Kenya Tree Shrinking...

[jbrunken]

I have a couple of very small Kenya trees and I've noticed that they seem to be getting smaller rather than growing.

I believe that the problem may be that they are not getting enough nutrients (I read that they are less dependent on light than other corals).

I don't have many corals in my tank:

Star Polyp Colony
Anthelia Colony (very small)
A single brown polyp.
3 green muchrooms.
3 small kenya tree frags.

What (and home much) should I feed in order to support a small bioload like this.?

So far I've been adding a capful of Kent ChromaPlex a couple times a week but this doesn't appear appear to be getting the job done.


-JB

 

[tibbs2]

What type of lights are you using? What type of skimmer do you have and are they in strong water current or light current?

Have you tested your water parameters lately?

 

[JEFF SCHENSE]

Kenya Tree

Kenya Tree

Kenya Tree and the other corals you listed are relatively low light corals, but are photosynthetic. Feeding is usually not necessary, but helps them grow faster.

I've seen Kenya Tree shrink if the light is too intense more that if the light is to low. If the light is to low, the coral will normally try to enlarge itself to increase its surface area to gather more light or to extend itself closer to the light source. So I do not suspect your lighting at this point.

The corals you listed including Kenya Tree are not very picky about their water conditions, but will withdraw if you Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates are to high.

These corals do not normally have to be feed, but if you feed them, use a plastic pipette (with a small bulb in the end) to direct the feeding to the coral. DT's Phyto, ChromaPlex, Golden Pearls, Marine snow, etc.. all are useful, but do not over feed.

Also, soft corals need Iodide supplements 2-3 times weekly to grow and divide. Vitamin suppliments are helpful. Addition of trace elements (preferrable throught frequent water changes) will also help.

Good luck


Jeff

 

[overanalyzer]

Re: Kenya Tree

Re: Kenya Tree

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8199668#post8199668 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JEFF SCHENSE
Also, soft corals need Iodide supplements 2-3 times weekly to grow and divide. Vitamin suppliments are helpful. Addition of trace elements (preferrable throught frequent water changes) will also help.

I disagree with this advice - I have nepthea, xenia, and a variety of other softies and they are spreading like crazy. I have never once dosed Iodide or any other supplement.

I would check your water parameters and then do a water change. My kenya tree will occasionally draw in unto itself if the water parameters start declining.

A good water change always helps.....

also - don't does anything unless you test for it first. And then test afterwards

 

[jbrunken]

I regularly test for the following:

Ammonia,
Nitrite,
Nitrate,
Phosphate,
Calcium,
Alk/dKH,
Ph

All are within normal parameters now (at or near 0 for everything but alk, cal & pH). My Alk was a bit low and my calcium was a bit high recently, but they are not back in check (9dKH, 420Cal). ph Has been a steady 8.2.

My tank is 125Gal with a sump and a 20G refugium (with Cheato)

I do a 20 Gal water change every 2-3 weeks with RO/DI.

I have 6x96 PC Lighting (596W total - 4xDual Daylight, 2xDual Actinic). All of the bulbs are relatively new.

The Kenya tree is about 1/3 of the way down from the water line and is a relatively high flow area.

All of the other corals seem to be ok, however the Anthelia is the only one that is spreading.

-JB

 

[jbrunken]

Oh, and my skimmer is built into my sump (Converted ProClear 200 Wet/Dry). I know it's not the greatest skimmer (in fact, it's probably not great at all), but it does seem to take a fair amount of stuff out.

-JB

 

[rc1214b]

I agree that Iodine/Iodide dosing is not needed under normal conditions for growth. I know it has been said that it may help in repair after fragging but unless you test for it I would not dose it. I see no problem with your lights either. I would say check your water parameters. They will sometimes shrink if they are shedding for growth or if you have too much current directly on them.

 

[JEFF SCHENSE]

Iodide and Vitamin Suppliments

Iodide and Vitamin Suppliments

I had situation 4-5 years ago where the mushrooms would never grow or divide. Iodide addition was recommended in numerous publications as well as specific vitamins (to aid in growth and intensify color).

After addition of Iodine at rates some what lower than was recommended on the bottle, the mushrooms grew and divided and the Kenya Tree grew and started to self frag (small pieces dropped of on their own, attached and grew where thay landed.

Many salt mixes contain Iodide in small amounts, so frequent water changes suppliment Iodide levels without you having to add it . The frequency/amount of water changes and the bioload of the soft corals will play a load on use of Iodide, trace elements, etc..

Since the water change in this case is performed every 2-3 weeks, 20 gallons on a 145 gallon total system, the bioload maybe depleting Iodine and trace elements faster than the water changes are replacing them.

Calcium and Alkalinity levels are not as much of a factor to the growth of soft corals so I do not think that is an issue here.

pH however is important factor to control.

I agree that the water flow rate maybe a factor.

Thanks

Jeff

 

[jbrunken]

Ok, thanks for the advice all...

Here is my plan:

1) Move the Kenya Tree to a lower spot with less flow.
2) Get a couple of new test kits (Iodine & Magnesium)
3) Act based on the results of the tests.

The magnesium test kit was recommended to me in another thread (to help keep alk/cal buffered).

Are there any other test kits that people consider essential? If so, why? I see kits for Silica, Iron, Strontium, Copper, etc. but I'm on a tight budget and I don't want to get these just for the sake of getting them.

Thanks Again

-Jason

 

[rc1214b]

I know that Iodine/Iodide is an important element in saltwater. Everything is there for a reason. Most salt mixes should have it since it is present in ocean water. I also agree that it may help with growth/repair but it is also very dangerous in excess. Without knowing if it's depleted in the tank by testing I don't think adding it is the best way to try and figure out what is wrong here.

Your right that regular water changes should keep it in check, and it sounds like a fairly light load so his water change schedule should be fine, although an extra to see if things perk up here might not be a bad idea.

It's hard to say what's wrong by a description, are the polyps out or is it completly shrivled up with no extension? When you say frags were they recently cut and starting to attach or have they been on their own for a while? Is there black around the base or tips at all?

 

[phishcrazee]

I have my Kenya Trees on the sand in a low flow area and they have opened up more than when I had them higher up in the tank with more flow. When I lightly blow off the rocks and sand with my turkey baster, they also seem to like that and open up more, I'm assuming to feed upon something. Kenya Trees are harder than what people think...... I don't think of them as a beginners coral anymore.

 

[jbrunken]

They've been attached to a rock since I got them (I got them from the person that's moving to Mexico). I believe that they have been attached for quite some time.

The polyps are almost always fully extended. The only time I see them not extended is when a hermit or snail gets too close and they retract for a few minutes.

 

[IowaKevinK]

I agree, the sudden high flow is probably why they are shrinking, some of my xenia that are closer to the modded MJ did that too. The others, across the tank, are still good.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[overanalyzer]

FYI be careful with iodide and iodine - both can cause allergic reactions in people....

 

[rc1214b]

It will also fuel algae growth if conditions aren't right.

 

[leeweber85]

I would try running carbon if none of the above helps you. It always seems to help with my leathers.