Question about coral

[Mallory86]

I'm still new to the world of saltwater aquariums, a while back I had an issue with ammonia after adding clownfish before my tank was fully cycled, once the ammonia was finally at 0 and my clowns were safe I added a zoa that my LFS gave me for free since I was worried about not having any knowledge of coral but really wanting to try to keep a reef tank. The coral had started to look like it was melting and when the water was tester the nitrites were insanely high, I did water changes and added prime and seachem stability and the coral slowly began actually opening up, I'm confused now because the parts that had looked like it was melting has now become extra tunes (not sure if that's what you call the tube looking things on coral) and they look to be growing extra coral on top of those tubes....is that a good sign? The coral opens now and looks happy enough, I've recently bought another frag of a different zoa and it seems happy and healthy as well just not sure why the original coral grew extra pieces.

 

[JonoB]

Well, a few things here. One, could you post some pictures of the set up and the zoas?

Second, what kind of lights do you have? Lights also have a big part of coral growth. Also would be good to know your parameters of your tank?

Last, corals grow, so that's a good thing (assuming its actual new growth). You want them to grow and spread

 

[ndrwater]

I'm still new to the world of saltwater aquariums, a while back I had an issue with ammonia after adding clownfish before my tank was fully cycled, once the ammonia was finally at 0 and my clowns were safe I added a zoa that my LFS gave me for free since I was worried about not having any knowledge of coral but really wanting to try to keep a reef tank. The coral had started to look like it was melting and when the water was tester the nitrites were insanely high, I did water changes and added prime and seachem stability and the coral slowly began actually opening up, I'm confused now because the parts that had looked like it was melting has now become extra tunes (not sure if that's what you call the tube looking things on coral) and they look to be growing extra coral on top of those tubes....is that a good sign? The coral opens now and looks happy enough, I've recently bought another frag of a different zoa and it seems happy and healthy as well just not sure why the original coral grew extra pieces.

Some corals, especially zoa's can reproduce by splitting. sounds like what you have going on here. Also sounds like you got your water parameters into an area where the zoa's like it. Keep up the good work and post up some pictures!!

 

[Mallory86]

I've attached a picture of the coral to show the new tunes on the bottom of the coral in the back, the ammonia is 0 salinitity is 1.025 nitrates are 1 nitrites are 0, temp is 78° and as far as the lighting I do white and blue at 60% part of the day, then 60% blue and finally 10% blue "moonlight" at night

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks like new ones developing

 

[Mallory86]

Glad to hear that, originally they were melting and thats where the drips were and now they are growing again, that's the first coral I've ever had so I'm happy to know it's working