Sarcophyton elegans on bottom...?

[Joey1]

Does anyone have one that will not do well in the top of the tank?I have had one that is in great shape,had it for about a month,and while acclimating it,cannot get it to open anywhere but on the bottom.Have read in the Sprung book that they "Prefer very strong illumination and water movement",while the Borneman book states"They adapt well to most current regimes,although they are not fond of heavy currents...Very photoadaptive and tolerate many lighting schemes"Should I leave it where it is,or try to move it up even slower?Tank is 55 gallon,440 watts PC,sea-swirl 3/4",mag 9.5 as return.Everything else is doing fine in the tank,with proper expansion,but this one has me thrown....any ideas?Thanks,Joey

 

[jmeader]

It sounds like you have strong lighting , even on the bottom. While they are photoadaptive, it takes time to make the readjustment. I would leave it on the bottom myself. It's more natural. However, you can move it up, just do it very slowly.

 

[HARRISON]

I added an elegans not too long ago to my tank. I have mine on a rock about three or four inches from the bottom of the tank. It opened up with in hour of being there and seemed so happy I didn't move it up. If you have a good place down low and it is happy then I would leave it. If you want to move it up then just take the time to let it get used to the new conditions. IMO with most corals you want to start them down low in the tank and work them up to where you want them slowly. This is tough sometimes cause we all have that special spot where we think it should go dut to coloration and other things like space. I find I have to be patient and let the coral kinda pic its own spot. Although I will be the first to admit I have my hands in the water way too much and need to learn to just leave stuff alone.


Let me know how it comes out. I will be curious in case I decide to move mine.

HARRISON

 

[Joey1]

Yeah,I'm just curious because I have seen pics of them in tanks with about the same lighting watts per gallon,and they are in the same zones(in aquaria,not sure about in nature,I'm not a diver)as acros and xenia(I'm using these as reference,since I have both in my tank doing well,and am trying to use zonation to keep a mixed coral tank).Anyway,I think I will try to move him a couple of inches up in a month or so,see how it goes.I always start acclimation off on the bottom,but this one wasn't having it...Thanks for the replies,just concerned that it might go downhill soon if I didn't get the placement figured out quickly.Just curious,how long can they live with polyps retracted? Thanks,Joey

 

[Anonymous]

Don't know the answer, but I do know these guys don't ship well. Did you MO or get it at the LFS?

 

[Ben1]

I keep 4 types of sarcophyton in my soft coral tank and they all adapt in any spot. These corals are very hardy IMO and all eventually stay closed and shed a skin. This is to rid them selfs of algea and such. Depending on the current they are recieving this could take from a week to a day. In bad conditions, water quality wise they will stay closed untill the situation gets better. Ive had one closed for 3 weeks, others report having them closed for over a month before reopening. IME the thing to look out for in leathers isnt polyp extention athough it is important. IME the thing to look for is how the coral stands up. Once it starts to droop alot or bend over and also isnt extending you could be in trouble. In this situation the area that is bent starts to rot and reqiures fraging to save it. Often they rot from the inside in this situation and will die.

HTH

 

[Joey1]

Steve Nichols:
I got mine from a lfs in town,good price for a beautiful,healthy Sarco.It opened as soon as it hit the water,but didn't like it when I tried to move it up in the water column.

Ben:
What type of lighting are you using?

Thanks,Joey