OMG!! I think I FINALLY found the perfect specimen of my favorite coral!!

[AquamanE]

No, its not an ACRO as many of you might think it is.

For years ive been looking for the perfect specimen. And I think i found it.:bounce1:

Behold: Catalaphyllia jardinei (Elegance Coral). from Australia!!:beer::celeb3:


These are pics just 2 hours after introduction to my tank. Its approx 6-8 inches wide from EACH side.





FROM THE FRONT:

[URL=http://s284.photobucket.com/user/aquamane_photos/media/RC%20Pics/IMG_4623_zps3d432dee.jpg.html][/URL]

FROM BACK:

[URL=http://s284.photobucket.com/user/aquamane_photos/media/RC%20Pics/IMG_4624_zps88035f28.jpg.html][/URL]

 

[knukles55]

Its such an awsome coral can you chime in why they are so difficult to keep some people call them rental corals cause they just die in a couple months

 

[Lacy]

Very nice.

 

[BrassMonkey]

i had one. HAD.didnt last long

 

[AquamanE]

Its such an awsome coral can you chime in why they are so difficult to keep some people call them rental corals cause they just die in a couple months

Knucles - back in the 80's early 90s these corals where very hardy, and a staple coral. I had one, for many years that grew to almost 2 feet wide. I sold it when i took a hiatus for a few years. I come back and hear they are no longer hardy.

Most claim its the ones from Indonesia that are predisposed to a jelly like disease that overcomes them. Supposedly the ones from Australia dont have this issue. This one is from Australia. Hence my optimistic attitude.:bounce1:

We'll see.

 

[dadummy]

beautiful coral, good luck with it...read some info on them, not sure how accurate I will be so don't hold my feet to the fire.
As the corals were collected the divers kept having to go deeper and deeper to find them. In the beginning the corals collected in shallower water did well in captivity. The ones collected in the deeper water have a parasite in them that prevents them from living long in captivity......??!!??

 

[billsreef]

Nice! That is one of my all time favorite corals

 

[Reefers4U]

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/caryophyllids.htm
Thanks for the acclimation help Aquaman - did some research to return the favor. Here is a good read on your subject matter.

"They are also excellent water quality bioassays. Should their water be less than acceptable this family will fail to open its polyps"

So cool when you can score a good looking coral and have it serve as a tank benefit.


"Very fleshy polyps that extend to large striped oral discs. Lives mostly buried in soft substrates; found only in areas of turbid, muddy water. Two each aquarium shots and N. Sulawesi in the mud, below. "

Hmm.. I suppose they can just be stuffed into the substrate?

 

[rovster]

I love these corals! Good luck!

 

[AquamanE]

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/caryophyllids.htm
Thanks for the acclimation help Aquaman - did some research to return the favor. Here is a good read on your subject matter.

"They are also excellent water quality bioassays. Should their water be less than acceptable this family will fail to open its polyps"

So cool when you can score a good looking coral and have it serve as a tank benefit.


"Very fleshy polyps that extend to large striped oral discs. Lives mostly buried in soft substrates; found only in areas of turbid, muddy water. Two each aquarium shots and N. Sulawesi in the mud, below. "

Hmm.. I suppose they can just be stuffed into the substrate?

Thanks for the info reefer- I've read a lot about these guys. And I think I know what it takes to keep them, but finding the right specimen is a big hurdle.

Today it's almost twice as large as you see in that pic. Fingers crossed. :spin3:

 

[glang]

I have found that a common problem with these corals are gall crabs. Mine was Australian and looked great for a long time but started receding suddenly. once it was about gone, I could actually see the gall crab wedged inside the skeleton. A dip would be a good idea, but not sure what will kill gall crabs.

 

[knukles55]

how do you guys feel about dipping an elegance in bayer over coral rx just for future reference?

 

[saltyair]

I did a fresh water dip - that seemed to perk it right back up - it was starting to fade after 6 months - but now is the show piece of my tank - 3 years old.

 

[AquamanE]

Was terrified to dip it. Never heard if Gall crabs. Will research.

 

[Rico_]

How long did u freshwater dip it for

 

[Lacy]

Was terrified to dip it. Never heard if Gall crabs. Will research.

Found this. I have never heard of gall crabs, but one time a bought an acan and found a nasty creature on it that looked these pictures.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1129536

 

[AquamanE]

GONE!! :sad1::sad1::mad2:

Thats it!! Although my favorite coral, no more in my tank!!!

 

[Tecdiverfl]

Welcome to the club. Lost mine after a month

 

[AquamanE]

20 years ago i had one that was one foot wide. The center piece of my tank.. Back then there was no SPS or chalices. It was clams, euphylia, cataphylia etc... or colt corals, (I had one 1 foot wide), leathers ( i had one 1 foot wide)., brown mushrooms, etc..

It was my favorite coral of all times.. I took my tank apart at that time, and sold it to a co worker that never paid me for $30. :headwally:

Those where the days. :hmm4:

 

[Crackem]

My clowns love hosting mine. I guess I got lucky and put it in the right spot from the beginning.

<a href="http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/crackem/media/EEB77679-ABC6-40E1-9B7B-6A50875B385B-988-0000014597A24560_zpsaede9c72.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u613/crackem/EEB77679-ABC6-40E1-9B7B-6A50875B385B-988-0000014597A24560_zpsaede9c72.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo EEB77679-ABC6-40E1-9B7B-6A50875B385B-988-0000014597A24560_zpsaede9c72.jpg"/></a>

It's almost 2 years old. I rarely ever hand feed it. Likes low to moderate flow and low to moderate light.