ID please!

[kingfisher62]

Just got something new!
Can you guys ID it for me? Are they hardy? I hope I made a good choice ! I think it is some sort of trumpet or candy cane.

Little dissapointed about the LFS, they know their fish but not corals .
They just got a shipment of 24 pc and were floating the bags in the tank .They were not sure what half the stuff was.
Let me tell you I was like a kid at a candy store!

 

[JokerGirl]

Trumpet coral.

 

[kingfisher62]

Thanks , joker girl ! Can you tell me anything about them?

 

[wantsalotta]

same as a candy, they are one and the same. High-ish light, medium flow (not too picky on flow) have good size feeders that come out at night, and also by day if target fed.

 

[drummereef]

I've got one too. Very easy to take care of with moderate light and flow. Occational feedings will be beneficial. Yours hasn't quite opened up yet but in time it will. Mine looks like this...

 

[kingfisher62]

Those are way cool! I think i'm going to like these! I was a little concerned when i placed him in the tank and felt its hard skeleton. I thought it was a softy. I was under the impression that LPS's were tough to keep!
I have had a FOWLR tank for 4 years but just started my 14g nanoreef one month ago. So I am a newbie again!
Thanks for the info any other advice would greatly be appreciated!

 

[drummereef]

Totally easy. Just keep your nitrates and phosphates down, and keep the alk and calcium in balance.

 

[kingfisher62]

drummereef, can you see the cottony growth on the stalks of the coral?
Is this part of the splitting or budding process or some sort of fungus that I need to check out?

 

[JokerGirl]

Looks like a type of sponge growing on the stalks, but I could be wrong. I think you'll like your Trumpet/Candy Cane. They're really neat corals. Yours should puff up quite a bit with time. You might looking to see if it's feeders are out about an hour or so after the lights go out, and try target feeding it some small mysis or something similar. I've noticed that corals seem to perk up a lot faster after you get them home when you do that.

 

[kingfisher62]

thanks all!
I am going to have to pick up a good alk test kit. Any suggestions?
Where should I keep my alk level? My calcium is about 430. My reef crystals seem to maintain the calcium levels so far , but I know as I get more corals this may stop! I have a jar of kalkwasser and hoping to be able to dose manually when the time comes. What is the best way to lower and raise alk?

I am also in the process of lowering my phosphates. I bought a tap water filter last week from API . They are coming down quickly with every water change!hoping to have it undetectable by next week! I am doin a 3 gallon chage today,and will let you no where it is after that. trates ,trites and amm all 0 ppm.

Like I said before I am new to this coral thing and will take as much advice as possible.

 

[drummereef]

Don't know what that white stuff is, sorry. Get Salifert test kits for alk and calcium. Keep alkalinity between 7-11dkh and calcium between 400-450 like you are. You can raise alkalinity with plain old Arm and Hammer baking soda. Lower alk by letting it drop on its own. You can drip kalk or use a 2-part additive to maintain levels. An RO/DI unit will be much better as far as water purity goes. You are probably still introducing a relatively high tds with the tap water filter.

Calculator for dosing -
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

How to choose a dosing scheme -
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

Kalk tutorial -
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm

 

[kingfisher62]

Darn , these things " aint doin nuthin"

Ok, I have not noticed any activity in these green caulastrea. Right now I don't know if they are well or not. I have not noticed any feeders or sweepers! Color looks good,though !

Are there any signs that I should look for to indicate good or bad health?

I have some "corallife invert target food".Should i target their mouths evan though the feeders are not out? If so ,during the night or day?

Drummereef and JokerGirl, how long did it take yours to aclimate?

 

[drummereef]

Acclimation was easy for me. I got them locally from a fellow reefer. Temp acclimated then dropped a few cups of water in the bag over about an hour.

 

[kingfisher62]

That is what i did but when i got them they were just delivered to the LFS. I basically took them right off the van!

 

[drummereef]

Kingfisher - I looked a bit closer to my candycane's stalk and it does have the white stuff that yours does. Must just be a part of how they grow.

 

[kingfisher62]

It is soft and sponge like joker girl mentioned and seems to form where the branches split!

 

[kingfisher62]

good news, checked them out an hour after lights out and half of the polyp's feeders were out.
I am psyched! here is a pic from earlier today i will snap a night shot later.
what is the best way to feed them?
thanks again.

 

[drummereef]

When the tentacles are out you can use a turkey baster or pipette to gently feed them mysis.

 

[kingfisher62]

cool!