Brown coral recovery progress

[schminksbro]

Please tell me you dipped those corals without mercy.:uzi:

 

[seminolecpa]

Glad I wasn't the only one thinking that.

 

[phurst]

I do a 15 minute dip in TMPCC for all new additions. Besides being a general part of new addition protocol, is there some reason I should be more concerned about these particular corals than any others from any given retailer?

 

[seminolecpa]

Nothing about the vendor itself. My feeling is that if a coral is looking bad, there may be a reason for it besides just bad lighting etc. and I am extra careful with it. I use the when in doubt throw it out theory as visual inspection is my #1 line of defense against potential preditors followed by vigourous dipping and QT.

I also make sure (especially with maricultured pieces) to get rid of the bases that come with the corals as they are a haven for pests.

A couple of the pieces (the first humilis? and the second) look in particularlly bad shape (i.e. more then just browned out) is why I was curious.

 

[phurst]

Yeah, the 2nd piece definitely looks a little rough, but is looking at least more healthy, if not still brown, after a couple of days in the tank.

The dip revealed teh usual characters. Mysis, pods, bristle worms and one unfortunate acro crab. I didn't see any flatworms or nudis. I'll definitely keep an eye on them.

 

[aka_lal]

...Good strong light of an appropriate spectrum...

Is 150w HQI enough as "strong light"? And what you mean about "appropriate spectrum"?

 

[Dadekster]

I ended up getting two as well about 3 to 4 weeks ago. One appeared yellow and the other one was really light brown. As soon as I placed them under tank lighting, near the bottom of course I noticed that the yellow one was really a light, light yellow. The other one was a light tan color. The yellowish one just about immediately starting losing tissue over the next couple days and died. The tan colored one has shifted into a pinker hue and in just 3-4 weeks has already started throwing out some light colored tips. I expect it to turn into a pretty nice color from what I have seen so far. Imo they are some of the best deals considering size to cost. Why people pay insane prices for something that has a 50/50 shot of keeping its original color I have no idea. But to each their own.

 

[phurst]

a 150 HQI could be strong light, it really depends on what tank it's over. i have a 150 HQI over a 15 gallon frag tank, and two 400w SE over my 150 gallon tank.

Appropriate spectrum is, generally speaking, from 10k to 20k. Lower k rating = better growth. Higher k rating = better color.

 

[phurst]

STN began on colony #1 tonight. I noticed some tissue loss on the base when I got home from work. After dinner and putting the kids to bed it had progressed noticeably. I cut off the base which resulted in 2 frags and a decent sized remaining piece of the colony. All are currently in my frag tank to see how they do for a while.

 

[lReef_lKeeper]

nice score bro, those have some potential !!

 

[phurst]

Thanks

 

[phurst]

OK, one week update. I'm sorry the first pics are on the first page. Tomorrow I will try to figure out how to combine the pics for a side-by-side comparison. Things are coloring up a bit for the most part.

 

[phurst]

 

[Dtronic]

Nice jawfish in the background.

Subscribed.

 

[BrooksReef]

This is a pretty cool thread! Have you been able to put any names on them yet?

 

[scaryperson27]

You are going to have a much easier time coloring them up after you are done light acclimating them. cannot wait to see

 

[phurst]

I haven't IDed any of them yet mostly because I'm terrible at acro ID

Sometime this week I'll try to find them more permanent spots in the tank.

 

[2reefs]

How much was shipping?

 

[Dtronic]

How much was shipping?

Shipping is free if you get over $150.

I bought a full price acro colony and then two of these $20 brown colonies to get free shipping. And I got an acro crab in one of the brown ones.

 

[seminolecpa]

Here are a few of my thoughts as to id's on a few (assuming there are 4 colonies and that the first group of pics were 2 of each coral):

1) pretty sure was a A Humilis
2) unsure
3) looks like an A Austera
4) looks like a A Gemmifera