Colt coral

[Shellyfish]

This is my second attempt at keeping one of these. From everything I've read they are supposed to be an easy coral. My last one did excellent for about a week, then seemed to melt away. I have this new one since saturday and it is an angry looking purple and closed up. What gives? All my other corals are doing really well, my gsp is growing like a week, mushrooms and zoas are spreading, my frogspawn has some new little baby heads. What is up with the colt coral?

 

[Thisseemsfishy]

Do you use carbon? Colt's like flow and lights a lot too. I would make sure your params are within limits and as always a WC can't hurt.

 

[Shellyfish]

Parameters are good and no I don't use carbon. Maybe I will try moving it closer to the top for more light and flow.

 

[Apercula]

In my experience, Colts LOVE high light, and high flow.

This picture is from last August, the colt on the upper right is directly in front of the return from the sump, a mag18, and a koralia2.

This picture is from the first week of April. Disregard the algae issues, I'm working on them. The colt is significantly larger, and it's growth is probably being restricted somewhat by being so close to the surface it can't grow taller.

 

[Shellyfish]

Could this at all be part of the problem? When I purchased it the coral had fallen off the rock it was attatched to so the seller used and elastic to hold it on. It kinda fell apart around the elastic so I had re-arrange it, well it broke in half (split by the elastic) today, I wonder if the elastic was responsible for it's sad appearance? I have now tried to wedge the peices in between rocks, hoping they will grab hold. I guess I'll have to see what happens.

 

[Puffer_Man]

My colt is good under pc lighting 20inches tall tank. I was taught water quality 1st and lighting 2nd.