Carnation Coral Adventure

Cantusaurus · Oct 23, 2021

PokeFish said:
also for food, i see many people saying they use roti feast and oyster feast, but no one really mentions phyto feast. Can phyto feast still be used?

Yeah, I have heard Phytofeast is really good. I have never tried it though. I recently tried Seachem Phyto, and I gotta say. I love it. I use it 1-2 times a week. I do a little less then daily amount in a small cup, and dilute it with tank water to have a larger amount to spot feed, and the corals just absolutely love it. They react super strongly, especially Zoas, but I think my Carnation really benefits from it. It has a large mixture of species and sizes, but I am not sure if other brands are better or not, but for the price, and long shelf life (refrigerating it) I don't think you can beat that.
You could also consider live phyto.

PokeFish · Oct 23, 2021

thats a good idea

thank you

Nano sapiens said:
You could just pick an obvious small branch and count those polypsand see if the count changes over time. The growth and tendril spread at the base is perhaps an easier indicator of growth to keep track of and is what I look at, mostly If the tendrils are spreading and new sprigs are being produced, then the coral has received enough nutrition beyond just 'maintaining' itself.

Careful observation of photos and videos of NPS corals in nature shows how profuse the spread can be under the right conditions:

https://reefbuilders.com/2011/08/26/raja-ampat-nps-heaven/

Seeing these images brings home the fact that we still have a long way to go...

Paleozoic_reefer · Oct 23, 2021

I bought this one for $10 from my LSF because it never opened for months. It didn't do any better in my DT and never opened up either.

after almost 3 months of looking the same and never opening I decided to through it into my empty filter cup in my sump. The next day it opened up 3 times it size! It's been in my filter cup ever since!

Cantusaurus · Oct 23, 2021

Paleozoic_reefer said:
I bought this one for $10 from my LSF because it never opened for months. It didn't do any better in my DT and never opened up either.

after almost 3 months of looking the same and never opening I decided to through it into my empty filter cup in my sump. The next day it opened up 3 times it size! It's been in my filter cup ever since!

Is the filter cup in the direct flow? Or just kind of in a random spot in the sump.
Yeah I think if you provide them even a somewhat adequate location they do much better. Too much light and not enough flow really does not help them out.
But that's great to see, and dang it really is opened up a lot!

Paleozoic_reefer · Oct 23, 2021

@Cantusaurus I tried every spot in my DT with high flow, low flow, low light, no light...Nothing! The filter cup is the first stage in the return to the sump so the flow is constant 24/7, so I'm guessing that's what it needed...it's too bad cause it beautiful...

Nano sapiens · Oct 23, 2021

Paleozoic_reefer said:
I bought this one for $10 from my LSF because it never opened for months. It didn't do any better in my DT and never opened up either.

after almost 3 months of looking the same and never opening I decided to through it into my empty filter cup in my sump. The next day it opened up 3 times it size! It's been in my filter cup ever since!

I've seen from other similar account that often the best location for these is one where we can't properly view/enjoy the coral

Maybe frag a piece or two and try different location in the display? These NPS are known to heal really quickly from a cut. I sliced a small branch off of mine and it closed over in about 8 hours and fully healed in 3 days...with polyp nubbins already starting.

Edit: I see you've tried places in the display with no luck...

PokeFish · Oct 23, 2021

Paleozoic_reefer said:
I bought this one for $10 from my LSF because it never opened for months. It didn't do any better in my DT and never opened up either.

after almost 3 months of looking the same and never opening I decided to through it into my empty filter cup in my sump. The next day it opened up 3 times it size! It's been in my filter cup ever since!

maybe it cuz of all the random stuff that passes through there

PokeFish · Oct 24, 2021

PokeFish · Oct 24, 2021

I cab kinda see like a polpy fallong off

PokeFish · Oct 24, 2021

I have a question: how much phyto, roti, or oyster fesst should i be feeding everytime i dose? I usually eyeball it at around .5-1.5 tbsp each time. I read instructions and it says 1-2 teasoons PER DAY? That probably isnt referjnh to nps but now idk how nych to feed

PokeFish · Oct 27, 2021

Anyways i can lower nitrates and phos without doing so many waterchanges? The feedjngs have made my parameters very elevated. I currently have one big fuge