Not so Healthy Chili Coral. Help?

[singularity28]

So I did an order online through petsolutions.com today. I got a medium sized chili coral as part of my list. Its got a nice red coloration. But when I put it in my tank it wilts and doesnt really resist gravities effects at all. It looks like its melting against the rock. I think I can see little polyps poking out. I just wanted to know if this is normal? give it time? or is it likely to die?

 

[glparr]

In my limited experience: shade it as much as possible, plenty of flow (not a jet of water from a powerhead, but strong flow), food when it extends polyps. Cyclopeez is a good start food. Mine does not like it when the tank temp reaches 80. It does much better in the 76 range. Be patient with it.

Of course, I'm assuming your water is pristine and the parameters are at the proper levels.

Gary

 

[singularity28]

but of course!

 

[Aquabacs]

For your "chili" coral does it look more deflated or actually melting. Deflated is not an issue but melting is. The coral will naturally inflate and deflate throughout the day. As Gary touched on temperature, shade and feeding with cyclop-eeze I would like to add this; if the polyps are very small you will initially need to feed it rotifers or a food similar in size and nutrition. Reef Nutrition Rotifeast is great for this and should be a staple in every azoox aquarist daily feeding regime. Once the polyps start to open larger the coral will then easily accept cyclop-eeze and Arctipods. Welcome to the world of non-photosynthetic corals If is great to see more aquarist venture and show interest to this part of the hobby.





Mike

 

[WSI2406]

I agree with mike. Start with small food, and then try adding some larger food, once the polyps are larger. Mine always started to open up a few hours before the lights went on. Lots of flow, and lots of food. Good luck with the chili, and welcome to NPS coral keeping. Lets see some pics.

 

[singularity28]

For sure. Ill pick up some Rotifers today at work. (I work at my town LFS, major perks) Will Rods food work equally as well?
Whence I get my Droid Ill get some photos up and show you my progress. Maybe even a youtube vid up.

Thanks guys!

 

[Aquabacs]

Start with the rotifers. If you would like, you can mix about a 1/4 teaspoon of Rod's with a tablespoon of RN rotifers, mix with 100ml of tank water and you will be in business. Once the polyps open larger move on to either RN arctipods or Argent Cyclop-eeze with the Rod's. Even though "chili" corals are relatively easy to keep azoox corals they still need to be fed atleast once a day.






Mike

 

[glparr]

I include Rod's coral mix in my azoox "cocktail." I think it makes a difference. Rod tells me there is lots of tiny bits in the mix.
Gary

 

[singularity28]

so we dont have any rotifers at my LFS. but we do have a very fine phytoplankton paste that comes in a very small bottle and with an eyedropper like thing. will that work as well?

 

[uhuru]

Apparently Alcyonium spp. have been found to possess plant digesting enzymes (something I'd really like to see shown with Dendronephthya spp) so I would go ahead and add phytoplankton to the feed. You should try to get some zooplankton as well though. I'm sure phyto alone is not enough.

 

[slapshot]

Its all about flow and shade with those things. If its not opening up try hitting it with some additional flow. Is it mounted upside down or sideways? They seem to prefer that. Mine feed on Cyclops. Seems to be the right size.