Wellso Woes

[JSB]

Back in early June, I bought a WYSIWYG Wellso from DD. Upon arrival, I put it in my tank, and on day 2 it looked like this:

On subsequent days it failed to fully open, so I began the process of a week in lower flow, or a week in higher flow, more light, less light. I cranked the MP10s down to half, and the light down to 80%. I tried every conceivable location on the sand bed, and flow light combinations that I could come up with, but it still looks today as it did at the end of the first week. Occasionally, a change will result in slightly better appearance, but it is always short lived.

The color is still good, and I get a temporary 10-15% expansion if I direct feed with reef chili, but other than that, no sign of the beauty that it was when I received it. Any help is solving this one would be greatly appreciated.

Params are 60g cube, w/ Radion LEDs.
SG 1.025
pH 8.1
Temp: 79-81
Alk 8.3
Ca 480
Mag 1420
PO4 0
NO3 2-3ppm
Flow 2xMP10 @ 75%, plus 700gph return.

 

[Texasnano]

I have learned its about placement, just keep tryin sand bed you'll find a spot

 

[JSB]

That's just it. I have nowhere else to try. You can see from the photos below, a stocked cube only gives you so many choices.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Looks like it might be getting to much light.

 

[JSB]

I think I may move it to my Q-tank and see how it does. Low light, low flow.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I would try that for sure. Then you can tell a little more.

 

[JSB]

I put the wellso in my QT for a 5-day rest. Then I turned down the overall intensity of both of my MP10s to 50-65% depending on the mode. I put the wellso under a rock shelf, and blocked it with a maxima and some xenia, and we are on the comeback trail. I see more expansion each day, and better reaction to target feeding. Thanks for the feedback, and sorry for the poor photo, but it does show improvement.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

I'm glad it is improving!! It is a gorgeous coral.

 

[JSB]

So, I finally gave up on the wellso being in my display. I set up a 20 MWSP (made-with-spare-parts) tank in my office with lower light and much lower flow. After 24-hours my wellso is larger than it has been in the entire 4 months that I have had it. I guess there just wasn't the right spot for it in my 60g. It is now my showpiece in my office tank, and is expanded to 4-5".