Weird Elegance behaviour

[Elliott89]

Hi all

Just need some advice really from some of you LPS experts on here...

I recently bought an Aussie Elegance coral and its been doing well up to now..but for the past two weeks it will only open in the evening..my lights run from 1 am in the afternoon till 10 at night but the elegance only opens in full from about 6 till 10..it spends the rest of the day looking like its trying to open if you know what i mean..the coral is place in a quiet low flow area of the tank with shadowed light..its under a 150 watt halide and the tank is 19 inches deep...

I really don't know what is up with it..all my other LPS are just fine and water parameters are as they should be

Any ideas

Thanks alot in advance

Elliott

 

[trickso_dave]

the aussie elegance doesn't need much light try a shaded area of your tank..

dave

 

[Elliott89]

OK i will give it a try

Thanks

Elliott

 

[Flavum]

hmm I was under the impression the aussie elegances favored stronger light compared to the indo's? I have an aussie elegance and it loves my halide.

 

[Elliott89]

I was under the impression that the Aussie were from deeper water therefore disliked high intensity lighting..Indo come from shallow seagrass lagoons so therefore they do like highlight..

Am confused now lol

Elegance coral if your about your input would be most appreciated!

Thanks

Elliott

 

[Mental1]

It really doesn't matter imho wether or not the coral is an aussie or indo if the disc is swollen and the tentacles are short, then either way it is getting too much light. From what I understand, the original indos were from shallower water but the supply has been depleted and they are coming from deeper water and therefore require a lot less light. Most of the aussie comes from shallower water and can tolerate higher levels of light. Mine is an aussie, I only have T5's 6 inches above my tank, my tank is 24 inches deep, and I keep it on the bottom and shadowed. It depends upon the individual coral and you need to respond to that coral's needs. Again, jmo.

 

[Elliott89]

Thank you for that information

What ive done is actually built a little overhang over the elegance and so far it seems fairly happy...

Will let you know how it gets on...

Elegance are soooo fussy!!! well worth it though as there is nothing quite like em

Thanks

Elliott

 

[stunreefer]

My elegance takes several hours to fully open. My lights are on for a total of around 8 hours, and hes only fully open for about 5 hours. Sounds like yours is doing something similar.

 

[Freed]

Here's my aussie in my 20 gallon QT with 220 watts VHO. I have window screen above it so it is under subdued lighting and doing wickedly awesome. Opens up fully within a couple hours of the lights coming on. I feed it a couple/few times a week.

 

[Mental1]

Freed -- that one looks great!

 

[kramgnik]

Freed, what is on the PVC pedestal in the background? Its not another elegance showing the symptoms of elegance coral disease is it?

 

[Freed]

The one in the back started dying from parasitic crabs. It's making a slow and agonizing come back now.

 

[erichatesmice]

Mines has passed the 6 month mark woohoo!

Like clockwork, it's retracted when the lights come on, and it takes a full 4 hours for the elegance to fully expand. It stays fully expanded for the 4 more hours the light remains on and also a couple more hours into the night.

 

[Mental1]

I am at 8 months and still going strong! Yeah! Good job!

 

[Snprhed]

ok, so here is where I plan to hijack this thread!

Is there a good source for elegance? Are most that are available now still not likely to live?

 

[Elliott89]

Hiya

Your pretty safe with an Aussie Elegance these seem to be doing well for numerous people on here...

I think the key is to keep em in quite shaded areas without direct light

Hope this helps

Elliott

 

[victor escobar]

I agree with everybody they shouldm't be put at the beggining under strong light and strong light means under metal halide 150 w. or more.

Nevertheless mine is an aussi caty with a neon green color what under my point of view means that it has been colles¡cted from a well lighted are.

I put it 6 months ago in one corner and became clear that it needed more light because the tissue was trying to get the more light. Afetr 4 months I changed under the metal halide (16000 K 150 W) and now the colors are even more neon. Last month I fragged it and now I have two. The are growing very fast.

My advise is to avoid the riks and never to put a caty in strong light until you are convinced they need it and once you do it observ it and if the tentacles or the tissue colaps then quickly put it back on a shaded are. the survival will depend on how quick you are (they geg burned very very fast)