Fed up with ORAs Bellina

[poidog81]

Anyone ever have any success with ORA's Bellina Acro? I just lost my frag of it (from ORA). This is the second time I've tried to keep it. First time was in my 3yrs SPS nano, was a huge 2"+ frag from DD. This time was my larger 70g, was about a 1" frag. Both of them were happy and healthy and encrusted the ORA plug, then in about 30-45 days after introduction to the tank they STN from the bottom up. I was able to save a couple small tips off of the most recent one, but only a few days will tell if any of it will survive

This has been the most difficult (if not impossible) acro to keep and ORA should really think hard about pulling it as it's not a good coral to aquaculture if it's not sustainable.

 

[Mark 75g]

I have had mine from LA for almost a year. it has just started to really grow and take off. Mine is in the upper 3/4 of a 30in tall tank under 250w 14k mh that is about 6in off the water. I have an mp 40 aimed right at it about 12in away and it loves the turbulance.

 

[poidog81]

^^^
mine was set up in exactly the same way.

 

[Pallobi]

well, look at it this way, you got them as nice frags that were obviously doing well... have you ever stopped to think that it might be something your doing wrong? a healthy coral doesnt jus lose tissue and die for no good reason... especially one that is aquacultured by such a reputable company... prolonged, strong direct flow, is said by many to not be a good thing for sps... if i leave my corals in front of my mp40's at full, or near full throttle, they slowly lose tissue... but thats jus me...

 

[poidog81]

It's not my tank. I have a a full blown SPS tank with years of success. This is the only SPS that has ever giving me problems like this.

Give the issue a search, there are many threads were the same thing has happened to others.

 

[Pallobi]

well then, im sorry to hear about your misfortune... GL

 

[poidog81]

haha, no need for apologizes. It's what this hobby is... just wondering what the consensus is on this coral.

 

[Mark 75g]

Mine actually started doing better and PE has increased 10fold since adding the mp40. I was a little worried at first because it did not look like it was going to make it and I did read the same thing that many others have had issues.

The only thing that I remember doing with this frag was adding some of my tank water in little at a time for about 15 min or so and then I put it in the tank. No dips or anything like that.

 

[poidog81]

Nothing ever enters my tank without a dip. But I doubt its due to a dip... you would see adverse effects immediatly after not 30+ days out. I also drip acclimate, so i guess it's a mystery.

 

[MammothReefer]

I've lost 2 both my fault. They are just finicky and don't put up with stuff other acros will.. My first one did amazing I had it for months great growth, amazing colour, then I had a parameter swing on me (I think mag?) and poof it went. The second one. I made the mistake of dipping..

 

[acroholicreefer]

It is a really tough coral to keep alive, and even tougher to keep the purple tissue with green polyps. I have questioned how cultured it actually is but it could just be the species....

 

[jnc914]

I have had no luck with this coral either, in fact I made a thread about it several months ago. My tank has been stable for almost 2 years and this acro spontaneously RTN'd overnight on both occasions. I have a very similar acro from Vivid, maybe "Joker's Revenge" is their name for it, that is doing really well in my tank. I still want to successfully grow this acro and will eventually try it again; I like the challenge.

 

[allsps40]

I will have the same issues. Some SPS will do great and then I get a cool new frag and it will be fine for a month the slowly die for no real reason.

 

[acesq]

I have had this coral in my tank for over 6 months. Upper 1/3 under an 8 bulb powermodule with good, but not direct flow. Has grown slowly (about doubled in mass) but keeps its color and looks good. In that period I had a couple of alk swings and lost a few maricultured corals, but none of my ORA's.

 

[jbanks]

I've had my bellina going on two years and althoug it seems to be doing fine right now. However, it has NOT been a walk in the park. It has been a slow grower and in two separate occasions started to stn on me. On another occasion I found it was being irritated by AEFWs, which I seem to have under control now. I have mine half way up in good flow with T5s. Love to hear more from anyone whose has had success with it or who can even show us a large colony of it..

 

[jbanks]

Here are some pictures.. Each shot taken months apart.... Haven't quite figured this coral out yet...

At this point had it for a few months and it looked great..

Starting to degrade

Making a comeback after having to remove dead branches and tissue loss (current pic)

 

[Mark 75g]

Here is pictures of mine. Still do not have the best lens for pictures. If you look at the full tank shot it is to the left of the veggie clip. As you will see, it is in the upper 1/3 under 250wmh 14k phoenix bulbs with super blue actinics. And to the right is the mp40 on random flow. It loves this flow. PE has increase 100x since not blasting it with a koralia.

 

[jbanks]

Very nice Mark!

 

[poidog81]

Yes, very nice! :thumbsup:

 

[ros_sco]

Mine did very well mid tank under radium 250 lighting and strong flow in my 75. It started receding at the base as it got shaded and crowded. I moved it to the bottom under moderate light and moderate flow and it recovered except for getting stung by some protopalythoa. I put it in my new 200 gallon in mid September mid tank under LEDs with strong flow and it has recovered again and within a month is showing the best polyp extension and coloration it ever has. My conclusion is strong flow and at least moderate to strong lighting is best. Parameters are Ca 450-500, Alk 9, mag 1450-1500


October 2010

July this year. Notice the loss of purple on the tips where it was totally shaded. Once given light, the tips turned purple again. Flow still suffered here due to corals above and the green palys behind stung and killed a few of the rear branches.