Coral Noob Got him self in trouble

[E_rock]

I was at Salt water Paradise Yesterday talking to Joe a little bit. Telling him how my tank has been up since October but I have yet to put any coral in it and I have a 4 bulb t-5 fixture. I have never had any coral. So I ended up walking out with a pretty nice looking leather coral he sold to me pretty cheap.

I really dont know what I am doing with coral just looking for some advice....

I tried putting him in near the top of the tank and wedging him in between some rocks. But it ended up falling down to the sand bed rock first. So I tried to bury the rock it was on a little bit so it was stand up right.

And this morning I woke up and it was wasnt standing up straight. Some of the polups started coming out but the whole thing is leaning over. I am not sure if its the water quality or if its in too much flow or the lighting?

Is it dying? Is this normal for new coral? what does everyone use to hold coral to the rockwork? Any advice is welcome
Thanks

 

[reefboarder]

I don't know that your coral is in any way sick or not, but can say from the pic that the rock it is on probably won't support that size coral to "stand up".
And as far as I can see it just isn't opened up yet.
Test your tank for specific gravity, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, ammonia, nitrates and nitrites.
If you are unsure about any numbers etc.. Check back in and I'm sure someone can further help.
Btw. What kind of livestock do you have as far as fish and inverts, and what type of filtration? HOB/skimmer?

 

[EllieSuz]

They will shrivel up overnight, but come back after the lights are turned on. I wouldn't worry yet. Place it half way up between the sand and the top of the rock, but anchor it down somehow so it doesn't fall again. It takes a few days for a new coral to get acclimated to a new tank. Give it some time.

 

[E_rock]

okay. I have a sump with a skimmer and a fuge. for live stock theres 3 chromis, 2 tomato clowns, a scopas tang, and a swallow tail angel. And a bunch of snails.

Any recommendations on how to anchor it?

 

[siobhan2086]

i usually look for a hole/nook in the LR and wedge it in. My leather has shriveled like that and it gets a little slimy. Always grows back to its normal self after a day or two. If you can get it stay in place for a few days it will anchor on its own

 

[daveverdo]

Get some epoxy or crazy glue and glue that little rock to something a little bigger and it will stand up when open. I think it will do fine on the bottom of the tank with T5 lights.

Dave

 

[E_rock]

Thanks everyone. I just did a water change and moved him closer to the surface, and got him proped upright. Sorry for the crappy iphone pics. Do you think hes got a better chance up here? I did notice he closed up a bit when I moved him.

I plan on going to ARC tomorrow and having them test my water.

 

[E_rock]

Heres a full tank shot water is a little cloudy from the water change

 

[E_rock]

ps how do I upload a larger picture. So its not a thumbnail?

 

[toddmh]

ps how do I upload a larger picture. So its not a thumbnail?

upload to photobucket,then use {IMG}link{/IMG} but use [ instead of {

as for the coral,give it a few days the water in Joe's tank is almost for sure not the same params as the water in yours,it needs time to acclimate to your light and water..The T5's are plenty light for that coral..But I would check your water again to be safe..

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

no trouble!

no trouble!

jam that coral (Sarcophyton?) in between two rocks and leave it alone for a couple of weeks.

 

[E_rock]

Thanks everyone (hope the picture pops up) for the help. I guess I was just over reacting with my first coral. He has come back fine and looks good. :fun4:

Seeing my coral make a turn around has really gave me coral fever.:lmao: And I cant wait to add more. Thanks again.

 

[siobhan2086]

uh oh coral fever, hide your wallet :frog:

 

[E_rock]

Cant wait till next paycheck

 

[reefman5511]

Time to sign up for Reefers Anonymous!

 

[redrider911]

I've used a needle and thread to anchor leathers to rocks before with good luck.