advice for pink flower tree coral please

[ahullsb]

I bought what appears to be a flower tree coral. I'm not exactly sure because I can't find one that looks the same anywhere. I understand these are difficult to keep and was wondering if anyone had any advice? I was told to put it in a cave and feed it phyto. Anything else I should know? Thank you

 

[Hormigaquatica]

Sounds like it might be a dendronephthya or scleronephthya, or something similar. Virtually impossible to keep alive in captivity if thats what it is.
Any chance of getting a pic to maybe help id?

 

[Dani Arnanz]

I agree with Hormigaquatica, if it's a dendro or scleronephthya and you aren´t an expert with a lot of experience and wanting to make some experiments after research a lot about previus experiments... they will die in a few months

While people go on buying that corals without knowing his requeriments, they will go on being senteced to death as soon as they´re fished at the reef thousand each year....

Phyto is not sufficient for them, I know several people who have tried to feed them with some different species of live and liofiliced phytoplankton... and all corals died in a few months...

May be bacteria have an important role in his feeding... but it isn´t known...

 

[Shoreliner11]

Good advice guys. While we're on the topic, I was reading a paper the other day that got me thinking. I'm not so sure that its the right kind of stuff we're feeding, instead how long they're feeding and how much is ultimately ingested. As most passive suspension feeders are generally fairly un-particular in their choice of prey, instead they eat most of what floats by. In the gut cavities of most of these cnidarians we find mostly phyto as well as other smaller organisms but obviously phyto will be up towards the top as its one of the most abundant things in the ocean. However, I wonder how well many of these scleros and dendros would do with a high prey concentration (ie small tank) with multiple hours to feed? Currently I have my sumps cycled for a 10 gal (30gal+ total with sumps/skimmers etc) gorgonian planned species only tank that will house mostly if not all aposymbiotic species. While feeding a valve will cut off the overflow from the sump with all the filtration so the food (brine artemia...maybe enriched) can stay suspended for long periods of time...at least an hour. I'm planning on feeding 2 times a day, so we'll see my results. Because of this I'm still contemplating any fish in the system. Once again, not sure if I'll try any dendros or scleros but IMO a system such as this is their best chance at survival. Anyhow, this is the plan, thought I'd share and get your opinions. Not trying to steal the thread mates, just a related question.
Thanks
Aaron

 

[Shoreliner11]

Good advice guys. While we're on the topic, I was reading a paper the other day that got me thinking. I'm not so sure that its the right kind of stuff we're feeding, instead how long they're feeding and how much is ultimately ingested. As most passive suspension feeders are generally fairly un-particular in their choice of prey, instead they eat most of what floats by. In the gut cavities of most of these cnidarians we find mostly phyto as well as other smaller organisms but obviously phyto will be up towards the top as its one of the most abundant things in the ocean. However, I wonder how well many of these scleros and dendros would do with a high prey concentration (ie small tank) with multiple hours to feed? Currently I have my sumps cycled for a 10 gal (30gal+ total with sumps/skimmers etc) gorgonian planned species only tank that will house mostly if not all aposymbiotic species. While feeding a valve will cut off the overflow from the sump with all the filtration so the food (brine artemia...maybe enriched) can stay suspended for long periods of time...at least an hour. I'm planning on feeding 2 times a day, so we'll see my results. Because of this I'm still contemplating any fish in the system. Once again, not sure if I'll try any dendros or scleros but IMO a system such as this is their best chance at survival. Anyhow, this is the plan, thought I'd share and get your opinions. Not trying to steal the thread mates, just a related question.
Thanks
Aaron

 

[Guts]

Dendros/flower trees/scleros

Dendros/flower trees/scleros

I started a new mix tank soft to sps and I have used an aquamana LED 160w for the test. I use my RO unit with my tds ranging from 0-7tds and I have never had a bloom or any issues with gas production in any of my tanks. 4 months after seeding (30gallon-1.25lbs/gal rock -1.023sg-45lbs substrate arag) I had no issues and setup a full Clean up crew and 3 fish (blenny-hippo-ocelaris clown) and 12 species of coral wide range. 16 months (12 since adding crew) mark with no issues standard dosing with trace and coral feed once every 3 days, I use reef crystals by instant ocean with a 500gph powerhead and 2 over the backs with media. I have a Counter current skimmer as well. I use a small pinch 2x daily of high fat 40% I believe pellet and once a week I use flakes or krill or silverside if I feel like it, just depends.
My levels are flat and have been since the completion of the cycle, with the exception of nitrates which vary but never exceed 30. I do a water change once a week with 10-15%, I only mix the water using a powerhead and I heat the water to 81 F before I add it into the tank (I choose to use a powerhead to conserve any alk
I keep 1 dendro and 1 flower tree coral and they are perfectly fine after 1 year
The complete list of added life in tank:
-1 sandsifter star (sifter)
-1 butterscotch nassarius snail (sifter)
-5 bumble bee snails (detritus/algae)
-5 astrea snails (algae)
-5 turbos snails (algae)
-20 hermits mixed (algae/detritus)
-5 cerith snails (algae)
-15 nerite snails (mixed)
-2 unidentified nassarius snails, would like an ID if someone could offer: I will attach a picture of the snails. The entire body is solid white and the shell is 5 inches long with a "giraffe coloration" I believe they are very mature fancy nassarius snails but hey, would love an identity check if one could offer. They are always under the substrate, sand sifting
-2 large emerald crabs 1male 1female (detritus/algae)
-1 pacific cleaner shrimp red/white (cleaner)
- countless feather dusters (the miniscule species)
- 3 large feather dusters (strainers)
-hammer coral green tip
-torch coral greentip/pink
-xenia colony (I love clappers)
-cup coral
-carpet coral
-pipe organ coral
-watermelon polyps
-UV only polyps (brown/dark green full spectrum {bright orange purple speckles/bright green flange under UV}
-paly colony (button polyps, green with bright orange speckles and pink flange)
-flower tree coral pink 9 inches tall
-1 dendro
- 1 unidentified brain or button. It is almost completely clear, blotches of hot pink and highlighter yellow


If you have any questions shoot me a reply or email