Elegance question

[catfisher]

I have had an Elegance in my reef for a few weeks now. It is eating well and looks good other than the fact that some of it's tentacles are short and stubby. I have it placed in the sand in low flow, slightly shaded light. What is going on?

 

[sarathai]

Has it retracted in any way or just got stubby tentacles. How long have you had it for?

:beer:

Rob

 

[zeppelin]

If you get a chance, post a pic. Its easier to diagnose a potential issue from a pic.

 

[catfisher]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12328092#post12328092 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sarathai
Has it retracted in any way or just got stubby tentacles. How long have you had it for?

:beer:

Rob

No, it looks really good and expands fully out of it's skeleton. Only some of the tentacles are stubby. It seems to be benefitting from frequent feedings. I've had it for about 3 weeks. I'll post a pic ASAP.

 

[catfisher]

Here is a pic I took tonight under actinics.

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/2010/1002256lz1.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/></a><br/>

 

[zeppelin]

Night/actinic shots usually have most of the tentacles retracted anyway. It doesn't look bad there, but a pic in daylight with it doing what you are describing is what I was talking about. Also, if you can, a pic of the back skeletal struture.

 

[catfisher]

I'll get a pic under all lights tonight. The tentacles are not much different than under the actinics.

 

[Mental1]

Too much flow causes mine to be stubby.

 

[catfisher]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12334062#post12334062 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mental1
Too much flow causes mine to be stubby.

I read about that as well but it is in a very low flow area. That shouldn't be the problem. It gets less flow than my Hammer and Frogspawn and they are doing great.

 

[catfisher]

Here is a pic I took today with all lights on:

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/150/1002257zy0.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/></a><br/><a href="http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=508&i=1002257zy0.jpg"><img src="http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/150/1002257zy0.0e77802b4a.jpg" border="0"></a>


As you can see there is not much difference...

 

[Mental1]

That does not look happy. Let me look for another thread where a guy mentioned they were dipping the elegance corals in some stuff that I cannot remember the name of .... stay tuned

 

[Mental1]

here you go ... read this

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1351312&perpage=&pagenumber=2

 

[catfisher]

Has anyone else used Melafix to "treat" their Elegance coral. I'm a little afraid to do so...

 

[Mental1]

The only other thing you can try is to shade it even more.

 

[catfisher]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12364517#post12364517 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mental1
The only other thing you can try is to shade it even more.

How much light do they like? It is already on the bottom of a 55 gallon and slightly shaded by live rock. I am running 4X54watt T5 HO's. It gets less light than my hammer and frogspawn...

 

[Mental1]

Mine's in a 65g with 5x39w T5's-- so about the same light but my tank is 2 feet deep and it is almost completely shaded by a rock. It gets some light but not much. My lights are 6 inches above the tank so my guy is probably 28 inches below the lights -- I doubt my par is very high at all. My other LPS are higher in the tank. You have to think differently about the Elegance. If it is puffed up with short tentacles then move it into shade. You can acclimate them to more light over time. Mine is happy where it is so I leave it be ...

 

[zeppelin]

It really depends on whether it is an indo or an aussie. That looks indo at first glance. If you can get it turned around enough to get a nice skeleton shot, it will be easier to tell. The indo elegance come from VERY shaded water most of the time.

 

[Mental1]

I am not sure that it matters -- if the disc is swollen and the tentacles are withdrawn -- indo or aussie -- reduce the light. Yes -- the indos are way more sensitive. But either way -- with these two symptoms -- automatically reduce light exposure. That's what I understand anyway.

 

[catfisher]

So should I put it under a live rock shelf so that it gets no direct light at all?

 

[Mental1]

Worth a try -- see if it changes and looks better.