New Elegance Coral

[AzReefn]

Hey all!

I got a new Blue Tip Elegance Coral last Sunday. I've done a little research but could use your opinions as well. I dosed reef energy a&b yesterday, 4ml. I will be getting calc/mag/alk test kit this weekend and will be adding a 4 bulb T5 either this weekend or next. I only have an orbit led since Ive only had fish until two weeks ago and I like the shimmer. Hopefully the 4 bulb T5 and the LED will be sufficient. I am doing 15% water change weekly.

Here are my questions:

How long does it usually take for the Elegance to open up?
I have Red Sea reef energy a&b, How much, and how often should I dose for my corals? directions say 1ml per 25g for medium load.
Do I need to dose calc/mag/alk with my current corals?
Should I spot feed it mysis shrimp, and how often?
Is my placement/flow ok?

My water:

ph - 8.1
NH3 - 0
NO2 - 0
NO3 - 8



My tank:

90g display / 30g sump

Rio+ 2500 580gph @3ft head

Sicce Voyager 3 (x2)

48" Orbit marine LED dual daylight/actinic (no RGB) 46 watt


3 Bangaii Cardinals

2 Clarkii clowns

2 blue leg hermits

2 trochus snails

4 margarita snails


1 Acan (size of 50c piece)

1 Hammer (2 heads)

1 Torch (4 heads)

1 Elegance coral 3"-4"

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

Your current light system has a weakest PAR in the USA Orbit Current series.
How deep is your tank? You will have to place your coral up high in your tank so it would get enough light until you add T5 in your system.
You should consider to switch to different light system, or better brand LED. I was using Orbit marine then add on T5 and all failed, wasted money (not really failed but I wasn't happy for the result at all) then I decided to get Kessil light system after all.
*There always some dudes will say it will be fine and blah...blah...blah. You have to make your own judgement call.

 

[Mal11224]

Your tank looks fairly new. How long has it been running? The flow looks okay to me. I have one in a similar spot near the corner as well. They usually like meaty foods ( 1 - 2 times a week, my sis is fine) and usually do not do well in a young tank. The last coral looks like a micromussa. You don't have too many corals and water changes might help replenish the alk and calcium usage but you need to test to be sure. Hopefully the elegance coral opens. Just keep an eye on it. Mine usually opens before the light comes on in the morning.

 

[DSC reef]

Adding 4 T5 bulbs (48") will be just fine along with the led light you have. That led alone with the depth of your tank wouldn't fare very well. As stated, the tank looks new and elegance can be a tricky coral. Testing the big 3 regularly is going to be important, keeping things stable is going to be key.

 

[tupes]

It's definitely unhappy with something. Such a beautiful coral but it's a unicorn for most people. I haven't been able to keep them longer than 2-3 months. The newest one I have I've had for 15 months I purchased it at one of my LFS. Here's mine. My tank is 7 years old, no filtration, only water changes. 165w led light medium to low flow, medium light.

 

[AzReefn]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I am getting the calc/mag/alk test kits today and I'm going to try to get the T5 lighting this weekend. My tank is 2 months old and water has been good except nitrates were around 20 a few weeks ago but have been less than 10 since my chaeto has grown significantly and nitrates are still reducing. I will move the elegance as high as I can get it until I get the new lights this weekend. Should I keep my lighting on 100% for both actinic/white during this time? is 8 hrs sufficient or should they be on more or less? Thanks again for your help guys!

 

[kris2001]

It's a difficult Coral to keep in my experience but beautiful though

 

[AzReefn]

Just an update.
I got the calc/mag/alk test kits. I also have a T5 HO fixture on order and Ocean Floor (LFS) has the ATI bulbs I'm looking for coming in next week. The elegance is doing much better now that it's up high and getting more light. It was almost fully open but the tentacles weren't very long, about an inch to inch and a half and they were much thicker. I spot fed it some mysis shrimp last night and it took some and folded up for a bit to eat (I think) then opened back up a while later. I will be testing the 3 when I get home today before I do my water change and go from there. My plans for the bulbs are: 1 aqua blue special, 1 blue plus, 1 coral plus, and 1 true actinic Or 1 blue plus, 2 coral plus, and 1 true actinic. What are your thoughts on the bulb combinations?

Thank you guys again for the info and suggestions!