Flower Pot question

[Badkharma]

I recently purchased a flower pot coral and this is my first experience with this species of coral. I was wondering if it is normal that sometimes during the day it is "retracted" and other times it's out in full force. Some tips will turn slightly brown, and then next time I look they won't be brown anymore. I'm just wondering if this is normal. The water flow is more than adaquate and clean, lighting - he is 6" under on some LR (2x250 MH's with 96w actinics). I've been feeding the usual kent coral/invert food (various kinds) that my other inhabitants use. Anybody have experience with these? I know they're on the demanding side to keep and I'm looking for some tips or if that above behavior is normal. Thanks!

 

[Shawnts106]

Hello, JenNKerry have a great site you can checkout... I forget it though.. Maybe they will chime in!

Anyway, Yes It is quite normal for recently collected Flowerpots, I assume you have Goniopora?, to retract periodically, esspecially when someone walks by the tank, or you wipe the glass off with your magnent...

They have to get used to the Vibrations...

Even after months of doing well, and I dont mean, barely well, but growing and eatting, they will periodically do this to either expell waste or something of that nature...

The water flow is more than adaquate and clean, lighting - he is 6" under on some LR (2x250 MH's with 96w actinics).

Waterflow should be a med/ med.stong current over it... not a MAXIJET that is pointed right at it, but rather a soft gental overall current...

You have him up too high, put in down on the very bottom for a few weeks and let it adjust to the lighting, current etc....

then, if you want it up higher, slowly ... VERY SLOWLY place him higher untill you reach the desired hight...

I've been feeding the usual kent coral/invert food (various kinds) that my other inhabitants use.

Get rid of that Kent Preserved SHOO SHOO!!!...
Get some Live Marine Phytoplankton by DT's and feed that about 2 to 3 times a week, or you can feed smaller amounts each day. This will boost your pod population and allow the microinvert larvae to feed the Coral.. also, they do ingest a good bit, up to 50% phytoplankton species.

the preserved crap is not good for 3 reasons
1: its not living, so the excess the inverts dont eat rots and causes bad water quality
2: Dead phytoplankton is sometimes NOT comsumed by these critters and therefore, furthering the bad water quality.
3: It contains preservatives that may pollute your water.

you can target feed as well, with cyclops and other tiny foods...

DT's Also has a frozen Oyster Egg product that is Excellent for all your corals... Gonioporas seem to love it.. well, I know mine does!


The MAIN THING with these corals is to FEED THEM, they have to be fed, or their health suffers...



I hope this helps...
Try and get in contact with JenNKerry on here, they have a great product they use to target feed... and are very informative on the subject!!!

good luck!

 

[John Kelly]

Yes, a retraction in the middle/late day seems to be a normal behaviour for the "green" Goniopora. It shouldn't last very long though. If it stays retracted all day long, then there is something not right.

6" under 250w metal halide is way too close. The coral may be extending and look good now, but it will eventually bleach and then retract.

Additions of Iron and Manganese DOES NOT prevent this problem.......and neither does feeding.

 

[Badkharma]

By 6 inches under I meant 6" under the surface of the water. The halides are another 8 inches above the surface. Should I still move him to the bottom?

Funny that you should mention the kent stuff, I actually ordered some DT's and cyclopeeze to replace it with. Thanks again for the advice, much appreciated!

 

[Shawnts106]

Your welcome... Yes, 6 inches under the water is still to high...

Get him on the bottom of the tank asap..

I agree with the above post, yes they will bleach and retract to die...

 

[John Kelly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7457753#post7457753 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Badkharma
By 6 inches under I meant 6" under the surface of the water. The halides are another 8 inches above the surface. Should I still move him to the bottom?

Yes. IME, the body of the coral needs to be at least 2 - 2 1/2 ft. away from the center of a 250w mh bulb. Even that may end up being too close when the polyps fully extend. If the lighting is too strong, the tissue will become saturated with yellowish/green fluorescent proteins (gfp) and all of the brown (zooxanthellae) will disappear. This is not good. You want to make sure that there remains some brown concentrated in the tissue at the base of the tentacles.

If you place the coral on the bottom in the sand, you don't want to bury any of the perimeter tissue in the sand itself; especially if the coral was originally cut from a substrate (look for an attachment "scar" on the bottom of the coral). This will cause the tissue in that area to die off, which often causes a brown jelly infection.........which then kills the coral.

Very tricky these corals are.

 

[kroniclove]

great information guys. i had my flower pot for over 2 months now. i absolutely love it.

is it ok to be feeding my FP some marine snow and mysis shrimp?? also how do i target feed??

thanks

 

[Badkharma]

Okay I moved him to the bottom in a better area. He was opening up on top too, but his color is already better just from being on the bottom. Thanks for the tips!!