What do hydnophora polyps look like?

[mpyers]

I have this TINY hydnophora frag that I'm slowly growing. It has 3 dark red tips on its 3 branches. Is that normal. At first i thought it was cyano and i tried to brush it off. But it doesn't come off. But it also has bubbles on it occasionally. Which makes me think it's cyano.

 

[zachfishman]

Doesn't look like anything but cyano to me.

 

[mpyers]

Why wont it come off?

 

[jstack]

looks like a dead skeleton... i hope I'm wrong here's mine

 

[mpyers]

It glows bright as can be under blue light. It's been growing. It only had two branches when i got it.

 

[Flippers4pups]

It looks stressed. They should have a "fuzzy" appearance when happy.

What's your water parameters? What lighting are you using, how far is the fixture above the tank? How much flow do you have?

Algae growing from its tips may indicate tissue loss.

hydnophora are as much like SPS corals as they are to LPS and require much in the same water parameters. They can pack a strong sting to neighboring corals and must be kept a safe distance apart.

Keeping P04 and N03 at zero, alkalinity around 8dkh and stable.

 

[mpyers]

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5
Phos 0.1
SG 1.024
Calc 450
Alk 11dkh
pH 8.3
130w 8000k LED (i have blues and such on the way)
Fixture is 3" from the water.
Coral is 12" from surface.
It was half bleached and tiny when i got it. It's growing more than i had ever hoped.

 

[mpyers]

The sump return aims right at it.

 

[jstack]

well if you do get things worked out with the lights send me a p.m I would be happy to mail you a few polyps of mine to try out.

 

[mpyers]

Awesome! Will do. Thanks. Hopefully the new lights are here soon and after a long night with the soldering iron, I'll bet in business.

 

[mitchb]

Hydnopora definately look fuzzy with polyps extended. I would remove the dark part, whatever it is.

 

[JohnnyHildo]

looks like it is in need of a different spot in the tank. mine has been durable to say the least but definitely responds positively if it's happy. it should at minimum have a "peach fuzz" appearance when it's doing well.

 

[mpyers]

I am soldering up the new lights now. It's in the highest flow and highest point i can give. I'll give an update when the new lights are running.

 

[mpyers]

Also it very well could be something else. It was given to me for free. And i was told hydnophora. But it's so small it could be anything.

 

[mpyers]

Git my new lights. This is what he looks like under actinic.

 

[mpyers]

Lights are finished!

 

[mpyers]

 

[mpyers]

Less than 24 hours and it's already starting to grow fuzz.

Can't tell very good in the picture though.