Signs of healthy coral

[aquadonkey]

How can I tell whether my corals are doing well?
I know this probably seems basic, but.... I just don't have the experience - so I'm asking you
Any signs I should look out for?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

growth = reproduction = very good sign

 

[BenJay]

I love it when people ask the simple questions, so I don't have too.

What about poylp extension?

 

[aquadonkey]

Also - my GSP have been closed for three days now. Maybe the urchin poked them?? Should I be concerned here? Strange that this coral should be fussy - my others look fine.

 

[dan10342]

Also - my GSP have been closed for three days now. Maybe the urchin poked them?? Should I be concerned here? Strange that this coral should be fussy - my others look fine.

weird.

Back in the day (about 4-5 years ago) I got my first colony of GSP. Every other coral "looked" healthy and fine, while the GSP just slowly withered away.

Came to find out, my swing arm hydrometer was reading at 1.025 when the real salinity was 1.014.

question is: can you provide us with accurate water params to help troubleshoot your issue? thanks

-dan

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

it's possible there's no issues here- it's a legit question that's asked often.

Good polyp extension is often assumed to indicate a healthy coral but that is not always the correct conclusion.

 

[superkat]

yeah, but GSP? salinity please. thanks, Lizzy.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Also - my GSP have been closed for three days now. Maybe the urchin poked them?? Should I be concerned here? Strange that this coral should be fussy - my others look fine.

GSP's aren't fussy and (personally) I wouldn't be concerned if they've been closed for 3 days- especially if other corals look fine.

How's the Pocillipora look?

 

[aquadonkey]

Salinity is 1.026 - with a refractometer (I too had the swing-arm inaccuracy problem a few weeks ago - off by .01! - but it's resolved now).
I'm due to do my other tests tomorrow. Right now I'm too busy watching my little nem split!!

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

re: signs of healthy coral

re: signs of healthy coral

spawning events. This one happened this morning.

 

[Capt_Cully]

Any macroshots of corals spawning Gary???

When I bought my first coral at TRS, Green Star Polyps incidentally, I remember distictly Tom telling me, "these things will grow in a toilet if you put a light on it." They are quite tolerant of varying conditions. I also remember my glee when they started to pop out after a day or two. This was met with an equal amount of concern when they disappeared for a day or two after that. I'm sure they're fine, I'm sure you're doing a good job. Enjoy these things while they are novel as they may become petty as your reef keeping experience grows. Few things get me as excited as I was in my first couple months of this hobby.

 

[aquadonkey]

Thanks - yep, I'm still pretty excited
My poor husband outlined my current interests today:

90% aquarium
5% puppy
4% career
1% husband

A little skewed I think - he totally forgot about the turtles

BTW - the gsp are starting to peek out again. I have to say though, they are by far my fussiest coral - which is why I posted this. I feel like perhaps I won't know what to watch for and someone will just keel over......

 

[lcs]

I have to say though, they [GSP] are by far my fussiest coral

That's been my (very limited) experience as well. They are the only ones that barely open at all. Even when I adjusted the flow for them, they have never fully opened. According to a lot of people I should consider myself lucky, but I really like the way they look.

 

[Capt_Cully]

If you keep GSP's in check with regard to spreading, they are quite a beautiful coral. In the right lighting and conditions they can get electric green and they have a really nice flow pattern, like grass on the open plains. I've come back around and plan to have a nice isolated rock with GSPs in my next tank. I do have some now and they just do their own thing. Purdy if you ask me. Stick with it guys!

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

no macroshots

it appears that a lot of things were involved in today's spawning events. I strongly suspect my carpet anemone was involved as well.

 

[Capt_Cully]

any special measures taken??? new carbon? water change? or not really worried about it?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

not to sidetrack this thread

not to sidetrack this thread

but I let my skimmer do it's job of removing stuff. It took about 3 hours. I noticed fish breathing heavier than normal during each spawn. At one point it was incredibly cloudy in the aquarium.
At one point I saw Junior trying to huff some worm spawn.