Elegance Coral

[kryn13]

Need some help with an Elegance Coral. Was doing fine for the first 2 months in my 75 gal. However, it recently appears to be taking a turn for the worse. It won't open until late in the day and now it does not have a "frilly" look...just a big solid mass.

Couple of things to know: I'm running 2x250 watt MH + 2x110 VHO's. Also, I had problems with the powerhead providing current in that side of the tank so I ended up with no supplemental current flow for about two weeks.

Any ideas why the downward spiral?

 

[shawnz28]

I can't answer the downward spiral but mine does well in low flow, near the bottom of the tank all the way to the one side so light isn't all that instense either. I also feed it once or twice a week also.

Shawn

 

[EmilyB]

Mine seems to have a lot of flow on it, it is also right down on the sand, mouths are vertical. I feed it often, likely three times a week.

When I moved it up on the rock, it was very angry. And when it did not have any flow, it was angry too.

It is under 250w 12kk in a 155g.

Since the flow is what has appeared to change, my suggestion is to try to recreate that. I know mine is very sensitive to flow changes.

 

[kryn13]

Mine is perched on a rock about 2 inches off the bottom. The tank is a 75 gal..so it's only about 15 inches below the surface.

Should I put it in a shaded spot?

 

[DK]

From the little I know, Elegance corals for the past 5 years have been harvested from deeper levels. I would therefore expect that the coral should be placed low in the tank. If your running 250's I would expect that would be more than it needs and some shade might help. Also, keep the current levels low but not too low.

I have one that is 6years old and therefore tolerates the brighter light. Close to the surface with 175 10K bulbs.

 

[KenH]

I have had two for over 3 years. The one that is happiest sits on the sand in a low current, moderate lighting area. It is the queen of a 20gal desk tank. It is almost never fed (every couple of months?) and gets no supplements other than a gallon or two water change a week. The tank is skimmerless.

The other one was in high current, moderate lighing conditions in an SPS tank and its tentacles become stunted over a couple of years and was not looking like a happy camper. It has since been moved to a lower current area on the sand with moderate to high lighting and is starting to look much better. It gets fed once a week.

--- Ken

 

[shawnz28]

That is about where mine is, you can see a pic on my site. When I origianlly got him I had different rockwork but he was about where the birdsnest is now and had pretty good flow on him but he would never really expand properly.

Shawn

 

[shawnz28]

Deb, it seems flow wise ours are on pretty opposite ends of the specturm

Shawn