Long Tentacle Elegance coral

[ebeckels]

I just recently got a long tentacle elegance coral. These have been my favorite coral for quite some time now. Unfortunately it does not seem to be doing well at all. It's tentacles are not long like they should be. I have a feeling it's dying. Fortunately I will be able to replace it for free from the store I bought it at. It is in the center of my tank on the LS. It has good light and good flow...Both are moderate. What do you think could be the problem? The levels are all good. amonia 0 nitrites 0, trates 10 ph 8.2...I add calcium and iodine in my water changes.

 

[mlm]

These corals just have a history of failure in Aquariums. Somthing to do with how they are cut off of the mother colony.

 

[ebeckels]

are there any known treatments to try to get the coral nice and healthy? I really love these corals and want mine to survive. Any suggestions would be wonderful.

 

[reefcrazy]

i also used to have a elegance and i didn't have any good luck with it neader, i read that the problem might be on the way they get shiped to you lfs. they requaer gentle curren that doesn't lift them out of the substrate. they should be placed on soft bottoms, since the dramatic tissue expansion can cause abrasion to the polyp if placed among line rock. such abrasion can lead to recession or brown jelly infection. they can occasionally bail out of there skeletons and may do so in response to poor water parameters or sudden changes in lighting and water quality. they are sensitive to the presence of many soft corals and may even be adversely affected by caulerpa algae. they get infections easily and are prone to bristleworm irritaiton. eventualy the polyp will shrink tight against the skeleton and succumbs by recession . no environmental or trearment seems to help.

 

[wamp]

Like the flowerpot coral, these corals are very picky. People I know that have sucess with these corals have them in tanks with no skimmer, VHO lighting and have them in a little bit of shade. Cant tell you why but, I have heard they come from a part of the reef that has a high concentrations of nutrients.

 

[osakamy]

what kind of light do you have? i seem that they need a lot of light to survive. My one did very good when i replace my lighting. Hope this help.

 

[ebeckels]

I have 2 96 watt PC on a 46 bow

 

[coraltrapper5020]

More Lights. My is under 4x55watt pc in a 29. And under my skimmer out put. Has dubbled in size in 4 months
<img src="graemlins//evilwhorn.gif" border="0" alt="[Evil Horn]" /> <img src="graemlins//angel.gif" border="0" alt="[angel]" /> <img src="graemlins//evilwhorn.gif" border="0" alt="[Evil Horn]" />

 

[mal]

I disagree with throwing more lights at it. Even thought it has photosyn. algae, light isn't the only answer, these corals have a good appetite. They come from a variety of environments, high light, low light, nutrient rich water and no so nutrient rich. Try getting it into a slower current and decent light, don't keep moving it around. Have you been feeding it? If it will accept food, my suggestion is to feed it every day until it decides it will take to less frequent feedings. They will eat about everything. I feed mine krill, bigger chunks of squid and silversides, whatever. I would also suggest soaking it in zoe, or some other vitamin enriching formula. Place the food on the tentacle part of the polyp and it will slowly move it to a mouth and eat. If it will eat, you have a chance of it bouncing back. Feed me Seymore.....feed me....
Each elegance coral are individual, they are not cut off a mother colony. They are buds that develop and fall off or they reproduce like many other corals, eggs and sperm.

 

[ebeckels]

thanks for the advice mal...I'll feed it this morning when I feed the rest of the tank. I do know that it can take chunks of food...it ate the 2nd day I had it. Thanks again...all this info is helpful!

 

[mal]

If it is taking food, that is a good sign!!!
Hope everything goes well. The other thing I forgot to mention is sometimes they will release some excess zooxanthellae. (symbiotic algae) This is pretty normal. It looks like brown stringy snot coming from one of the mouths. Sometimes they do this for no apparent reason, and sometimes in a reaction to a sudden change in their evironment, (i.e. light, water flow etc.)
Let us know how it does.

 

[ebeckels]

i'll let you know in a few hours when i turn the lights on.

 

[mal]

bump, I was still writing on an edit....

 

[ebeckels]

it's dead...there is a new one coming on tuesday as a replacement...hopefully this one will be stronger and healthier... I will place it on the sand bed and feed it once its opened up enough for food to get there. Any other sugestions?