For many years, elegance corals (Catalaphyllia jardinei) were among the easiest corals to keep in aquaria. Over the past five years, most entering the trade are doomed because of a condition for which there is no known cause or cure.
The above is a quote form Eric Borneman in the article. I was reading somewhere the other day about elegance corals too. It seemed to point a problem with today's lighting being too strong and the enviroment being too sterile.
I can remember seeing these corals abundantly in good shape in many different "pet shops". There was one in particular in the Youngstown area which had 1 speciman which I observed for over 1 year under regular NO lighting. It grew from the first time I saw it up until the last time I saw it. There were no special additives added to the tank, just regular water changes. It was several years again before my next visit to the store, and at that point, they had quit selling corals, and are currently in the process of starting them again, atleast a little over 1 year ago that was.
I truly wonder if the "high powered" lighting that we use in many of our tanks and the skimming is part of the problem.
Anthony Calfo had this to say about the elegance coral...
this species does not live in sterile, nutrient-deprived settings... but in the wild in muddy, mucky areas semi-buried in the substrate... sometimes in the shallows of nearshore, other times at the base of reef slopes at depths of 20 meters or more.
Unlike corals in general and Small Polyp Stonies in particular, Elegance (and other Caryophyllid) Corals require water of less than typical reef system quality. Yes, you read that right, this species is found lying level in/under muddy, shallows of grassy reef flats, with all that go with the setting; low-medium/diffuse light and high organic nutrient concentrations
I guess that a species tank would be better for this beautiful coral. From what I have read it needs are as follows:
semi - still waters
low to medium light intensity
no phosphates
high nitrates - tens of ppm and up
do not over-skim
placed horizontally not vertically
For those of you interested in these corals, I hope this helps a little.
Best wishes
Kelly
