Ducan Coral Question

[Gibsonnnn]

Hey all, have had this duncan for close to a month now and all the parameters seem right, the light is an LED that is located more towards the back of the tank and the flow is certainly not directed right on top of this guy (i know they don't like too much flow or too much light). I fed him a few days ago and over the past 2 days it has not shown its tentacles. Although, I do notice the cleaner shrimp picking at it every now and again I do not think that can be the issue?

Is this normal behavior for duncans? Should I move it elsewhere?

As always, thanks for all your help RC!

 

[aromano]

does not look very happy. whats your alkalinity? I've had mine do that when had alkalinity fall too low by accident.

 

[LadyG]

I'm new to the hobby, and I have one of these. I have him in a moderate flow area and mid high in my tank.

 

[aggie13reef]

I had my duncan do this about 2 weeks ago. It didnt open up for 4 days. I didnt mess with it or do anything different with the tank, and on day 5 it was back to normal.

 

[Gibsonnnn]

Will check alk tomorrow but like I've said this isn't the first time it has happened. Does it regularly and seems to come out of it after a day or 2, almost seems like it's just its behavior

 

[JoelA7]

In my short experience my Duncan likes some current. Not blasting but enough to keep things moving. Low to medium placement in my tank.

 

[Gibsonnnn]

Found that out as well, main concern I have is just making sure it currently looks healthy.

 

[Webmanny]

+1 on the ALK. Mine has done the same thing twice. The first time it was the alk too low and the second time, it was too close to a hammer and got stung. I moved it somewhere else in the tank and it is doing great now.

 

[kurt_n]

It definitely looks healthy, just not happy.

In my experience, Duncans can be fussy and close up for days, even with perfect parameters.

I'd move it up off your sandbed though. Mid tank with moderate lighting should make it happy and open up for you - and stay open!

 

[Gibsonnnn]

It definitely looks healthy, just not happy.

In my experience, Duncans can be fussy and close up for days, even with perfect parameters.

I'd move it up off your sandbed though. Mid tank with moderate lighting should make it happy and open up for you - and stay open!

Ok thank you!

 

[Gibsonnnn]

So just an update guys, a couple days later I noticed it has a couple strands of its tentacles out but nothing like it was. Here are my params.

Cal- 380 (dosing to get it up, was lower previously and he was open)
Alk- 9 kh
Salinity- 1.023 (going to try to get to 1.024 off top off water)
Temp- 80
Nitrate/ammonia- 0

Did a 10% water change this previous week and adjusted the lighting slightly over the past couple of days.

Also took the suggestion of moving him off the sand bed to on top of a piece of live rock and he still in an area where there is low/mod flow.

Any other suggestions?

 

[MMM33732]

Continue to bump up that calcium and salinity. If there are still some tentacles showing now, try feeding it a little. May encourage it to open more. Also, it may just be the pic, but your lights look pretty dim. That shouldn't cause it to close but may be an issue once it opens. Is the shrimp still picking at it? That irritation could deff cause it to close up.

 

[Gibsonnnn]

Will do, and I believe it is just the pic. I am using the pre-programmed lighting schedule that comes with the marine current orbit led light. Just checked the setting and made sure the intensity was 100%. I see the cleaners pick at it rarely now that I moved it off the sand bed to on top of a rock, will attach a picture of the new placement in a moment.

 

[Gibsonnnn]

Here is a pic of the new placement (and the looks like the dragon scooter wanted to be in this pic)

 

[vette.tech]

Get salinity up to 25-26

 

[Gibsonnnn]

will do, that can cause it to close up like that? Adding salt water to top off the tank instead of regular ro/di

 

[Tweaked]

Couple other variables missing. PO4? Mg?

How's the other coral in the tank?

 

[Gibsonnnn]

Unfortunately ran out of my mag test will have to purchase another and check

 

[Gibsonnnn]

Here is the picture of the favia frag (had to move him back into the sandbed since he did not like the amount of light he was getting midway up in the tank) and here is the torch. 2 of the heads of the duncan came out today

Edit: Light is brighter in person

 

[Pluedke1]

My Duncan doubles in size every 6 months and is on the sand bed under radion pros. I feed it tails of krill twice a week with anemones. Mine loves flow. Only time mine has gone in is alk or salinity swing. Good luck