Torch Care

[NeonRabbit221B]

I have two torches in two separate tanks that are struggling and dying. Very short polyps and they are moving a fair amount.

Tank 1: See pic
40 Breeder. 2 Primes running BRS recommended at 80% and an old Kessil A350 turned down to 15%. Two MP40 running around 6-12% throughout the day. In the larger shot you can see about where its located. At the bottom right 30" from the MP40 on the left wall. I have tried moving it around and varying nutrients. Currently sitting at N=12 and P=.05. I would consider this a moderate-lower flow and low to moderate lighting.

Tank 2: Evo
Running a Kessil A150 at 8" above water along with 2 Lumilite strips for night time. A Syncra silent 1.0 (~251 gph but about 50% on adjuster). Lower nutrients at N=3.5 and P=.01. The one in this tank seems to be doing alright but not nearly extended as I see in others tanks. This torch is in moderate lightings and moderate flow.

I cant seem to get the hang of these and I have tried moving nutrients around over the course of a month and moving it around slightly and can't get polyps to extend. The one in the 40 seems to be having tissue loss as of last week. Any advice? Sorry for the orange. Only had my glasses and figured its better than blue.

 

[Lavey29]

Without knowing complete parameters it's hard to assess. I have MP40s also when I run during the day a ramped up 38% on lagoon mode. At 6 % you have like no flow there. Mine drops to 28% overnight. They want moderate flow that varies and 150 par maybe 200.

 

[vetteguy53081]

First thing I noticed in your tank is a large leather. Many leather corals produce and release toxic chemicals, called terpenes, into the water to protect themselves and to stunt the growth of other species. One of the biggest problems I have seen beginner hobbyists have is failing to account for the calcium demand for these corals. If there is insufficient calcium in your aquarium water, these corals will not be able to make their coral skeleton. You should also never lift a torch coral out of the water if you can avoid it. You could tear the polyps, and torn polyps are prone to infection followed by necrosis

Torch require typical parameters including:
Temperature 77-79 degrees
Specific gravity 1.025
Ph 8.1-8.3
Calcium level of about 400-440 ppm.

Like most large polyp stony corals, a torch coral benefits from moderate water flow. The polyps will remain retracted and under-inflated if the water current is too fast because the large flowing polyps are prone to rip and tear in high or ultra-high current environments.
The torch coral is a photosynthetic coral, meaning it has a relationship with symbiotic zooxanthellae (single-cell photosynthetic organisms) that live inside its tissues that converts the light energy into sugar. In exchange for a home inside the coral, the zooxanthellae split their harvest and feed the coral. Therefore, it is possible to keep the Torch coral without any feeding at all. However, all corals are animals, and animals are meant to eat.
The best placement for a torch coral is in a location that gets moderate water flow and moderate-intensity lighting. Torches are aggressive corals that protect themselves by wielding their sweeper tentacles maliciously.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

Without knowing complete parameters it's hard to assess. I have MP40s also when I run during the day a ramped up 38% on lagoon mode. At 6 % you have like no flow there. Mine drops to 28% overnight. They want moderate flow that varies and 150 par maybe 200.

Is this on a 40 Breeder? Good know though.

First thing I noticed in your tank is a large leather. Many leather corals produce and release toxic chemicals, called terpenes, into the water to protect themselves and to stunt the growth of other species. One of the biggest problems I have seen beginner hobbyists have is failing to account for the calcium demand for these corals. If there is insufficient calcium in your aquarium water, these corals will not be able to make their coral skeleton. You should also never lift a torch coral out of the water if you can avoid it. You could tear the polyps, and torn polyps are prone to infection followed by necrosis

Torch require typical parameters including:
Temperature 77-79 degrees
Specific gravity 1.025
Ph 8.1-8.3
Calcium level of about 400-440 ppm.

Like most large polyp stony corals, a torch coral benefits from moderate water flow. The polyps will remain retracted and under-inflated if the water current is too fast because the large flowing polyps are prone to rip and tear in high or ultra-high current environments.
The torch coral is a photosynthetic coral, meaning it has a relationship with symbiotic zooxanthellae (single-cell photosynthetic organisms) that live inside its tissues that converts the light energy into sugar. In exchange for a home inside the coral, the zooxanthellae split their harvest and feed the coral. Therefore, it is possible to keep the Torch coral without any feeding at all. However, all corals are animals, and animals are meant to eat.
The best placement for a torch coral is in a location that gets moderate water flow and moderate-intensity lighting. Torches are aggressive corals that protect themselves by wielding their sweeper tentacles maliciously.

Great point on the toxins. I always forget about that.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

Going to try a few things immediately. Raised it up about 3" onto another rock. Also going to run some carbon for the first time in a while. Will slowly increase my calcium from 390 (where its at now) to 420 over a week. Next week I will try increasing flow a big.

 

[Duncan62]

I have two torches in two separate tanks that are struggling and dying. Very short polyps and they are moving a fair amount.

Tank 1: See pic
40 Breeder. 2 Primes running BRS recommended at 80% and an old Kessil A350 turned down to 15%. Two MP40 running around 6-12% throughout the day. In the larger shot you can see about where its located. At the bottom right 30" from the MP40 on the left wall. I have tried moving it around and varying nutrients. Currently sitting at N=12 and P=.05. I would consider this a moderate-lower flow and low to moderate lighting.

Tank 2: Evo
Running a Kessil A150 at 8" above water along with 2 Lumilite strips for night time. A Syncra silent 1.0 (~251 gph but about 50% on adjuster). Lower nutrients at N=3.5 and P=.01. The one in this tank seems to be doing alright but not nearly extended as I see in others tanks. This torch is in moderate lightings and moderate flow.

I cant seem to get the hang of these and I have tried moving nutrients around over the course of a month and moving it around slightly and can't get polyps to extend. The one in the 40 seems to be having tissue loss as of last week. Any advice? Sorry for the orange. Only had my glasses and figured its better than blue.

That big leather isn't helping. Bad for story corals. It's beautiful though!

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

That big leather isn't helping. Bad for story corals. It's beautiful though!

It was my very first coral and it definitely won't fit in my nano any more! I can always move the torch to the nano but there is not a lot of room in there...

 

[LeftyReefer]

I have leather corals and torches and my torches grow great, so not convinced that is the issue here. Saying that, my leathers are not as big as yours, so maybe mine just don't put out enough toxin to affect the torches yet.

You said you have torches struggling in (2) different tanks.... are these systems connected? Do you have large leather corals in both tanks or just one?

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

I have leather corals and torches and my torches grow great, so not convinced that is the issue here. Saying that, my leathers are not as big as yours, so maybe mine just don't put out enough toxin to affect the torches yet.

You said you have torches struggling in (2) different tanks.... are these systems connected? Do you have large leather corals in both tanks or just one?

The nano is separate AIO and has no leathers but still fairly short polyps

 

[LeftyReefer]

ALK?
CA?
MG?

have you ever had an ICP test done on either tank?