Gorgonian is photosynthetic right? I have a Yellow Gorgonian, which has to be fed. Is this an easier gorgonian to keep?

LAST QUESTION: Don't know much about the Lettuce Sea Slug. Is this a real popular algae eater in the reef tank? Does it have special requirements that are not common? Is lighting a factor? Flow a factor? What about other inverts and fish? Which inverts are NOT safe? Which fish are NOT safe for the Sea Slug?

THANK YOU and hope you all canpost some good info for me. I will be placing my order on Friday so I have some time to learn more before I order.

- Chris

chrisbenavides · 07/19/2006, 10:16 AM

Forgot to mention the common Sabellastarte magnifica "FEATHER DUSTER" too. Sorry.

chrisbenavides · 07/19/2006, 11:52 AM

bumping....need info

lilprincess · 07/19/2006, 11:56 AM

Several of my ricordia are definitely over 1.5" (and splitting)

kass03 · 07/19/2006, 12:21 PM

I know where your getting them from lol.
Yes some ricordea get much larger than that. I got some blues from the same guy that had 5 mouths but they were blue with pink mouths so a diff. kind.
The purple gorg. your talking about is photsynthetic. I've had both kinds of purples from him for over a yr in my tank and I don't really feed them but my tank is over 20 yrs old which helps.
The sun polyps I think are palys from looking at the site so will be fine under that light they're like big zoa's.
As far as sponges and dusters they are filter feeders and IMO do better in an aged tank.
I never bought any sponges but have alot growing on my live rock. I also have dusters all over from a duster cluster.
The sponges grow under my rocks where theres little or no light.

The lettuce nudi needs algae to survive. They can also get sucked up in overflows or powerheads easily. I don't think they usually live real long in the aquarium.

good luck!

kass

chrisbenavides · 07/19/2006, 01:46 PM

Thanks for that awesome information!!!!

I say no to the Lettuce nudi, and probably no to the sponges. I have a lot of tiny featherdusters in my tank, but want the big kind you buy.

Yep I am buying from him, as well as a friend on Friday.

shhh!!! Don't want him to run out.

kass03 · 07/19/2006, 04:09 PM

Heres some older picts of the rics from him prolly when I got them.
They have split alot since then.

Left pink and green/aqua (more pink now was in the assorted), right orange.

Lime green

Left blue with pink mouth (biggest rics I ever saw lol) the orange was from another retailer and pink/assorted on right.

I also have a cool yellow from him but he rarely gets them.

I havent ordered for over a year and now see his blues have green mouths so some things may have changed since then.

kass

chrisbenavides · 07/19/2006, 05:05 PM

AWESOME!!! I think I will order some more ricordeas instead of getting the Jawfish and Blue Neon Polyps.

SHHH!!!! lol

kass03 · 07/19/2006, 09:46 PM

Both blue polyps/zoa's are really cool also and the green zoa's are nice.

I did order those but lost them later on prolly from my lights too bright. I have T5's. Was no fault to Ken. I wish I had them yet.

Being you have PC's I would place the rics closer to the top especially the orange, they seem to like alot of light.
I had pc's on my 55 when I got my first order but switched to T5's later on.
I just got an aquapod with PC's and put an orange in there and it still really glows.

kass

chrisbenavides · 07/20/2006, 12:40 AM

NICE!!!

What about the Giant Sun Polyps? Do you all have pictures of these, and know about their requirements? Anything special I need to know concerning this coral?

hansonfam · 07/20/2006, 08:49 AM

HI There.

The sun polyps like to be in the shade. I have mine in a cave looking overhang. You have to feed each head individually. Other than the feeding they grow quickly. I feed mine ever 2-3 days and everytime they have at least 2 more little heads on them. Very pretty when they open up.

LIsa

chrisbenavides · 07/20/2006, 09:26 AM

Lisa do you have a pic? Also, what do you feed your sun poylps? Are you talking about the giant sun polyps?

kass03 · 07/20/2006, 12:19 PM

Hansonfam is talking about sun coral not the sun polyps you mean.
It's confusing because I thought the same thing until I looked at the picture of them at the site.
The sun polyps are palys and don't require feeding but do need some light.

Sun coral is totally different and does have to be fed and does'nt need light.

I did'nt order the sun polyps but have simular palys.
Heres some picts of some of mine

Ive had these for prolly 20 years and 1 day something weird came pouring out of the rock (the white substance) but everything was ok.

kass

chrisbenavides · 07/20/2006, 12:31 PM

Hey Kass,
The picture from right above me is pretty similar to the ones offered at the site right? Do you know the species of the coral in the pic above (the one with white stuff).

