New torch coral help

[jamie88smith]

Hi I’ve had my torch coral 3 days now but it has fully retracted and won’t come out should I be worried?

I acclimated it
Water levels are fine

 

[Bradley2448]

How old is the tank? What are you running for lighting? What are the actual water parameters? Any other coral in the tank? This info will help everyone make a diagnosis sooner

 

[glb]

What is the flow on it? They will withdraw if it’s too strong.

 

[Boxofpurplerocks]

Hate to say it but I think that torch is toast. Looks like it was very unhealthy before you received it. Notice how the flesh barely extends over the edge of the skeleton? There should be at least a half inch of flesh growing into the skeleton.

 

[jamie88smith]

Hi tests as follows

ammonia 0.5ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 2.5ppm
Ph 8.15
Calcium 415ppm
Alkalinity 9.9dKH
Magnesium 1230
Phosphate 0ppm
Temperature 80 degrees F

Aqua one 35 Nano Tank is 1 month in
Half tank water changes every Friday water bought from my lfs pre mixed
No real flow as I haven’t got a wave maker
And my pump pulls 200 lph I’ve ordered another that does 600 lph
My light is bog standard with the tank 15w it is


can I take frags back to the lfs I got it from if this looks unhealthy?

 

[redeyejedi]

Any other coral in there that are ok? Its possible that the light isnt strong enough to grow coral. 0 phos isnt good either unless you feed a lot.

 

[jamie88smith]

Any other coral in there that are ok? Its possible that the light isnt strong enough to grow coral. 0 phos isnt good either unless you feed a lot.

That is my only one as I am starting to introduce coral to my tank but wanted to see how this one went first what light would you recommend for my aqua one 35 nano reef and settings for it etc

 

[OREGONIC]

Not much flesh on that guy, probably not healthy to begin with. Mix an unhealthy coral with a new tank and that is not a good mix. If this is your first tank start with some cheaper corals. A basic frogspawn may be a better choice, even though torch and frogspawn are both euphyllia torches are more temperamental. Another good starter coral is a duncan. Duncans will throw fits and close up when parameters change but will open back up after a few days of stability. The are hardy and great corals to alert you when something is off. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Jekyl]

Lights are not going to be enough for any corals. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

 

[jeffchapok]

Those rocks look awfully clean, leading me to believe this is a relatively new tank. Many corals don't do too well until your tank is at least 6 months old, and a year is even better.

I know it's hard to wait and I also experimented with some specimens earlier than I should have. Sadly, other than some mushrooms and toadstools, most of them didn't make it.

Now at 2 years old, most things I try do okay. Although I still have trouble with euphyllia for some reason.

 

[redeyejedi]

That is my only one as I am starting to introduce coral to my tank but wanted to see how this one went first what light would you recommend for my aqua one 35 nano reef and settings for it etc

Anything that is 50W or above.

 

[jamie88smith]

Is this starting to look abit better today?

 

[jamie88smith]

Those rocks look awfully clean, leading me to believe this is a relatively new tank. Many corals don't do too well until your tank is at least 6 months old, and a year is even better.

I know it's hard to wait and I also experimented with some specimens earlier than I should have. Sadly, other than some mushrooms and toadstools, most of them didn't make it.

Now at 2 years old, most things I try do okay. Although I still have trouble with euphyllia for some reason.

It’s starting to come out now does this look ok?

 

[Alexopora]

Those rocks look awfully clean, leading me to believe this is a relatively new tank. Many corals don't do too well until your tank is at least 6 months old, and a year is even better.

I know it's hard to wait and I also experimented with some specimens earlier than I should have. Sadly, other than some mushrooms and toadstools, most of them didn't make it.

Now at 2 years old, most things I try do okay. Although I still have trouble with euphyllia for some reason.

OP posted the same picture under a different post and I pointed out the same thing. The rocks look way to new for the tank to be mature.

