Clavularia (clove polyp) Requirements Help

[dogstar74]

I have searched and found conflicting information. I have a small colony of Clavularia or green center clove polyps and was wondering what type of requirements it has. I have not as of yet been happy with the amount of extension of the coral.

I have a 20H with 150 watts of Actinic and Sun-actinic VHO lighting URI brand. I have been keeping the little guy at the top of the aquarium, but he seems to be getting less happy as the days go on.

Please help if you've had one of these guys successfully.
Thank you in advance.

 

[matttaylor]

I keep mine in the middle level of the tank, with a little shade on the back side of the rock. It sounds like yours are getting too much light. Move them down to the middle and that should help.

 

[Stinkyfish1]

I have noticed with my gold centered clove polyps that they do better toward the bottom and tend to spread to crevices in the rock where they get a little shade. They seemed to do best in 14k to 20k lighting.

 

[dogstar74]

thank you at least for the responses, I didn't want to get skunked.

I have moved them down from the light about 3 inches, and with just a touch of shade, and they didn't open at all. I'm a little worried.

They guy I got them from had them under 14K MHs and I've moved them to VHO only tank. I hope they can get enough light to survive.

 

[matttaylor]

Give them a day or so, and you should see better extension.

 

[syrinx]

I keep all mine on the bottom and let them grow veritcally until they find their spot. Usually if they are underlit they will get larger and overlit smaller- in my tank there is a definate graduation of size based on amount of light and current. What they don`t like is temp and salinity changes- this can starts a rapid necrosis of the polyp. When this happens it often will start going down the line and affecting one after the other. Very important if you see suck things happening that you frag away healthy polyps from the colony- because they can all go south quick if the choose to. I am working mainly with the green center/orange bars and they seem to be the most sensitive- but I see the same issues in my green centers also. Remember also that your could be under VHO and be getting more light in a certain spectrum than that of a halide.

 

[glennb]

I agree with all the above. Under metal halide they seem to do best around the base of other coral and rock receiving light diiffused or broken up by coral branches above.