First Corals

[Likeaboss]

Thanks to lots of advice, gifts, and general counsel from Satori, David520, thebanker, and many others around here I've finally got my first coral in my tank.

David520 gave me a pulsating xenia, and a candy cane. I went right from his house to SEA to get some more testing kits (Calcium, Alk) and Marcie (and maybe my kids too) talked me into a kryptonite candy cane, and also a zoa that I liked

Sorry for the crappy cell phone pics. I have a bridge camera that I can manage to take even worse photos on

Satori told me last night to move the xenia to a lower-flow area of the tank, so I did. About an hour ago I discovered it had become detached from his shell. I have been thus-far unable to locate it. Needless to say I'm more than a little ****ed at myself, and I am still trying to find the little guy. He's the most beautiful to watch! I will update if I can find him.

Again, sorry for the terrible pics

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[Satori]

It came off the plastic plug, or did the plug go too? If it came loose and all went its separate ways, you might soon have a Xenia theme tank. :lol:

 

[Likeaboss]

It was attached to a snail shell. Do you mean it would take over the tank? I'm guessing without the shell or a disk it probably won't last long.

 

[oscarslr]

If you do find it, use a small rubber band and band it to a small rock or shell it to keep it in place

 

[Likeaboss]

If you do find it, use a small rubber band and band it to a small rock or shell it to keep it in place

Thank you, I will either do that or glue him down

 

[Satori]

Super glue works well for corals with a hard base, not so well for the squishy-throughout ones. For something like xenia, use the loose rubber band in a low flow area. It will eventually attach itself to the surface.

What I was saying though is that each "head" of xenia can split off and create a new colony in every nook and cranny of your rockwork. In fact, even a healthy stable colony will shed "heads" from time to time and each one will wedge into a spot and start growing new friends.

 

[Likeaboss]

Gotcha I pulled my canister filter out and had a look in there as well. I'm hoping he's hiding in a rock somewhere. I'm cool with a xenia theme

 

[Likeaboss]

Hunting around the tank this morning, and what do I see? A little white polyp floating around!!!! As I'm watching it, it swirls into the center of the rock somewhere and doesn't emerge. I'm hopeful

 

[brettinteriors]

Congratulations

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[Likeaboss]

Thanks

 

[David520]

Right on!

 

[brettinteriors]

IMHO Xenia are tricky. They don't like being messed with, can grow like weeds in dirty water, and melt away in clean water. Coral difficulty ratings are grossly inaccurate. It could come back where it ends up but if you did find it and try to rubber band or toothpick it you would most likely kill it.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2