Blastomussas crapping out on me

[slojmn]

I have two really nice blastomussa frags, 1 with 6 polyps(had for about 3 months) and 1 that had three polyps when I got it about 3-4 weeks ago. The newer blasto...just amazing color morph came shipped with 1 large head and two smaller baby heads that looked pretty stressed. Within the first 2 weeks the two smaller heads withered away to almost nothing but the main large head stayed pretty steady but not super puffed up. I feed cyclopeeze and mysis and the main head takes this as does the other blasto. It just seems that they go in and out of looking really bad. Today I came home to both of them withering away and showing a lot of skeleton. I have them in a lower flow, lower light portion of the tank, maybe the flow and lighting are still to much...though I kind of doubt it. I do run Zeovit and I wonder if the zeo causes some nutrient problems for these guys as well as my Ricordea. I have a large rock that had about 16 gorgeous Ricordea polyps (orange with blue rims) on it, many with multiple mouths. Over the last 9 months many have withered up and died...I am down to 6 decent polyps with 3 withering away. Conversely I have two other Ricordea frags, 2-3 polyps each (green/yellow color morph) that are quite healthy and growing. Acans and micromussas alll very happy and making babies. Chalices and all sps looking good.
Any suggestions for saving these beauties? I immediately moved them to the one spot in the tank that is in shadow and gets little to no flow compared to where they were. The last time I moved the 6 polyp blasto it made a great recovery as it had started to show some skeleton like this then. I thought I was good to go. They both fed day before yesterday and I plan to try and feed a small amount to them tonight as well. Anything else I can do?

Params are as follows in 70g tank: cal 415, alk 8.3, mag 1275, PO4 .06, sg 1.025, Potassium 325 and continuing to dose K-balance at 5ml/day.

 

[racerw]

I had the same problem, I think the blastos are very pretty, but my luck w/them just stinks. All my other LPS's & SPS's do just fine. Will be curious as to what others have to say.

 

[atf72]

I've had some that do great and produce polyps while others right next to them melt away. I've given up. I love blastos but they are unpredictable IMO.

 

[miracles38]

I agree, they are unpredictable. Mine do great and the bam! start to wither.

 

[Duh]

I don't usually post here a lot but this one is close to my heart. I am a blastoholic. I have experienced the same problems. Can I assume that the ones that seem to be crapping out are bright red morphs or are there others? What water temps are you all currently running? I have been looking into this and have heard that some morphs like cooler temps.

 

[impur]

My red blasto just died on me. Had it 2 years, grew from 3 polyps to 15, then one day decided to die i guess. Sad, it was so nice.

 

[slojmn]

impur, Ouch...2 years then dead .

racerw, atf72, miracles and duh, Unpredictable huh? Seems to be the consensus over here thus far.

Charlie, yup, a beautiful red/orange/yellow morph, and my red/green morph is not looking great (the 6 polyp one). I have had a lot of feedback that blastos are really hit and miss these days. I kept them back in 2000-2004 when they were cheap with no problems. Of course the color morphs are way cooler these days. The lower temp is an interesting thought. I got the orange/red/yellow morph as a frag from an established blasto in captivity but who knows if others have trouble with this same piece or not. I know of one other individual that got a frag right around the same time I did, I need to PM this person and see how there piece is doing.

 

[Duh]

slojmn - Kinda interested in what you find out. All of the brighter morphs red, orange, and strawberry colored I have look no where near as good as the darker burgandy color, green ect. that I have. I have also moved some of mine under a bit of overhang to see if it makes a difference and am also going to place them verticle. You may want to give that a try.

 

[slojmn]

Charlie,
I did just that, I stuck the red/green morph with 6 polyps in a vertical position way up in a dark corner with very little flow. It seems to be holding its own for now, no more recession and it ate well last night. I had some suggestions to frag the main polyp of the orange/red/yellow blasto away from the dead/dieing heads and remount on its own plug...done...and put in the shade...done...and maybe feed only cyclopeez. I guess sometimes the mysis can cause some trouble with the blastos, bacteria or something like this. Last night I tried to feed some cyclopeez to the orange/red/yellow single polyp but he was all mad about the frag and refused to respond. This morning he looks about the same, no worse, and I will try and feed later today. I got in touch with another guy who got the same blasto the same week as me and he said his is doing well. So at least I know they can make it, must be me. Maybe it was just to much light on top of the stress from shipping and the two outside polyps melting away that took its toll on the single healthy main polyp. I am unsure but determined to get this guy back from the brink.

 

[reefkoi]

I have 3 colonies of red blastos, bought them all from atlantic almost a year ago. one is under lower light low flow, another is midway in the tank, med flow. the final one is pretty high up direct under the 250w de bulb and gets a lot of flow, they all do great, although the one under the high flow high light is lighter in color, but grows the most. The one under the lowest light is the most intense red out of all of em. So I am divided on which spot is best.

 

[atf72]

My hardiest blastos are an orange and red colony and a brown with green stripe.


The red with yellow centers, neon greens, and solid reds have given me troubles. All are in moderate light and flow.


On the other hand, the merlettis are super hardy for me.