Chilli Pepper Coral

[whisperofdusk]

So the only pet store we have in our town decided recently they aren't going to do saltwater anymore, So they stopped taking care of the tanks and are selling everything saltwater related 50% off. We bought up what coral they had that still looked viable. (We couldn't stand to let it just sit there and wither and die) Even though it was a reef aquarium and we have a reef aquarium we got some things we know nothing about. We are relatively new. I have done some research on the chili pepper coral we purchased but still feel a little lost with it. I read they like shade and are supposed to be hung upside down. We placed it in the back of a cave but have since noticed it is now closer to the opening. Do they move independently? Also can someone tell me how to hang it? We are spot feeding it and it looks good in color if not a little sad and droopy, so any help or instruction would be appreciated.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Hi, Welcome aboard! Nice score btw.!
Most of the info is acnecdotal and fromt the hobbyist community.
The reason to give it low light is because it will get algae growth. The reason for lower flow is because folks dont like seeing the polyps blowing like mad. the upside down thing I dunno someone saw a picture of it on the internet in a cave somewhere. They also like gorgs need the flow to slough off alge like they do in the wild.
Heres what Ive learned. I have 2.

they are a filter feeder and need particulates so they rely in good flow. From science and personal experience they can feel the flow. when mine are in low flow they wont open up. period. I set mine in a spot of good med to high flow and it generally opens up pretty quick.

Keep in mind these guys are like sloths, so quick is days sometimes weeks. And growth is similar. My small tester one was a red snot speck, and when I got it to open it was an inch. Now closed up its a half inch, but opens up to nearly two inches. Ive had it for 9 months or more. and I am still trying new foods and feeding regimens. I have never btw had it respond to food to open up.

I got a larger one, about 4in wide closed. I set it into a higher flow spot when i got it and its nearly ten in wide. So keep that in mind when placing it. yours looks huge. I set mine in a spot I thought would be of for flow and had a lot of room and placed it pointing up. it slowly slowly drooped over the course of weeks and got smaller and never opened up. it also got a good covering of algae.

so testing my theory i put it at the top of my tank , in a med to high flow spot leaving the rock I mounted it on down so it should have pointed up(makes sense?) if it wasnt drooping.
It did (sooo weird) un - droop, not open, but slowly pointed its self up again ( a week or two maybe more) and then opened up. over the last 2 weeks its been opening up more and more and no algae.

so thats the two myths busted.

fwiw my big one is 12 to 14 in from the lights and right next to my acros. so just give it great flow and when it opens lightly feed it. Ive been just giving it the frozen stuff i feed the rest of the tank, baby brine rotifers my phyto blend etc.


so, i would suggest putting it on a wide base like a chip of rubble or a wide disk because its heavy and getting it into an area of flow you think is too much.
fwiw I have for 9 mos or more kept thinking my little one was dead but every time it opens its a little bit bigger.

really one of my favorite corals. It will test your patience.