I wonder how much more different these are from the ones offered.

If anyone has pics of the Palythoa Grandis, please show me.

Thanks!!!

Krazy · 07/20/2006, 04:43 PM

you ordering from who I think (hehe)

ldehart0556 · 07/20/2006, 04:48 PM

If you're willing to do the work, the sun corals are worth it. We feed each polyp everyday and keep them in the shade. Light is unimportant as they are not photosythetic. Keep them fed and keep them shaded and you will love the results. We do!!

chrisbenavides · 07/20/2006, 11:11 PM

Ok...but the Sun Coral is not the Giant Sun Polyps coral is it???

Confused. :S

Which is photosynthetic???

kass03 · 07/21/2006, 01:32 AM

No the sun coral is a hard coral not the giant sun polyps.
The sun polyps ( I dunno why he calls them that it's confusing lol )
are protopaly's which he does say in the description and is a soft coral (no skeleton). They are photosynthetic
They are like large zoa's. Yes they will prolly look like my second picture but a variation of the color. Theres alot of different colors just like with zoa's.
Protopaly's are very easy to care for unlike sun coral which is more difficult because it has to be fed.
Protopaly's don't have to be fed.

kass

chrisbenavides · 07/21/2006, 09:33 AM

AWESOME!!!

I like the picture you have. Hopefully they will be similar!

07/19/2006, 10:09 AM	#1
chrisbenavides Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Laredo, TX Posts: 1,897	Care of these CORALS/INVERTS (any specific care requirements) I will be buying the following corals/inverts, and would like to know their requirements before I buy them: Giant Sun Coral Green Ricordea Blue Ricordea Polyp Neon Blue Zoanthid Polyps Purple Plume Gorgonia Yellow Frilly Sponge Lettuce Sea Slug Question: Do these Ricordea get bigger than 1.5 inches? Whats their max size in an aquarium, and how long does it take to reach it? Question: What is the placement for the Giant Sun Coral? Is 260w Pc lights enough? Question: Yellow Frilly Sponge - I have have heard so many negative comments about them dying and ruining the tank. Is this true? What is their survivablity rate? I am assuming they need plenty of flow, but what about light? Question: The Purple Plume Gorgonian is photosynthetic right? I have a Yellow Gorgonian, which has to be fed. Is this an easier gorgonian to keep? *LAST QUESTION: Don't know much about the Lettuce Sea Slug. Is this a real popular algae eater in the reef tank? Does it have special requirements that are not common? Is lighting a factor? Flow a factor? What about other inverts and fish? Which inverts are NOT safe? Which fish are NOT safe for the Sea Slug? THANK YOU and hope you all canpost some good info for me. I will be placing my order on Friday so I have some time to learn more before I order.* - Chris __________________ ChrisBenavides Current Tank Info: 55g sw tank, Remora skimmer, powerfilter, 260w PC lights, 50 pounds live rock, 100 pounds sand, etc.... \| Seahorse Tank (3 H. Kuda, 2 Pep.) 30g tall, skimmer, 130w PC lights, HOB Penguin filter, 30 pounds Fiji and Tonga branch l.r., 4 inch sand bed.

07/19/2006, 10:16 AM	#2
chrisbenavides Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Laredo, TX Posts: 1,897	Forgot to mention the common Sabellastarte magnifica "FEATHER DUSTER" too. Sorry. __________________ ChrisBenavides Current Tank Info: 55g sw tank, Remora skimmer, powerfilter, 260w PC lights, 50 pounds live rock, 100 pounds sand, etc.... \| Seahorse Tank (3 H. Kuda, 2 Pep.) 30g tall, skimmer, 130w PC lights, HOB Penguin filter, 30 pounds Fiji and Tonga branch l.r., 4 inch sand bed.

07/19/2006, 11:52 AM	#3
chrisbenavides Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Laredo, TX Posts: 1,897	bumping....need info __________________ ChrisBenavides Current Tank Info: 55g sw tank, Remora skimmer, powerfilter, 260w PC lights, 50 pounds live rock, 100 pounds sand, etc.... \| Seahorse Tank (3 H. Kuda, 2 Pep.) 30g tall, skimmer, 130w PC lights, HOB Penguin filter, 30 pounds Fiji and Tonga branch l.r., 4 inch sand bed.

