Corals I'm Probably Going To Kill

[Icewing726]

So the first thing anyone should do before getting a living creature is RESEARCH!

For once it really isn't my fault!

I bought 6 mini brittle stars to help my tank and when I opened the box I had 2 freebies.

One was labeled an anthelia, the other a red blasto. From the limited googling I did I saw that neither are labeled easy and both want high light high flow and supplements in the water.

I haven't even taken them out of the bag and just left them to float because I run a FOWLR with some zoa's and mushrooms. Nothing I do requires what I'm guessing these things require but I figured I'd reach out and ask the following:

1) Are these things difficult or dangerous to my tank? Should I give it a try with Low to medium light or is that a non starter?

2) Anyone live near Enid Oklahoma that wants these? My local salt water store is crap (Petco is better). I'm betting they couldn't keep these alive either.

My lighting is currently 2 current ic marine orbit pros with the white light turned way down because I like blue. The Zoas are growing but I doubt these will. Not sure if I could keep the blasto half way up on a rock or not, think it said to place those on the bottom.

Not sure how indo pacific stays in business giving 2 freebies with 1 order... Not sure why they hand out moderate care items either...

 

[mcgyvr]

Not sure where you are doing your research..
Both corals are fairly easy/pretty hardy corals..
In fact Anthelia is a damn weed and I'd just throw it right in the trash.. They can quickly spread and take over an entire tank..

Blastos are a lowish light/low flow coral that will likely do just fine along with your zoas/shrooms..
Just put it low in your tank maybe even slightly shaded area if it doesn't seem to be opening all the way and see how it goes..

You may be surprised...
No special care is required for either..
I really would throw the anthelia in the trash.. Unless you really do want a coral that could potentially cover up every surface of your tank..

 

[albano]

Not sure how indo pacific stays in business giving 2 freebies with 1 order...

Because the mini stars and anthelia and almost everything they sell...basically cost them nothing.

 

[Icewing726]

[MENTION=38412]mcgyvr[/MENTION]
I didn't do much research at all on these because I didn't expect to ever own one. Hoping you'll take the time to explain why they should be low in the tank and also wondering if I should find a higher or lower flow spot?

Reading is hard, just saw low flow

 

[Uncle99]

Bottom, low flow, keep only the Blasto, other will take over your DT,

 

[NikonN8]

We'll be proud of you if you can kill anthelia. It can be pretty, but...

I enjoyed mine but it had to be monitored on a daily basis to not take over. If you find sprouts elsewhere, kill them when young or you're screwed. Good luck with it if you keep it.

 

[sacremon]

huh, so you all are saying that anthelia would be good to try to start up in my tank as a source of something for my fish to eat? I haven't been able to keep anything, not even GSP, because it gets eaten too fast.

 

[NikonN8]

Well then if that's the case, keep some of it isolated so it can't be picked off. It should seed the tank periodically. Anthelia loves dirty water.

 

[mcgyvr]

[MENTION=38412]mcgyvr[/MENTION]
I didn't do much research at all on these because I didn't expect to ever own one. Hoping you'll take the time to explain why they should be low in the tank and also wondering if I should find a higher or lower flow spot?

Reading is hard, just saw low flow

Low flow...lower light...bottom of tank is typically where that occurs normally...

 

[mcgyvr]

huh, so you all are saying that anthelia would be good to try to start up in my tank as a source of something for my fish to eat? I haven't been able to keep anything, not even GSP, because it gets eaten too fast.

Not sure what fish you have but anthelia is a pita and I doubt anything eats it...
What fish do you have?.. Try some it would be great to know if it does have a predator as its a damn weed from hell

 

[sacremon]

My Platax orbicularis was what went for the GSP. When I tried to protect the GSP with some rocks, the pencil urchin managed to get to it and ate most of it. Most aquariums probably aren't the size to be able to just dump in a batfish to eat a problem softie, and at least my bat would go for other corals as well.

I don't know for certain, but I would suspect my Chaetodon fasciatus would at least try to sample it.

I could definitely pick some up, put it the tank and get out a stopwatch to see how long it lasts.