NEW FIRST WEEK ELEGANCE CORAL. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

Blue Topia · Oct 30, 2019

This Elegance has been in my tank for 4 days now. For 3 days he was completely open but now not so much. All tank parameters are great because I do 2- 25% water changes ever week with reef Crystals. Hammer is doing great and other coral. I noticed yesterday he blew a little brown out of one of his mouths. Maybe was zooanthalea or . I'm sure he's just sulking from shipping and new lights but tell me your thoughts?

Blue Topia · Oct 30, 2019

Today sulking or.....?

Blue Topia · Oct 30, 2019

Blue Topia said:
Today sulking or.....?

Dana Riddle · Oct 30, 2019

One of the first articles I had published (late 80's/early 90's. I forget) concerned expulsion of zooxanthellae through the mouths of a Catalaphyllia. I've recently seen this happen with a chalice coral. My guess is that is an adaptive process to a new light field. Watch for possible bleaching.

Blue Topia · Oct 30, 2019

I was very aware and ready. I have had my blues on 30% and whites on 15% the whole time. And he's on the sand.

Blue Topia · Oct 30, 2019

If he does not change tomorrow or next...I will move him to the shade but it would be hard for me to believe that live aquaria had him in the dark under less than 50 par.

Tamberav · Oct 30, 2019

Every time I tried one from LA, it did not do well. I ordered one from Aqua SD at half the price of LA and that one has been with me for awhile now and going strong.

Blue Topia · Oct 30, 2019

Tamberav said:
Every time I tried one from LA, it did not do well. I ordered one from Aqua SD at half the price of LA and that one has been with me for awhile now and going strong.

This one was in perfect shape and is about the size of a football when expanded. So many people say these are crazy hard to keep alive and it's 50/50 no matter what. Indonesia or Australia. I know light will kill them fast but i also hear a lot of people saying that if your tank is low in nutrients they will parish. Not sure about that one. I don't think raising phosphates or nitrates is the way to go.

Blue Topia · Oct 30, 2019

One strange thing is my fish have almost all touched it with no sting when it was fully extended. Also 2 turbo snails are close to the base of it and haven't moved for 12 hours. They say they will kill snails instantly. Guess I will find out.

vetteguy53081 · Oct 30, 2019

How old is this tank ???? Elegans not generally a beginner coral for a new system. Your water change regimen is helpful but an alternative , not a solution with immediate stocking of coral what says fish.
Hopefull it makes it. I have a huge one but in an established tank.

Blue Topia · Oct 30, 2019

vetteguy53081 said:
How old is this tank ???? Elegans not generally a beginner coral for a new system. Your water change regimen is helpful but an alternative , not a solution with immediate stocking of coral what says fish.
Hopefull it makes it. I have a huge one but in an established tank.

What would you do different as an expert?

Blue Topia · Oct 30, 2019

vetteguy53081 said:
How old is this tank ???? Elegans not generally a beginner coral for a new system. Your water change regimen is helpful but an alternative , not a solution with immediate stocking of coral what says fish.
Hopefull it makes it. I have a huge one but in an established tank.

What are you looking for in the tanks age? Stability, bacteria, minerals and elements, good water parameters, light, food, flow, etc etc... Ok check now what?

Blue Topia · Oct 30, 2019

Blue Topia said:
What are you looking for in the tanks age? Stability, bacteria, minerals and elements, good water parameters, light, food, flow, etc etc... Ok check now what?

And Vettguy.....I've been in the hobby over 20 years...when do I finally become not a beginner? Dang this takes a long time!

Blue Topia · Oct 30, 2019

vetteguy53081 said:
How old is this tank ???? Elegans not generally a beginner coral for a new system. Your water change regimen is helpful but an alternative , not a solution with immediate stocking of coral what says fish.
Hopefull it makes it. I have a huge one but in an established tank.

Vetteguy....do they need copopods? Do I not have enough?

vetteguy53081 · Oct 30, 2019

Blue Topia said:
Vetteguy....do they need copopods? Do I not have enough?