07/19/2006, 11:56 AM	#4
lilprincess Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Mukilteo, WA Posts: 256	Several of my ricordia are definitely over 1.5" (and splitting) __________________ Valerie "There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure." -Colin Powel Current Tank Info: 29g Nano & 46g

07/19/2006, 01:46 PM	#6
chrisbenavides Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Laredo, TX Posts: 1,897	Thanks for that awesome information!!!! I say no to the Lettuce nudi, and probably no to the sponges. I have a lot of tiny featherdusters in my tank, but want the big kind you buy. Yep I am buying from him, as well as a friend on Friday. shhh!!! Don't want him to run out. __________________ ChrisBenavides Current Tank Info: 55g sw tank, Remora skimmer, powerfilter, 260w PC lights, 50 pounds live rock, 100 pounds sand, etc.... \| Seahorse Tank (3 H. Kuda, 2 Pep.) 30g tall, skimmer, 130w PC lights, HOB Penguin filter, 30 pounds Fiji and Tonga branch l.r., 4 inch sand bed.

07/19/2006, 12:21 PM	#5
kass03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kaukauna, Wi Posts: 2,937	I know where your getting them from lol. Yes some ricordea get much larger than that. I got some blues from the same guy that had 5 mouths but they were blue with pink mouths so a diff. kind. The purple gorg. your talking about is photsynthetic. I've had both kinds of purples from him for over a yr in my tank and I don't really feed them but my tank is over 20 yrs old which helps. The sun polyps I think are palys from looking at the site so will be fine under that light they're like big zoa's. As far as sponges and dusters they are filter feeders and IMO do better in an aged tank. I never bought any sponges but have alot growing on my live rock. I also have dusters all over from a duster cluster. The sponges grow under my rocks where theres little or no light. The lettuce nudi needs algae to survive. They can also get sucked up in overflows or powerheads easily. I don't think they usually live real long in the aquarium. good luck! kass

07/19/2006, 04:09 PM	#7
kass03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kaukauna, Wi Posts: 2,937	Heres some older picts of the rics from him prolly when I got them. They have split alot since then. Left pink and green/aqua (more pink now was in the assorted), right orange. Lime green Left blue with pink mouth (biggest rics I ever saw lol) the orange was from another retailer and pink/assorted on right. I also have a cool yellow from him but he rarely gets them. I havent ordered for over a year and now see his blues have green mouths so some things may have changed since then. kass

07/19/2006, 05:05 PM	#8
chrisbenavides Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Laredo, TX Posts: 1,897	AWESOME!!! I think I will order some more ricordeas instead of getting the Jawfish and Blue Neon Polyps. SHHH!!!! lol __________________ ChrisBenavides Current Tank Info: 55g sw tank, Remora skimmer, powerfilter, 260w PC lights, 50 pounds live rock, 100 pounds sand, etc.... \| Seahorse Tank (3 H. Kuda, 2 Pep.) 30g tall, skimmer, 130w PC lights, HOB Penguin filter, 30 pounds Fiji and Tonga branch l.r., 4 inch sand bed.

07/19/2006, 09:46 PM	#9
kass03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kaukauna, Wi Posts: 2,937	Both blue polyps/zoa's are really cool also and the green zoa's are nice. I did order those but lost them later on prolly from my lights too bright. I have T5's. Was no fault to Ken. I wish I had them yet. Being you have PC's I would place the rics closer to the top especially the orange, they seem to like alot of light. I had pc's on my 55 when I got my first order but switched to T5's later on. I just got an aquapod with PC's and put an orange in there and it still really glows. kass

07/20/2006, 12:40 AM	#10
chrisbenavides Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Laredo, TX Posts: 1,897	NICE!!! What about the Giant Sun Polyps? Do you all have pictures of these, and know about their requirements? Anything special I need to know concerning this coral? __________________ ChrisBenavides Current Tank Info: 55g sw tank, Remora skimmer, powerfilter, 260w PC lights, 50 pounds live rock, 100 pounds sand, etc.... \| Seahorse Tank (3 H. Kuda, 2 Pep.) 30g tall, skimmer, 130w PC lights, HOB Penguin filter, 30 pounds Fiji and Tonga branch l.r., 4 inch sand bed.

07/20/2006, 08:49 AM	#11
hansonfam Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Airdrie, Alberta, Canada Posts: 812	HI There. The sun polyps like to be in the shade. I have mine in a cave looking overhang. You have to feed each head individually. Other than the feeding they grow quickly. I feed mine ever 2-3 days and everytime they have at least 2 more little heads on them. Very pretty when they open up. LIsa __________________ 35 Gallon Solana Gigantea anemone species tank, 90 SPS dominated reef tank!! Current Tank Info: 90 gallon-Numerous corals,2 purple tangs,choclate mimic tang,yellow wrasse *2.In the 35 gallon 1 purple gig and 1 multi colour gig,pair of mis bar Aussie black clowns and a lawnmower Blennie!

