Limp Capnella!!

[fishkiller]

I've had this Capnella about a month, but lately it has bee nlimp and droopy. Too bad they don't make

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for corals.. Everything tested fine. I did not test mag, cal, iron, or stron... What should I look for? Can somebody help me out?

 

[bdhough]

Is the kenya based yet? They start off kind of slow. Mine took about 2 weeks to base himself and then he righted himself only to grow at a 90 degree angle. Then the growth began. It took him about a month to get full after basing. I have since cut his top to correct the 90 degree problem and it broke into 3 pieces all of which based within a day. Key to basing is to place the cut end up next to a piece of rock and hold it there for 2 or 3 days. They usually attatch after that. They need moderate water flow on them. Don't over do it but you should see it sway every now and again. I believe it benefits from phyto or zooplankton as well. If you can gently spot feed it when the buds open. Do the buds even open? I love this coral and am thinking of dedicating my 12 to it and my brain... Only wish i had a pic of it now. I do have one of when i first got it if you want to see it. At the time of the pic it wasn't based.

 

[007]

As previously mentioned, these are some of the more sensitive soft corals to be handled, however once established, they are ridculously resillant. Give it some time to attach itself and see what happens. These are fascinating corals IMO, one of the only soft corals that I keep as it frags itself for me. Its the closet thing I have to a money tree!
Feeding DT's or other similar product will acclerate its growth to a noticeable difference. Mine increased in size by about 1000% in less than a year. Started off the size of my finger nail and is now about the size of my fist.

 

[fishkiller]

It is already attached to a piece of rock. That's how I bought it. There are 3 big 3-4 inch pieces on the rock.

 

[fishkiller]

It is fine when it first extends out in the morning, and then it goes limp. Somebody told me it was dying. It doesn't look so healthy. Are the size phytoplankton in Phytoplex the right size (5-50 mirons) for this coral?

 

[bdhough]

Phytoplex is essentially dead phytoplankton so its one and the same. Live would be much better but i use phytoplex myself. If you aren't using it try it. Once you get this thing going though it does take off. Here's a pic of when i first got it. What kind of lighting did you have? They are a low light coral even lower than polyps and shrooms, at least mine is. Is it near anything else thats shading it? Mine go limp if they catch on something to correct itself. Pic of the kenya is middle bottom. That piece is now 10 inches tall and broke into 2 other pieces before basing. I fragged the top of it and those pieces are 4 inches now.
BTW this pic is from may and the only one i have.

 

[007]

how does the size compare to DT's? I am really unfamiliar with particle sizes of phytoplankton . . . . was there a drastic shift in current and or lighting when placed in your tank? What conditions is it in now, and what was it under at the LFS? It kinda sounds as if it may be getting sunburned . . . especially since it is open in the morning then shrinks.

 

[fishkiller]

I have it in direct light half way up on the rocks. Does it need to be in the shade? I know that they differ from each other as far as light needs go, but I'll try it if you think it will help. I'll give it a few more days where it is, and if it doesn't look any better, I'll move it.

 

[bdhough]

You never said what kind of lighting you had but try moving it down to the bottom. In my tank its on the bottom under only 30 watts of flourescents.... And give it some phytoplankton

 

[fishkiller]

They are not good on the sand, I know that much. I have a JBJ 2x65w over a 29.

 

[fishman88]

we should make

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for corals that would be great that would be funny see

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in a fish store and be like why do you have this? well sir that is for the corals what would you be thinking if some 1 told you that?
mike

 

[007]

Originally posted by fishkiller
I have it in direct light half way up on the rocks. Does it need to be in the shade? I know that they differ from each other as far as light needs go, but I'll try it if you think it will help. I'll give it a few more days where it is, and if it doesn't look any better, I'll move it.
Still need to know what kind if light it was under from where it was aquired and what kind of lighting you have now (VHO, PC, MH)

 

[fishkiller]

Uh, 007, I think JBJ only makes a PC 2x65w. What kind of light? One 10k bulb, one actinic. I don't know if I could be more clear than that. Oh yeah, and it has 2 fans on it too..

 

[bdhough]

Try the rock it's on down in the sand. Don't submerge the rock because the kenya obviously can't attatch to the sand but try placing it in a shady spot and see how it does. You have enought light period in that tank to sustain it wherever you put it so i wouldn't worry about that...
Next time i go to the lfs ill ask why it came out of the 120 store display in the first place. They ran 3 175 halids and 3 vho tubes on it. It used to be in the center about a third of the way up from what i remember so long ago...
If you do move it though try not to move it again for at least a month and see what it does. It sometimes takes that long to adjust.
One other thing i was thinking of. Is it possible to much current is on it where it is? That can cause it to bend and look wilted which is what i intended to say a couple days ago with my rant

 

[007]

Originally posted by fishkiller
Uh, 007, I think JBJ only makes a PC 2x65w. What kind of light? One 10k bulb, one actinic. I don't know if I could be more clear than that. Oh yeah, and it has 2 fans on it too..
Ok seriously . . . you're missing the point. What kind of light was it under at the LFS?

 

[fishkiller]

oh, vho... Sorry, long week at work and school.....

 

[007]

Yeah, I've been there . . . I know exactly what you're sayin. Well, since it was under VHO before, that puts my theory to rest. I was thinking that perhaps it is getting too much light and being burned, but you really have not placed in brighter conditions.
My best advise is to give it some time. Like i said before, they are very sinsitive to being handled. Just put it somewhere, make sure it wont move and leave it. Medium current, moderate light.

 

[dragoon]

Is the tree still leaning? has it improved at all?

 

[fishkiller]

It's fine for the first few hours, then goes limp. It looks like a tree that got caought in a flood. I need to take a gol dern picture, but I am cameraless. Broke college student here!