Help, Green Florida Ricordia withering away

[motoman]

I purchased a few Rics over the course of a couple of weeks, all from the same shop. First was a bright glowing orange one with a flourescent green mouth. I then purchased another and another, then my wife wanted a green one. I purchased one with three mouths (green one with purple rim and a tinge of yellow inside the purple). Since the purchase they did well for a few weeks now the green ones are withered and slowly look as though they are going to be nothing soon. All the orange ones are doing great, just the green ones are having a problem.

Any clue what I can do to restore order? I have them on the crushed coral base (ultra fine), I had them on the rock for a bit but they started slipping into a hole so I put them back in the substrate. I have the orange ones one the substrate and a couple on the bottom with no issues.

I am at a loss, everything is doing well in the tank but the Green Rics. I don't think they have touched anything to be stung.

Any help or insight would be appreciated.

 

[BubbleMonkeyIII]

where are they in the tank, also what is your lighting?

Move them UP to the top of the tank FR require BRIGHT light, despite what you might hear, it is true they can handle MH or HO T5 EASILY.. If they are on the sand, that means to me they are too deep and need more light.

What you do is let them attach to substrate if they havent already, then superglue the substrate they attach to onto a Rock and place it near the surface.. or glue to rock near the top of the tank using superglue gel.. that should hold them in place.

HTH

 

[motoman]

Thanks for the insight, at this point I have nothing more to lose so I will give it a try. The tank is a 24 Gallon Nano so not too deep. I have a 150W 14K MH Sunpod on top. What used to be three decent size ones attached to one another is now two small ones. I will take them and place them in the upper strata.

I will let you know how this works out.

 

[BubbleMonkeyIII]

I have mine only about 8" away from 4x 56W HO T5's I will be running HQI shortly and will leave them where they are with NO fear about them bleaching out. If anything they will get BIGGER. Again might slowly acclimate them using screen to the HQI, but will not lower them at all.

T5 Bulbs are as follows, 1 Daylights, 1 Blue+ and 2 True 03 actinic which run at night. Seems the higher ones up are doing better getting BIGGER than the lower ones in the middle..

Also asked some RIC farmers about what suppliments to give them. Mainly read Iodine.. Want to find out if dosing that a bit extra than what fresh mixed SW will do if anything.. and what they feed with. I will report back here...

Also, I feed Liquid life Coral Plankton, and Bio Plankton every few days.. with my fish feeding.. I also feed frozen invert food 2x a week, blowing it over them with a baster.. also blow meaty foods over them from time to time.. though not sure they eat any of that.

Been doing that for a few months now, seemed like they got meatier when I started feeding.. But also changed my lights from PC to t5... The HO T5 are MUCH brighter.

My xenia are just about 5" from the t5s and are going bananas.. loving it.

 

[Sk8r]

Watch your alkalinity and ph, also: shrooms can be affected before many other creatures show ill effects.

 

[motoman]

I used to have Ph problems but recently it has been around 8.2 and Alkalinity has been in the "good" range. Any recommendations for specific #'s

 

[BubbleMonkeyIII]

I would also get some liquid Life bio and coral plankton and start blowing some over them when you feed.. might give them the jumpstart they need to overcome..

but agree withe sk8r... need to check your parameters.. also check your phospates.. nitrates and ites..

Fact run all your tests you can to make sure your parameters are OK and in good range..

Whats your TEMP?

 

[Chad Vossen]

them needing strong light probly isnt the problem. i have 20 green rics under 80 watt pc. they grow and expand nicely but they went from green to brown under the low light. their growth is slow but i feed them each time my fish are fed.

soon im upgrading to 4 T5 hood and hope to encourage better growth and better colors.

but i agree that water quality is a big part of keeping ricordias. my alk and ph danced around alittle bit and my rics almost totaly bleached 4 months ago. they have regained all their color but they are brown now.