07/20/2006, 09:26 AM	#12
chrisbenavides Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Laredo, TX Posts: 1,897	Lisa do you have a pic? Also, what do you feed your sun poylps? Are you talking about the giant sun polyps? __________________ ChrisBenavides Current Tank Info: 55g sw tank, Remora skimmer, powerfilter, 260w PC lights, 50 pounds live rock, 100 pounds sand, etc.... \| Seahorse Tank (3 H. Kuda, 2 Pep.) 30g tall, skimmer, 130w PC lights, HOB Penguin filter, 30 pounds Fiji and Tonga branch l.r., 4 inch sand bed.

07/20/2006, 12:19 PM	#13
kass03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kaukauna, Wi Posts: 2,937	Hansonfam is talking about sun coral not the sun polyps you mean. It's confusing because I thought the same thing until I looked at the picture of them at the site. The sun polyps are palys and don't require feeding but do need some light. Sun coral is totally different and does have to be fed and does'nt need light. I did'nt order the sun polyps but have simular palys. Heres some picts of some of mine Ive had these for prolly 20 years and 1 day something weird came pouring out of the rock (the white substance) but everything was ok. kass

07/20/2006, 12:31 PM	#14
chrisbenavides Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Laredo, TX Posts: 1,897	Hey Kass, The picture from right above me is pretty similar to the ones offered at the site right? Do you know the species of the coral in the pic above (the one with white stuff). I wonder how much more different these are from the ones offered. If anyone has pics of the Palythoa Grandis, please show me. Thanks!!! __________________ ChrisBenavides Current Tank Info: 55g sw tank, Remora skimmer, powerfilter, 260w PC lights, 50 pounds live rock, 100 pounds sand, etc.... \| Seahorse Tank (3 H. Kuda, 2 Pep.) 30g tall, skimmer, 130w PC lights, HOB Penguin filter, 30 pounds Fiji and Tonga branch l.r., 4 inch sand bed.

07/20/2006, 04:43 PM	#15
Krazy Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 2,941	you ordering from who I think (hehe)

07/20/2006, 04:48 PM	#16
ldehart0556 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 39	If you're willing to do the work, the sun corals are worth it. We feed each polyp everyday and keep them in the shade. Light is unimportant as they are not photosythetic. Keep them fed and keep them shaded and you will love the results. We do!! __________________ Intellectual property has the shelf life of a banana.

07/20/2006, 11:11 PM	#17
chrisbenavides Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Laredo, TX Posts: 1,897	Ok...but the Sun Coral is not the Giant Sun Polyps coral is it??? Confused. :S Which is photosynthetic??? __________________ ChrisBenavides Current Tank Info: 55g sw tank, Remora skimmer, powerfilter, 260w PC lights, 50 pounds live rock, 100 pounds sand, etc.... \| Seahorse Tank (3 H. Kuda, 2 Pep.) 30g tall, skimmer, 130w PC lights, HOB Penguin filter, 30 pounds Fiji and Tonga branch l.r., 4 inch sand bed.

07/21/2006, 01:32 AM	#18
kass03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kaukauna, Wi Posts: 2,937	No the sun coral is a hard coral not the giant sun polyps. The sun polyps ( I dunno why he calls them that it's confusing lol ) are protopaly's which he does say in the description and is a soft coral (no skeleton). They are photosynthetic They are like large zoa's. Yes they will prolly look like my second picture but a variation of the color. Theres alot of different colors just like with zoa's. Protopaly's are very easy to care for unlike sun coral which is more difficult because it has to be fed. Protopaly's don't have to be fed. kass

07/21/2006, 09:33 AM	#19
chrisbenavides Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Laredo, TX Posts: 1,897	AWESOME!!! I like the picture you have. Hopefully they will be similar! __________________ ChrisBenavides Current Tank Info: 55g sw tank, Remora skimmer, powerfilter, 260w PC lights, 50 pounds live rock, 100 pounds sand, etc.... \| Seahorse Tank (3 H. Kuda, 2 Pep.) 30g tall, skimmer, 130w PC lights, HOB Penguin filter, 30 pounds Fiji and Tonga branch l.r., 4 inch sand bed.