Rainbow Symphillia Wilsoni Question

[jmadden]

Hey guys, I've got a question about a symphyllia Wilsoni coral that I recently added to my tank about a week and a half ago.

I bought this coral from a LFS and it was being kept under LED lighting. It looked just as good in my tank when I first introduced it, but now not so much. It seems to be loosing it's color. The coral feeds extremely well at night and has really good feeding tentacle extension. (photos below)

I feel this may be a lighting issue. My lighting is as follows. AquaticLife 4x54w T-5 HO with ATI bulbs 2x Coral+ and 2x Blue+. Tank is a standard 48" 60 gallon.

My tank is LPS dominated with the exception of a few SPS frags, some random mushrooms and a tyree toadstool and a few RBTA's that are all thriving. No issues with any other corals.

Anyone with experience with this coral feel free to chime in. Anyone else with an opinion or thought your words are appreciated as well.

Here's a quick shot of the tank. You can see the wilsoni on the sand bed on the far right of the tank.
<a href="http://s138.photobucket.com/albums/q253/mad_dog1884/?action=view&current=IMG_6002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q253/mad_dog1884/IMG_6002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

One day in my tank
<a href="http://s138.photobucket.com/albums/q253/mad_dog1884/?action=view&current=IMG_5994.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q253/mad_dog1884/IMG_5994.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Ten days later
<a href="http://s138.photobucket.com/albums/q253/mad_dog1884/?action=view&current=IMG_5995.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q253/mad_dog1884/IMG_5995.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[oceanarium]

Looks like possibly an acclimating issue, moving it to a slightly shady area for a while might help. They come from cold deep water, so the metabolic rate is not used to warm water and intense light.

 

[jmadden]

Looks like possibly an acclimating issue, moving it to a slightly shady area for a while might help. They come from cold deep water, so the metabolic rate is not used to warm water and intense light.

Thank you for the reply. I was not aware of their origin in nature. Various websites, such as liveaquaria, (i did not purchase this coral from them), say that these corals like 72-78 degrees F, and low to moderate lighting. Seems pretty standard to me. I guess that's why you don't see many people keeping them. I'll do as you sugest and see what happens. Once again thanks.

 

[All Delight]

Looks like it was kinda bleeched to begin with and got worse. Unless it's just the pics.

I have a wilsoni, no bleeching issues, but it does receed in me now and then. And they grow soooooo slow.

 

[jmadden]

Looks like it was kinda bleeched to begin with and got worse. Unless it's just the pics.

I have a wilsoni, no bleeching issues, but it does receed in me now and then. And they grow soooooo slow.

The pictures are not that great.

Where do you keep it in your tank? What type of lighting etc?

 

[All Delight]

I have a ati powermodule 6x24. I have the wilsoni in the middle of my tank. It gets a good amount of light.

 

[slapshot]

Watch your temp. While they can acclimate to mid 70s they won't live if it's over 78