Need help with a sinularia

hllb · Feb 20, 2022

I’ve had this for about 2 weeks and it still hasn’t settled into my tank. I’ve seen a little polyp extension but not a lot. I decided to move it tonight and noticed the base of it is pinched. It came tied to the plug with the string going through the stalk, though it wasn’t fresh and had been there a while.

can I cut this up like I do my Kenya tree? I’m thinking I should cut the stalk above the pinch and put it in a box to attach to some rubble.

Hermie · Feb 20, 2022

leave it be IMO. if anything put it in higher flow/higher light

vetteguy53081 · Feb 20, 2022

hllb said:
I’ve had this for about 2 weeks and it still hasn’t settled into my tank. I’ve seen a little polyp extension but not a lot. I decided to move it tonight and noticed the base of it is pinched. It came tied to the plug with the string going through the stalk, though it wasn’t fresh and had been there a while.

can I cut this up like I do my Kenya tree? I’m thinking I should cut the stalk above the pinch and put it in a box to attach to some rubble.

Elevate it off the sandbed and assure you are providing Medium light and medium water flow. Add iron to water occasionally as well as stronium. Too low of light or water flow and they will shrink up

hllb · Feb 20, 2022

I’ll move it up, thanks. I thought they liked lower light. I had it in higher flow (but lower light) and it wasn’t happy. I do weekly dosing of the Red Sea trace elements so I think I’m set on the elements.

MaxTremors · Feb 20, 2022

They can take a while to settle in. Cutting off the bottom is just going to make it take even longer to settle in and also to reattach to something. Mine (ORA green Sinularia) likes quite a bit of flow (the top of it reaches directly into the flow of a powerhead, and it’s happy as can be) and medium light (though could easily take more or less). They’re really pretty adaptable, I think you just need to give it more time.

HudsonReefer2.0 · Feb 20, 2022

How was it when u purchased it? I’d leave it b and let it settle. What lights are you using? Flow? Yeah what vetteguy said. lol

hllb · Feb 20, 2022

HudsonReefer2.0 said:
How was it when u purchased it? I’d leave it b and let it settle. What lights are you using? Flow? Yeah what vetteguy said. lol

It was shipped. This was day 1, though it looked better with some polyp extension a couple of days later (but no photo):

I’ve got two XR15 G5’s on a 65g tank with an Ice cap 2K gyre on one end and a Nero 5 on the other, both turned down and still creating quite a bit of flow. Most everything else is doing well, though I am treating w Prazipro right now so it could be annoyed with that.

Lavey29 · Feb 20, 2022

hllb said:
I’ll move it up, thanks. I thought they liked lower light. I had it in higher flow (but lower light) and it wasn’t happy. I do weekly dosing of the Red Sea trace elements so I think I’m set on the elements.

How do you check your trace elements weekly to ensure your levels are appropriate?

HudsonReefer2.0 · Feb 20, 2022

Mayb the meds. I nvr treated my display tank. Too much too risk. I’m sure it will acclimate and open. Good luck

hllb · Feb 20, 2022

Lavey29 said:
How do you check your trace elements weekly to ensure your levels are appropriate?

I follow Red Sea’s recommendation. The one time I did an ICP, they were in a good spot. I should probably redo it at this point though.

Lavey29 · Feb 20, 2022

hllb said:
I follow Red Sea’s recommendation. The one time I did an ICP, they were in a good spot. I should probably redo it at this point though.

Yes because there is no way you can know what your trace levels are and dosing without regular testing will lead to big problems.

hllb · Feb 21, 2022

Well, that didn't go well. It fell onto my war coral overnight. I moved to another spot and hopefully it'll like that spot when the lights start coming on later.

Coralsdaily · Feb 21, 2022

I know mine likes higher flow better. And isn’t too picky about lighting. But also make sure nothing is picking on it, sometimes tangs and foxface can give it curious nibbles

sfin52 · Feb 21, 2022

hllb said:
I’ll move it up, thanks. I thought they liked lower light. I had it in higher flow (but lower light) and it wasn’t happy. I do weekly dosing of the Red Sea trace elements so I think I’m set on the elements.

They can do well in 100-150 par heck mine even has grown into 200 par area. They like a moderate flow. They really need the flow to help them shed.

They hate being touched/ moved and this will cause them to shrink. If you haven't removed the tie holding it down go ahead and remove it.
Leathers will do fine on the sand bed as long as they have a rock that they can attach to.

Hermie · Feb 21, 2022

heres a picture I took of mine, it's the closest thing to the return flow path besides the montipora (flow goes left to right in my tank)

it's also an ORA specimen, neon green
it loves to fight with other corals, by bending and twisting itself into shapes so I have it relatively isolated.
it recently went through what yours appears to be doing (polyps closed, shrunken) but is now "recovering" with good polyp extension

hllb · Feb 21, 2022

Hermie said:
heres a picture I took of mine, it's the closest thing to the return flow path besides the montipora (flow goes left to right in my tank)

it's also an ORA specimen, neon green
it loves to fight with other corals, by bending and twisting itself into shapes so I have it relatively isolated.
it recently went through what yours appears to be doing (polyps closed, shrunken) but is now "recovering" with good polyp extension

My lights are just coming on, but its looking better already. I'll snag a photo.

hllb · Feb 21, 2022

He is more upright, his fingers look longer, seeing a hint of polyps, and the stalk looks far less pinched. It’s just outside direct flow from my Nero 5, but probably still pretty strong flow. It’s 6-8” down from the top water line so I’ll watch to see if it like the PAR or not. It should be around 200-225 there.