Photosynthetic Stereonephthya

[velvetelvis]

I purchased a maricultured photosynthetic Stereonephthya from Diver's Den today. From what I've read, they do best with both good lighting and regular feeding. Would it be best to keep it in a skimmerless system as well, or is it necessary to go that far? I'll be keeping it in my 34G Solana (150W MH lighting, 2 Vortech MP10s for current), which is between skimmers at the moment (I'm planning to buy a Sapphire nano-skimmer from another hobbyist this week).

Any other advice and tips are welcome. Thanks!

 

[sneeyatch]

I have a large purple with light purple polyps and a small yellow with reddish polyped stereonepthya. Granted my purple one is new, but I've had the yellow one for a while. It does well for me in moderate to high light with a moderate flow. I use a turkey baster to stir up my sump (no DSB in there - only a fuge) and to blow off the rocks on a regular basis. So far, so good.

Gorgeous corals.

 

[velvetelvis]

Thanks! Just out of curiosity, where did you get them from? I've seen both the purple and the yellow ones offered on LA as aquacultured corals. I don't know if I'd have room for both, though...

It just arrived today. I put it in the tank after acclimating, on a rock where the MP10s blow around it but not on it. I was only about to watch it for 20 minutes or so before I had to go back to work, but it was already beginning to fluff back up. I really hope it does well. They're beautiful.

 

[sneeyatch]

I got one from a buddy of mine and the other I got from a LFS locally.

 

[velvetelvis]

Is it normal for the coral to slump over occasionally? So far mine is almost constantly polyped-out, but alternates between sitting up and looking fluffy (especially when being fed), and going a little limp (at night and shortly after feeding).

Sorry for all the questions, but this is my first time keeping a nephtheid and I'm a little nervous. Thanks!

ETA: I have fairly strong, random flow in the tank to keep my SPS (A. yongei, M. digitata, Turbinaria) happy--two Vortech MP10s at about 3/4 speed, "Lagoon" setting. They aren't aimed directly at the Stereonephthya or the rock it's on. It just sort of ruffles gently, but isn't being blown around. Does that sound about right?

Thanks!