They are filter feeders and do best in well established tanks. I have 32+ years and also Former full line pet store owner for many years and try to give the best advice. As you know, a newer system will go thru many chemistry changes and yes, most of what you mentioned above are elements in a system supporting coral in general.+
As I stated, your water change regimen will help but not a norm and a lot of salt used in the process
The Elegance coral is photosynthetic, which means zooxanthellae live inside its body tissue and provide some nutrition by harvesting the energy in the light, much like a plant. You can feed it, however at the tentacles and has to be very small matter such as brine shrimp, mysis, and shrimp as well as pieces of fish

Blue Topia · Oct 30, 2019

vetteguy53081 said:
They are filter feeders and do best in well established tanks. I have 32+ years and also Former full line pet store owner for many years and try to give the best advice. As you know, a newer system will go thru many chemistry changes and yes, most of what you mentioned above are elements in a system supporting coral in general.+
As I stated, your water change regimen will help but not a norm and a lot of salt used in the process
The Elegance coral is photosynthetic, which means zooxanthellae live inside its body tissue and provide some nutrition by harvesting the energy in the light, much like a plant. You can feed it, however at the tentacles and has to be very small matter such as brine shrimp, mysis, and shrimp as well as pieces of fish

Yes....I am aware and thank you for sharing. Yes my water chemistry is spot on but as you know....even spot on doesn't matter sometimes keeping the hardest to keep pets in the mainstream pet industry. I was being sarcastic of course about the copopods but I think the veterans of our expensive more than hobby....get to excited to get on a high horse and think everyone is a beginner and no one knows what they are doing except us. The truth is no one on this planet has mastered or figured out what we do. We give suggestions, our best advice and wisdom. We give what has worked for us and our failures. To share information is the greatest gifts we can give to the better understanding of this complex web we weave.

I just see so much wasted time on others ready to pounce on the beginner band wagon. That time should be allocated direct and to the point.

Just an observation

ZoWhat · Oct 30, 2019

Elegance are oooooooh soooooooooo sensitive to flow. Their tissue is sensitive to the 1000th degree.

With it being in a corner its might be getting too much flow.

Whatever you consider a "super gentle flow" is a lot if times still too much flow.

They engorge when nearly in stagnant flow with good bluer actinic light and good water quality with higher than normal magnesium around 1500.

Blue Topia · Oct 30, 2019

skimjim said:
Elegance are oooooooh soooooooooo sensitive to flow. Their tissue is sensitive to the 1000th degree.

With it being in a corner its might be getting too much flow.

Whatever you consider a "super gentle flow" is a lot if times still too much flow.

They engorge when nearly in stagnant flow with good light and good water quality.

Great advice and absolutely. In this tank currently I have just enough flow to not cause a sandstorm. I turned the flow away from him when I put him there. His polyps barely move when expanded. Thanks

Blue Topia · Oct 30, 2019

skimjim said:
Elegance are oooooooh soooooooooo sensitive to flow. Their tissue is sensitive to the 1000th degree.

With it being in a corner its might be getting too much flow.

Whatever you consider a "super gentle flow" is a lot if times still too much flow.

They engorge when nearly in stagnant flow with good bluer actinic light and good water quality with higher than normal magnesium around 1500.

He's getting about 50 to 100 par in that corner. I worried that this can even be to much but it does make you wonder if live aquaria had him in a high par area? I doubt it

Blue Topia · Nov 3, 2019

UPDATE:

IT WAS WHAT I THOUGHT. HE LIKES SHADE NO MATTER THE PAR. DIRECT LIGHT IS A NO NO AT LEAST FOR MINE. I SHADED HIM AND NOW HES DOING GREAT. HES JUST SO BIG IN MY TANK BUT THATS WHAT I WANTED AND NOT A BUNCH OF MICROSCOPIC FRAGS EVERYWHERE.

GOT SOME SCOLYS TOO AND THEY ARE DOING WELL.