How do I know if my new Duncan is happy?

sherbertdipuk · Jan 16, 2017

He went in my tank today and as soon as I acclimatised him and transferred him into position he started to open up. I've got him mid way up my tank with not too much flow.

How does he look now and what should I watch out for, I really don't want to kill my first coral!

ahiggins · Jan 16, 2017

I dont know much about duncans but arent they non-photosynthetic? ie has to be fed

sherbertdipuk · Jan 16, 2017

I've got food to add to the water twice a week. I'm also going to try target feeding it with brine shrimp when my coral feeder arrives.

ebushrow · Jan 16, 2017

Depending on your lighting (type, distance from water, etc), the flow should be ok....sometimes I find that each one likes its own flow level... mild to moderate seems to work best for mine....once it gets acclimated, you should see an increase in size as well....just be patient as it acclimates to the tank as well as the light. You can feed it some mysis if you like, there are opinions on both sides of the fence on if it needs it or not....I always feed the corals....they just seem happier to me

Looks like you may have gotten some clove polyps on the side of the duncan as well.... be careful, they tend to spread like GSP if they like the tank and lighting.

sherbertdipuk · Jan 16, 2017

Will the polyps harm the Duncan? Thank you for the advice, I've got to step away from the tank now. I've been staring at it all day!

reef lover · Jan 16, 2017

Make sure that polyp doesn't move there is a pest that feeds off from Xenia's and other soft coral that looks just like that. Don't have my books with me and I can't remember its name.

sherbertdipuk · Jan 17, 2017

Sorry for all the questions, can you have a look at this pic and see if it still looks ok, the head had almost doubled in size since yesterday.
I have only done basic water tests, ive ordered some more but it won't arrive till tomorrow. Has it actually got bigger than the first pic or just opened out more?

Waters · Jan 17, 2017

He looks fine.....he just has expanded more, which is a good thing. They appreciate regular feedings and will quickly multiply if given the right conditions. You will probably also find out they they like to close up for no apparent reason at all...sometimes for days. Mine would then reopen like nothing had ever happened.

Germ42 · Jan 17, 2017

Yeah I haven't fed my Duncans in months but I feed quite heavy so Im sure they get some that fall into it,

Here's my colony, can't wait to start fragging some of it!

sherbertdipuk · Jan 17, 2017

He did get a brine shrimp fall into him earlier when I fed the fish and quickly closed up round it. Yours looks amazing germ!

Germ42 · Jan 17, 2017

However I do use a product called Fuel for the coral, its by aqua vitro and works wonders for me, careful about how often you use it because it'll cause algae quickly lol

Germ42 · Jan 17, 2017

Thank you! It's one of my favorite pieces I love feeding them when I have time they just close up right around my turkey baster lol

Very pretty coral! I think you're going to love it! They multiply relatively quickly depending on tank water quality and etc!

AllSignsPointToFish · Jan 17, 2017

Your Duncan is looking pretty good

Give him some chopped squid or krill. The stalk seems to have to xenia growing on it. I have a feeling that, once established, the Duncan will kill the xenia, but who knows? They may coexist just fine as long as the xenia doesn't overgrow the Duncan before it's established. If the tentacles are rounded and don't come to a sharp point, try increasing the water flow. Mine seems to appreciate more water flow up higher in the tank than down near the sandbed.

sherbertdipuk · Jan 18, 2017

I can't believe how big he's getting after just 3 days!

ReeferMaddness843 · Jan 18, 2017

Duncan looks good! That was my first LPS coral. It is, as everyone has said, a fast grower in right conditions. Enjoy!!
Here's a pic of mine. It looks more like a torch on some days. Lol

AllSignsPointToFish · Jan 18, 2017

I started with 3 polyps about 9 months ago:

HermitCrabLeota · Jan 20, 2017

I took a colony of about 3 or 4 polyps from my friend because they were starting to close up and lose color. I set them in my nano tank and within 3 months they have turned into about nine healthy heads, the largest of which is about 2.5 inches in diameter. I have noticed they seem to really do well with spot feeding of mysis and brine shrimp. They are fairly sticky though and I would recommend giving them distance from other corals. They also seems to be growing over one another, to the point of blocking out light and food from some of the smaller heads, so perhaps it is time to frag.

Here's a before and after

AllSignsPointToFish · Jan 20, 2017

HermitCrabLeota said:
I took a colony of about 3 or 4 polyps from my friend because they were starting to close up and lose color. I set them in my nano tank and within 3 months they have turned into about nine healthy heads, the largest of which is about 2.5 inches in diameter. I have noticed they seem to really do well with spot feeding of mysis and brine shrimp. They are fairly sticky though and I would recommend giving them distance from other corals. They also seems to be growing over one another, to the point of blocking out light and food from some of the smaller heads, so perhaps it is time to frag.

Here's a before and after

Rock on! That's awesome!