Shady spot for coral.. pic included

[alisamac]

So there is a spot in my 75g that I'm not entirely sure what to do with.. (already looked at the placement chart, just trying to get some personal suggestions of what might work out there.) The areas are in the while boxes, basically the pillars holding up the center rock.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by alisamac http:///t/387766/shady-spot-for-coral-pic-included#post_3414344
So there is a spot in my 75g that I'm not entirely sure what to do with.. (already looked at the placement chart, just trying to get some personal suggestions of what might work out there.) The areas are in the while boxes, basically the pillars holding up the center rock.

Metalic green stripe mushrooms...they spraed nice and really pop for color.

 

[alisamac]

We've actually got a whole colony of those next to the right pillar.. Thanks for the suggestion though!

 

[flower]

You would have to find a way to get really good flow to the area...Chili coral is bright red, likes the shade, and has tiny white stars for polyps. A very pretty coral. Sun coral also has the same requirements.

 

[alisamac]

There is a decent cross flow going across the center, and some bouncing off the front glass so I'm not too worried about the flow in there.. I'll definitely check those out though, thanks!

 

[al&burke]

What about a sun coral I know you have to feed them but they live in entrances to caves typically.

 

[mproctor4]

I love my suncoral, they add alot of color to the tank and really aren't a big deal to take care of. I think the chili coral that Flower suggested are beautiful as well. I would really like to try one of them if I can find one locally. You could add the chili coral deeper in the cave and put a suncoral at the enterance to the cave. I know the suncoral are listed as low light, but mine are out in the regular tank light (T5s) they do great and are open several hours a day. It took a while of diligent feedings to get them open alot, but it is possilble.
Your tank looks great by the way.

 

[slice]

Here is another vote for a sun coral and a chili. The bright colors of those 2 would be outstanding.
And yes, your tank looks great! How about an FTS?

 

[alisamac]

Here's a fts.. It's taken on a camera phone so it's not so awesome but you get the basic idea..

I don't know why it's resizing super small but apparently you can click through to the full sized image.. The entire top layer is washed out but what you're missing is some blue chalice, orange cap, two hydnophora's and tons of xenia.

 

[mproctor4]

Very nice. I like your aquascaping. Bet the tangs like the caves to swim through.

 

[alisamac]

Thanks! They are some very happy tangs =)

 

[al&burke]

Sorry guys I meant to say that your tank looks great as well, the FTS should go in the contest if already haven't - I am going to try a sun coral as well, good luck KTPC.

 

[alisamac]

Thanks for the heads up about the contest Al&Burke! Suns might be the direction we go in.. We try to spot feed a few times a week at least so could probably do well with them.. annnd maybe someday we'll invest in a camera that doesn't suck lol.

 

[mproctor4]

With your tangs, you will probably need to cover the suncoral with something when feeding them. The first suncorals I purchased weren't in the best shape. The first week I fed small amounts everyday. Once they started opening up and tentacles started growing, then I feed every other day for 2-3 weeks (been along time, can't remember exactly). Once they looked good and were healthy, I started to feed every 3 days. I do feed heavy though. I cover with an orange juice container, dice up mysis, squirt with a turkey baster. Then every 15 min. or so I give a squirt of water into the orange juice cont. to stir the mysis back up. I do that 3 or 4 times so that each head is fed at least once, usually mult. times. I leave the cont. on overnight and in the morning if there is anything left, the fish/inverts clean it up. I don't even mess with the cap for the container anymore, didn't make that much difference and it is easier without.
My hubbie got me a beautiful piece that has 3 colors or suncorals--yellow, orange, and black. I think you will enjoy them if that is the direction you decide to go in.

 

[alisamac]

We're spot feeding pros haha. Started being really regular with it when we saw it made a world of difference with piece of war coral that just would not grow.. Now I wanna say it's been less than a year and it's double the size.

 

[mproctor4]

Just keep in mind covering them. My tangs and trigger picked at them non-stop until I started covering them. They still spend hours circling the container trying to get in. It is funny, you would think they would learn. I always give the fish a couple of squirts first because they brush up against my arm the whole time I'm in the tank if I don't. My wrasse and damsel have gotten into the container before and then they don't know what to do.
Make sure you post pictures once you get them!

 

[alisamac]

We've got a pink spotted goby that isn't shy about nibbling on the dropper.. the real mysis thieves are the nassarius snails, they mow right over whatever we're feeding on the sand bed for the food. Do you think the tangs nibbled because of the food or because of the coral? Hopefully we can the spot filled by christmas, we've got a decent equipment list we need to tackle before any fun stuff =(

 

[mproctor4]

I'm in the same boat--need some lights and equipment. Not fun, but necessary. I think the tangs pic for the food, they totally ignore the suncorals when the food isn't around. My sailfin tang however did start picking on my acans, candycanes, and brains. Luckily my hubby has a reef tank I can put my stuff in. I would really like to reintroduce the brains but I am a bit nervous about it. I always thought sailfins were reef safe, but he throws the fleshy corals around like they are toys. very frustrating.
In our area it is sometimes hard to find suncorals, it goes in spurts.

 

[alisamac]

Hmm that's interesting.. We've got a a huge wellso and a cynarina that they've never bothered.. You've just got some sassy tangs haha. The only ever incident we've had with any coral vs. conflicts have been with a mini maxi carpet nem attacking our first yellow tang. I would at least give it one more shot with the sailfin, just to see.
We've got a 65 running on this same system in the basement for frags and water volume that I really want to put a scopas in, but we'll see.. I've seen some sun corals on occasion locally but it's never been priced where I've really looked into it.

 

[mproctor4]

Yeah, I've been thinking about trying it again in a couple of months. I'm hoping he will forget how much fun they were

I also thought I would put them on the side of the tank that he doesn't go to as often. He mostly bothered the smaller one--threw it around the tank like it was a ping pong ball. If it doesn't work out, they look great in hubbies tank and he is okay with keeping them. At least I still get to enjoy them that way. The interesting thing was they were in the tank over 8 months before he started playing with them. I will have to see how the brains go before adding the acans back in--those were just too much fun. My daughter set up her first saltwater tank and I gave her my neon green candy canes. I really liked those but she had an empty tank and was very excited to put them in her tank. At least they are safe in her tank, she has one blind fish, cleaner shrimp, couple of hermtis and snails.
Maybe you could find someone in a reef club locally or craigslist with some inexpensive suncorals. If your not in a hurry it may be worth keeping your eyes open for a while.