Elegance Coral Placement / Moves?

[Rovert]

I know the general guidelines for this coral, but everyone's tank is different, and often it takes more than a few tries to find where a coral is "happy". Light level, flow, and other factors are different, depending on each spot in your tank.

How long would you wait before moving an Elegance from one location to another if it doesn't look right, especially given the recent problems we've been having with this species in the hobby?

Or, phrased another way, how long would you give it to adjust to a new location in the tank after you've moved it, so that you've given it enough time to know for sure if it's content?

 

[reverendmaynard]

I'd probably give it at least a week for lighting, but if it's a problem of excessive flow, immediate action may be necessary. If the flow is too strong and the coral is starting to get pulled away from the skeleton, you want to move it or change the flow ASAP.

 

[Rovert]

Ok, that makes sense. The problem with the kind of flow descriptions we use, like "low", "moderate" or "high" in an aquarium is that they're anecdotal and not quantifiable. They vary from one tank and aquarist to another. What's 'moderate' in one tank may be 'extreme' in another.

But your suggestion about the tissue getting pulled away from the skeleton is a good description.

It'd be great if we could quantify the different types of flow categories. For example, through diagrams that would show what polyps would look like in various LPS and SPS species to help us classify the difference between flow gradations.

 

[reverendmaynard]

Yeah, that would be nice.

I've never taken a pic of what mine looks like when the flow isn't right, but it sounds like you know what I mean.

 

[Rovert]

Agreed. Some diagrams of what corals look like, such as tortuosa, millepora, torch/hammer/frogspawn, and massives like wellso/fungia/favia would be very helpful for all of us, so that we can make better decisions about placement of corals and/or power heads.

Unlike lighting which has more clearly quantifable metrics (PAR/PPFD relative to distance) flow is kind of "voodoo"adjustment by way of experimentation.

 

[reverendmaynard]

Even with lighting, I don't think I've ever seen anyone recommend specific PAR values for a type of coral. Have you?

 

[Rovert]

No, but at least you have an idea that if a coral is doing well under 250 20K Radiums at a distance of 18", that a move to a tank with 250 10K XM's will require a move down and back to a more subdued area.

Also, although there have never been any specific PAR/PPFD recommendations I can think of, there are regularly recommendations for lamp types, ballasts and distance. Take one look at the SPS or Tridacnid forum, and you'll see at least a dozen posts a month about lighting recommendations. Since PAR/PPFD have direct correlation to lamp and ballast combinations, it's more of a substantive guideline, because one is tantamount to the other.

In other words, with lighting, at least we have one quantifiable element of the equation... the variable being the coral. With flow, there are two unknowns, both the coral and the flow characteristic itself.

By the way, how did your tank move go. Did everything go according to plan? Did the suggestions I gave help out at all? Hope everything turned out alright!

 

[reverendmaynard]

Gotcha. Both can be frustrating to the new aquarist.

 

[Rovert]

Or an experienced aquarist with a new coral. Especially one that has a reputation for being delicate and unpredictable.

 

[DrDNA]

One thing you can try to see if it is a flow issue is to "pause" your powerheads or redirect your flow for a couple hours. If it is a flow issue (i.e. most likely too much flow), you should see your elegance expand more.
Also, don't forget to feed it once in a while. Think of it more as an anemone. I feed mine like pencil-eraser sized, or smaller, pieces of silversides about once a week.
Good luck Robert.

 

[elegance coral]

I would move them as soon as you see any signs of stress. These corals can be burnt beyond help in a very very short period of time. Are you having any trouble with your coral? Is it okay?