LPS Coral Questions

[jdm01]

tI am going to start a new thread here. Originally I had started this thread on the New To The Hobby section. I have a couple of LPS corals about which I have some questions. Following are a couple of pictures. The basic question is what are the parts of the corals that are protruding from the coral itself. Presumably these are some type of polyp. I have not seen them before, so I was just curious.

Brain

Trumpet

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

 

[bllfish]

They are feeding tentacles.

 

[jdm01]

Thank you. I was expecting something logical given how great the corals seem to be doing right now.

 

[bllfish]

The corals look great. You know they are happy and looking for food.

 

[jdm01]

I have a couple of other questions. I have a blastomussa, hammer, and torch coral all residing on the sand bed. What are their light and flow requirements? They seem to be flourishing where they are, I am looking to move them somewhere else in the tank so that I can add some new species.

Here is what the tank looks like today.

'

Comments are clearly recommended.

 

[bllfish]

If they are flourishing I would keep them at the same level. Just remember the hammer and torch are stingers and will kill other corals if they touch. Give them plenty of room because they can grow pretty quickly.
I have my blastos in different levels but if you move anything up, closer to the light they may require reacclimation to the brighter light. They may not open as much at first.

 

[jdm01]

Are the hammer and torch moderate light corals or do they typically require high lighting?

 

[bllfish]

I believe they are moderate light corals, from my experience. I have T5 ho lighting and have my corals about half way up. Your best bet is to try and keep them at the same level you have them now since they are flourishing.

 

[steveo32]

I agree, however I would move the hammer to the far right of the tank so it has room to grow becasue of it's stinging capibilities and the blasto I would leave or move it to the first step of your rock work. I have to say your aqua-scaping looks terriffic !!!

 

[jdm01]

Thank you for the kind words. Guess I got lucky. That rock structure for the most part was built during a new tank sand storm.