My First Coral

[Ursus]

Well after having my 20H setup for almost 8 months, I finally introduced my first coral. Since I don't have a picture yet, I'll just tell you that it is GSP. The color isn't too amazing right now, but I'm hoping with time the greens will come out more.

Yes, I know they have a rep for taking over tanks. But seeing as the only other occupants are and Ocellaris and a yellow tail damsel with some snails as cleanup, I don't think they will mind even if it does.

Right now it's placement is about 10" down in an area of light flow. I had it in heavy flow, but it seemed annoyed so I moved it and it looks much better now. My current lighting is an 18w 50/50 NO and a 10w 10k T5. Im thinking of getting a T5 actinic but am not sure if it would benefit me at all. Pics to come shortly.

 

[srbball22]

If you don't want it to take over ur tank, you can put it on an isolated rock in the sand bed so it can't spread. I love star polyps but they can be a nuisance so this is the best way i think.

 

[Ursus]

Thats my plan. Im thinking I'll jsut get some base rock and make it it's own little island and let it spread that way.

BTW, what should I feed it besides cyclopeez and should I be target feedingh it?

 

[ACBlinky]

You don't need to feed it, light is enough. GSP is bulletproof, great choice for a first coral. It is invasive, but it's easy to frag -- if it starts inching towards an area where you don't want it, place a small rock in its path. Once it grows onto the rock, you can trim the new growth off the old colony and trade it back to the LFS. You may also be able to pull the mat up if you can get a fingernail under the edge, but sometimes it's nearly impossible -- it's much easier on a smooth rock or glass than on a porous surface.

 

[Ursus]

Pictures!

Pictures!

Thanks for the info ACBlinky. Here are some pics of the little guy.

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He's about 3" across. I think I got a good deal at only $22.

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I picked up a nice pink hammer coral today that im pretty excited about. Makes me really wish my 75 gal was up and running so I could show these guys off.

 

[nmprisons]

22 is pretty good from a lfs if you ask me.

 

[Ursus]

Yeah, it was normaly $37 but I think he really wanted me to buy something. I go in there all the time but haven't bought anything since I got my tank drilled there in April. The hammer I got today was $45 and it's a pretty decent size. I'll put up some pics when it expands and you guys can let me know what you think.

 

[Ursus]

Here are some shots of my Hammer. I'd say it's around 5-6" long. Pretty good for $45?

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[nmprisons]

that is a really nice looking hammer coral ... i really want one for my tank and will get one as soon as i can my calcium up a bit

 

[Ursus]

Hmm... the power just blinked on and then went right back on in my apartment complex and now the Hammer looks bad. Idk what it did, but it's expelling a long, brown strand and is not fully expanded. Maybe im just being paranoid, but it was perfect right before the power went out.

 

[ACBlinky]

I have a pink wall hammer, looks identical to yours, and it's very touchy compared to my other LPS. My shadow in front of the tank is enough to cause it to retract a bit, and it really pulls in if I pass the MagFloat anywhere nearby. The brown stringy stuff is likely zooxanthellae, but it's not necessarily a bad thing -- all coral do expel some from time to time. If it continues to purge and starts to bleach, you've got a problem, but a little bit once in a while is nothing to worry about. If you just got it the hammer's probably just adjusting to different conditions.

 

[Ursus]

I'm thinking it is just reacting to the lights flashing as well as the flow stopping the starting. Also, a snail is rubbing against it and it is hitting it with the brown stringy thing.

How much flow is too much for a hammer? It's not getting blasted, but it is moving a bit.

 

[dcombs44]

Hammer Facts

This may help!