Help with Elegance coral

VJV · Jan 7, 2016

Hi, I have had my elegance for over one year now and it never opened up fully. It has not died either but it is constantly closed, and the polyps are shrunken, even when it opens up.

My tank parameters are PH of 8,1-8,2, Cal440, Alk 8,0dKH, Mag1280ppm, PO4 0,015 and NO3 always undetectable.

I have used several different salts during this period, including Aquavitro Salinity, Red Sea Coral salt and Tropic Marin pro-reef.

Recently I moved it to a QT because I was treating the main display with Fauna Marin DinoX and it really closed up.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

reefhobby · Jan 7, 2016

They do that then eventually die

VJV · Jan 7, 2016

Well, not the response I was expecting...[emoji1]. In any event, it has been like that on and off for over 1,5y and it is still going so let's see. Wonder if it has something to do with light and/or flow...?

Zane · Jan 7, 2016

It's a pretty well known behavior for these guys. I'll never buy another one.

Vaughn17 · Jan 7, 2016

Do you ever spot feed it? Also, judging from the algae growing on your elegance coral, your tank may have nutrient issues. Yes, your water tests low, but that is probably because nutrients are being consumed by nuisance alage. IMO, too much phosphate and not enough nitrate causes problems, especially if they are significantly out of balance.

Reefer93105 · Jan 11, 2016

You Mg is a little low. Try raising it up slowly to the mid 1300. I have tried elegance many times for many years. Could not keep them alive. They always ended up looking like your picture but at least your picture does not show it receding on the outer edges which is good.

VJV · Jan 11, 2016

Reefer93105 said:
You Mg is a little low. Try raising it up slowly to the mid 1300. I have tried elegance many times for many years. Could not keep them alive. They always ended up looking like your picture but at least your picture does not show it receding on the outer edges which is good.

Thanks. It's in a quarantine tank and actually it opened up slightly yesterday. It also expelled some black goey stuff from its mouths. I have seen it do this before.

Also, after it closed up it had some white sludge in some parts. It seemed like it had puked or ,something?