 

[Alexopora]

It’s starting to come out now does this look ok?

It definitely looks ok and looks promising. Do you have any other organism in the tank? Like fish or inverts?

Hi tests as follows

ammonia 0.5ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 2.5ppm
Ph 8.15
Calcium 415ppm
Alkalinity 9.9dKH
Magnesium 1230
Phosphate 0ppm
Temperature 80 degrees F

Aqua one 35 Nano Tank is 1 month in
Half tank water changes every Friday water bought from my lfs pre mixed
No real flow as I haven’t got a wave maker
And my pump pulls 200 lph I’ve ordered another that does 600 lph
My light is bog standard with the tank 15w it is


can I take frags back to the lfs I got it from if this looks unhealthy?

Now that you’ve mentioned that your tank is only a month in, it makes alot of sense. After setting up 4 tanks in a row, I can say that the best success comes around the 6-7 month mark. I use my limpets and types of algae (green calcerous algae and coralline) found on my live rocks as an indicator.

Like others have mentioned, most reefers wouldnt recommend torches as starters. If you prefer lps, get Duncans (as recommended earlier), Blastos (get the inexpensive ones).

And you might want to invest in a powerhead or wave maker. Torches definitely need at least medium flow. Too much and they’ll retractand too little flow they’ll gradually recede or even not extend like in your case.

 

[jamie88smith]

It definitely looks ok and looks promising. Do you have any other organism in the tank? Like fish or inverts?

Now that you’ve mentioned that your tank is only a month in, it makes alot of sense.

And you might want to invest in a powerhead or wave maker. Torches definitely need at least medium flow. Too much and they’ll retractand too little flow they’ll gradually recede or even not extend like in your case.

Two clownfish 2 hermits 2 snails and a cleaner shrimp I’ve just bought a higher watt light how high from the bottom of the tank would I set it?

 

[Alexopora]

Two clownfish 2 hermits 2 snails and a cleaner shrimp I’ve just bought a higher watt light how high from the bottom of the tank would I set it?

As for now just feed your clownfish as per normal. That should be sufficient nutrients for you torch. There are some reefers (I think Tidal Gardens did point this out in their videos) that Torches do like a little more nutrient rich tank. But don’t need to go chasing numbers and just feed your clowns as normal.

As for lighting, it seems from the way you described, the lighting is not dimmable? Its a little hard for me to advise you on how high your lights should be. I can only say, as for now set the lights to be of maximum distance from the tank for now. Or if you can, set your torches on the sandbed or the bottom of the tank. Then once you see better polyp extension, you can try gluing it back to its original position.

Now about your clowns, a word of caution they may harass your torches especially once they fancy it and decides to make it their hosts. That might add more stress on your torch. Do monitor and see if they ever take interest in it. If they do, you might have to separate them.

 

[jamie88smith]

As for now just feed your clownfish as per normal. That should be sufficient nutrients for you torch. There are some reefers (I think Tidal Gardens did point this out in their videos) that Torches do like a little more nutrient rich tank. But don’t need to go chasing numbers and just feed your clowns as normal.

As for lighting, it seems from the way you described, the lighting is not dimmable? Its a little hard for me to advise you on how high your lights should be. I can only say, as for now set the lights to be of maximum distance from the tank for now. Or if you can, set your torches on the sandbed or the bottom of the tank. Then once you see better polyp extension, you can try gluing it back to its original position.

Now about your clowns, a word of caution they may harass your torches especially once they fancy it and decides to make it their hosts. That might add more stress on your torch. Do monitor and see if they ever take interest in it. If they do, you might have to separate them.

Many thanks for the advice I have a book I write in for test results and knowledge of the reefing world I’ve added what you said thank you once again, I think I worry too much I spot something and mess with the tank weather it be lights or testing etc I think I’ll leave it be for a while unless something drastic happens.

many thanks once again

 

[RedReefer]

Lights are not going to be enough for any corals. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

Need fish poop....