Lobo Keepers Please Help

[TypeR632]

I bought a lobo about a month ago. I have it under a 150 watt MH and actinics in the upper half of a 65 gal. tank. It responds well to feeding. The outer rim is starting to bleach. Water perameters are good, I keep my Cal. between 350-400. I have leathers and frogspawns and other corals and they are fine. It is red in color, could this coral be dyed? Do I need to move in closer to the light, or further away? Any suggestions would be helpful, he is a pretty good sized lobo, I've counted 16 mouths on it. I would hate to lose him. Thanks, Eddie

 

[Hormigaquatica]

If all else is in good shape- good tissue extension, feeding response, etc, then there is a chance it has something to do with the intensity or the color of the light. I have a red lobo with a blue-green center, and as my halides age and start to yellow, the color on the lobophyllia washes out. I would say maybe try moving the coral around a bit and see how it reacts for a few weeks, or maybe adjusting the color of your lighting (higher Kelvin seems to producer richer colors in the coral)

 

[TypeR632]

I run my actinics 30min, then MH for 5 hours with actinics, then actinics 30min before night. I wonder if this is not enough light for it. Keep the comments and suggestions coming. Thanks

 

[Hormigaquatica]

That is a pretty short photoperiod. They really depend on a light schedule very similar to what people do. Slowly increase the lighting by half an hour a day or so until its being lit 10-12 hours a day (I run mine closer to 14 usually). It may be getting OK intensity, just not long enough exposure.

 

[2crazyreefers]

I have a red lobo on the bottom of my 75 that has only 130 watts of PC and its been loving it for the 2 years I have had it. I dont feed any corals, just the fish.

 

[baldbloke]

you generally find red's like to be in shaded or indirect suttle light and greens prefer a bit more light, my red is on the bottom out of the cast of my halides, and he blows up like a ballon

 

[TypeR632]

I moved him, going to see what happens. My local fish store suggested the light time I specified earlier. I think I will up the time and play around with it. I hope its not too late. Thanks

 

[Justin74]

Usually when MH users are only running there bulbs 5-6 hours it's because there also supplementing significantly or have multiple MH's in cycle. I would bump everything an hour, run the actinic and hour and half, and run the MH 6 hours to start, you may even want to increase more eventually like Hormigaquatica suggested. I run my 175 MH on a softy and lps 30g tank with no supplements for 7.5 hours and my SPS/LPS 55g tank T5 for 4 hours actinic(2hr in the morning and 2 at night) and 8hr day spectrum for a total12hr day.

-Justin

 

[porky]

I've had a large Red Lobo for a while now and it is near the top of my tank and it sits about 8" directly below a 250 Watt metal halide 10K bulb, that's pretty intense lighting...
IME, the red lobos need just as much light...
Definately increase the photo period and maybe the intensity if possible.
Good Luck!

 

[TypeR632]

When I first had my tank setup I had my MH on for 8 hours and actinics on for an hour and a half before and after. I was having to clean the glass on my tank every day and sometimes twice a day. The algae was really bad, and I don't want that again. Since my tank is matured do you think I will have this problem again.

 

[Hormigaquatica]

Excessive algae growth is somewhat tied to lighting, but cutting back on lights is going to harm your corals much more quickly than it will get rid of algae. If youre getting that much green growing in there that quickly, you can almost garuantee that youve got high nutrient levels of one sort or another. Make sure your skimmer is being effective, increase your water changes, maybe cut back on feeding. When you say your params are good, what are they- most notably nitrate, KH, pH, and Phosphate levels. Take care of the nutrient issue and it will be a Lot more effective than trying to limit light

 

[porky]

Yep what that guy

said .
Hi Aaron :wave:

 

[Hormigaquatica]

:wave: Hey Jason.. fancy seeing you on this board... lol

 

[TypeR632]

I was having trouble with algae when I was establishing my tank. I have never adjusted the lights back now that everything has settled. I am adding 30min a day lighting and we will see how that turns out. Thanks

 

[porky]

Sounds like a plan :thumbsup:
Let us know how it goes.

 

[Shnabbles]

NOT to hijack this thread but how do they feed? do they have a feeding tenticle? or do they loose their puffyness and open their mouths up alittle?

 

[TypeR632]

Mine has about 15-20 mouths on it. When I target feed him with brine shrimp he expands and hundreds of tenacles come out, and the mouths open up and expand and it eats the shrimp. My family gets mad when I don't call them up to come and watch when I feed it. It my just be me but it is one of the most fascinating things I have ever seen.

 

[Hormigaquatica]

NOT to hijack this thread but how do they feed? do they have a feeding tenticle? or do they loose their puffyness and open their mouths up alittle?

Something you have to see to appreciate fully :eek2: My L. hemprichii folds out tentacles that surround the whole coral, and blows way up. The tissue contorts and slowly folds as the tentacles catch the food. Its really cool to watch. To get a response, throw some thawed mysis in the tank, wait 15 minutes or so, then do a larger, full feeding... you will likely see the display