Now What?

Coinzmans Reef · Dec 8, 2023

Four years back in the hobby after a long break and I am faced with a dilemma. My elegance is way to big for my tank and most LFS don't have the room. I hate to part with Her, short of another larger tank I would need to rehome her. It would take a 200 gal or better for her to be comfortable. She is 20"x10" and the more room I give her the more she grows. Both of my tanks, 75gal and a 525L are really running well with little effort on my part. I like the idea of a new tank but not the work and definitely not the reset. I don't think I want to give up the tanks I have to start all over again.

What are your thoughts?

The following are from 3/22 the sailfin is 4.5" Purple tang 3.5"

These are from today 12/082023, the sailfin is now 6" Purple tang 4.5"

MoshJosh · Dec 8, 2023

Frag that bad boy and give me a frag!!!

Reefkeepers Archive · Dec 8, 2023

Coinzmans Reef said:
Four years back in the hobby after a long break and I am faced with a dilemma. My elegance is way to big for my tank and most LFS don't have the room. I hate to part with Her, short of another larger tank I would need to rehome her. It would take a 200 gal or better for her to be comfortable. She is 20"x10" and the more room I give her the more she grows. Both of my tanks, 75gal and a 525L are really running well with little effort on my part. I like the idea of a new tank but not the work and definitely not the reset. I don't think I want to give up the tanks I have to start all over again.

What are your thoughts?

The following are from 3/22 the sailfin is 4.5" Purple tang 3.5"

These are from today 12/082023, the sailfin is now 6" Purple tang 4.5"

I'd say this is the perfect excuse to get a new tank

Miami Reef · Dec 8, 2023

Not sure. I think it still looks good in your tank, but dang, that thing‘s a beauty! Great job!

Coinzmans Reef · Dec 8, 2023

MoshJosh said:
Frag that bad boy and give me a frag!!!

Can it be fragged ?

slythy · Dec 8, 2023

See if anyone local will buy it and get another small one!

slythy · Dec 8, 2023

Coinzmans Reef said:
Can it be fragged ?

edit: I’m reading a few conflicting things. Sounds like its been done but risky?!

Reefkeepers Archive · Dec 8, 2023

Coinzmans Reef said:
Can it be fragged ?

Yes, but to my knowledge it is risky

Coinzmans Reef · Dec 8, 2023

Reefkeepers Archive said:
I'd say this is the perfect excuse to get a new tank

I want to but the tanks are both on cruise control and enjoying them for a change.

Coinzmans Reef · Dec 8, 2023

slythy said:
I dont believe Elgans can be fr

Reefkeepers Archive said:
Yes, but to my knowledge it is risky

Not worth the risk. This coral is rock solid. Every other month it will shrink and look sickly, One fresh store bought shrimp cut up and in two days she is glowing.

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Dec 8, 2023

Coinzmans Reef said:
Not worth the risk. This coral is rock solid. Every other month it will shrink and look sickly, One fresh store bought shrimp cut up and in two days she is glowing.

See if SeaQuest will take it! Do they have an appropriate habitat?

MrGisonni · Dec 8, 2023

Beautiful coral. Consider yourself lucky. That is a coral that has given so many reefers problems over the decades to the point they won't try to keep them anymore.

MoshJosh · Dec 8, 2023

MrGisonni said:
Beautiful coral. Consider yourself lucky. That is a coral that has given so many reefers problems over the decades to the point they won't try to keep them anymore.

Count me among them! I Kept one and it struggled until it died. . . I won't keep one again until I am sure I can keep it!!!

Lavey29 · Dec 8, 2023

Why mess up a good thing? She's happy in her home.

MrGisonni · Dec 8, 2023

The last long term success I had with an elegance coral was in a classroom aquarium that had orbit lighting, high nitrates and phosphates. Go figure. I had to break the aquarium down during the pandemic and give the coral away

littlefoxx · Dec 8, 2023

I think she looks happy and would be upset if you moved her to be honest. I think for her sake just leave her

Coinzmans Reef · Dec 9, 2023

This coral has been with me from the start. She has been in zero phosphates and nitrates to the new ICP test numbers of 25ppm nitrates and .435 phosphates. She has tolerated 35.6 down to 33.9 salt, PH of 7.8 up to current 8.45. I feed her three times a week with whatever the fish are eating and a fresh shrimp every other month. The one thing I never do is move her from that location, just a little to the center so she doesn't sting the corals on the right.

Cell · Dec 9, 2023

I'm team elegance.

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Dec 9, 2023

Coinzmans Reef said:
It would take a 200 gal or better for her to be comfortable. She is 20"x10" and the more room I give her the more she grows. Both of my tanks, 75gal and a 525L are really running well with little effort on my part. I like the idea of a new tank but not the work and definitely not the reset. I don't think I want to give up the tanks I have to start all over again.

I think you need to decide which is more important/valuable to you... I'd consider dedicating the tank she is in to her, and remove or reposition other things accordingly.

littlefoxx · Dec 9, 2023

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal said:
I think you need to decide which is more important/valuable to you... I'd consider dedicating the tank she is in to her, and remove or reposition other things accordingly.

Agree, especially with how big she is!