Flower Polyps need help w/pic

[ericmf66]

We have had these flower polyps for a long time under a florecent lighting and they were doing very well. We recently switched to a metal halide light. Ever since we switched they don't want to fully come out. I talked to my local fish store that I purchased the polyps from and they told me to move them to a shady area in our tank. So we did and now there is hair algea growing on them and they just don't want to come out. I wanted to know how to remove the hair algea. Also how is an iodine dip done? Would that help? Any suggestions? This used to be my clownfishes host but now he can't use it. Please help

 

[ericmf66]

bump...no one???

 

[yosemite sam]

This is a goniopora, yes? They are unfortunately very difficult corals to keep, and have poor survival rates in most tanks. Has it lost color? It appears as though it has bleached, which is bad.
When you switched to metal halides, did you shorten your photo period? You need to aclimate your corals to the more intense lighting by shortening the time the lights are on, and slowly increasing it over a couple of weeks. Do you have algae problems in the rest of your tank?
If algae is growing on it, then it is dying back and the tissue is receding. Iodine dips are really for infections, so I don't know if it's worth doing. Your coral is in pretty bad shape, unfortunately, and I'm not sure there's a whole lot you can do.

 

[ericmf66]

Thanks for the input. No there is no other hair algea in the tank at all. just some bubble algea hear and there. The coral is a sort of light light pink but it's hard to tell in the pic. In person it does not look as white as it does in the picture. How would you suggest removing the hair algea off it? Can I take it out of the tank and just pick it off with my hands if I had gloves on? Thanks again.

 

[yosemite sam]

You can try pulling the algae off. The problem is, you're probably not going to be able to get all of it just with your hands. What kind of cleanup crew do you have?

 

[dennis210]

Gonipora - a favorite of mine, but from talking with other aquariast's I see that after two years mione declined and died. All three were introduced at the same time and thrived - then slowly receded to nothing. Some of the newer books I am reading suggest we truely do not yet know their feeding requirements. Also suggesting they can take up nutrients in the water as well as feeding actively. One author I read said his success with them is in his sump in an agal rich turbid environment. Just a thought as I am wary of trying them again.

 

[ericmf66]

Thanks for the help. I did notice that when I used Coral.Accel and PhytoPlex together it did come out more. I was weary of using the two on a daily basis or even an every other day basis because I didn't want to create algae problems. Today I will take it out and try to remove as much of the hair algae as possible. Then move it to an area with higher water flow and see how it does. Thanks again...I will update later