What makes torch coral happy ?

[mpomfret]

I added a Torch Coral to my tank a few days ago and it's not looking very happy. Tentacles are short and not flowing in the current like it was at the LFS. At first I put the frag near the top of the tank in the center (right under the MH light). I have since read that they don't like their lights as bright as that, so I moved it lower down in the tank. The flow in the new location is moderate and indirect. I'm probably guilty of insufficient research before adding this specimen......

The other corals all look healthy, though my Toadstools and Zooanthid recently had a few days where the looked a little "off".

Water conditions as of my last water test 5 days ago:

Ph 8.2; SG 1.027; Ammonia 0; Nitrite 0; Nitrate 0, Temp 80-82. SG has been as high as 1.029 as measured on the refractometer I just started using. My Deep 6 Hydrometer measured 1.025 at the time. I have been lowering the SG slowly over the past few weeks. Today's water change should bring it down to 1.026 and I am aiming at 1.025 in the next week or two.

Feeding:

I feed my fish flakes and mysis once a day. The LFS talked me into Kent Marine Zooplex and Micro-Vert for the Torch.

So, my question is, am I on the right track and should just give the Torch a few days to settle in, or do I need to fix something right away ?

Thanks,

Matt

 

[playapablo2007]

I also bought a torch a few days ago first day fine, second day looked like it was on its death bed all shrunken up and not moving with the flow. Just let the coral relax a bit try not to move it around a lot, I did that and thats why it looked all retarded. Checked on it this morning and it looks greater than ever.

 

[Chad Vossen]

i have limited experience with hammers and frogspawn. make sure your ph and alk dont go crazy. my alk and ph had some fun and my hammers suffered.

um, i would say that your lights are stressing the torch out. puting the torch so close to the lights may have caused burns or at the least shock. moving it away after the shock wont undo the damage.

what kind of lights did the store have them under and do you know how long they were under those lights? chances are your lights are stronger than the torch is use to. even at the bottom they may be geting more light than they are use to. maybe you could try the window screen method to acostom the torch to the new lights.

also, i recomend you test for alk as well. never hurts to be on top of things.

 

[mpomfret]

The LFS had them under a fluorescent of some kind. I don't know the type or the wattage. This specimen had been there for at least 3 weeks and looked healthy each time I had seen it.

I don't have a test kit for alk. I will either take a water sample to the LFS or pick up a kit (or both) this week. For the time being though, I guess it's back to watching and waiting.....

Thanks.

Matt

 

[Chad Vossen]

yea, im sure that its the increase in light intensity thats making your torch unhappy. either raise your lights and slowly lower them or put a few window screens and slowly remove one per 2 days. but please research more about this because i have yet to gain any experience with this situation. i learn from what i read on this forum mostly.

 

[Sk8r]

My hammer and frogspawn (euphyllia like torch) are under 250 mh at about 8 inches from surface; happy; but acclimated prior to that. They like 1.025, alk 8.3-9.3, cal 400, and current that gently tosses limbs. They touch one another with impunity.

 

[Xirxes23]

Someone answer me PLEASE!

One head of four is dying on Torch, possible transfer damage, emitting a browning tentacle colored muck, Does it need to be removed?

Also Can i cut the dead sections off of the torch skeleton? have about 3 dead stocks not including the dying one... heres a pic:

Bottom right head is almost all gone, with that muck hanging about it...

I have posted this in 4 different places and no response lol, SOMEONE ANSWER PLZ

 

[waterfaller1]

I answered your other thread.

 

[stevedola]

i have to agree with sk8r that the Sg is high;it should be 1.024-1.025. IME that and Alk shifts are the #1 reason for poor health of euphyllia and many corals. Also your lighting is much stronger than the LFS's...try gently adjusting the coral up over the course of a few weeks rather than just blasting it with 250w of light when it was used to 92w of PC. you can use the screen trick but your other corals might not like not have their usual light for a week or two. I would start it near the bottom and move it up a few inches every few days.

 

[stevedola]

PS, Xirxes23- you come out of no where screaming about needing help but where are your tanks stats and the story? You need to explain yourself before you scream.

 

[FEEDERFISH]

I have 14k 250w halides over my torch but it sits on the bottom of a 75, I also have tubulent flow that hits in all directions, the tentacles are really moving and its doing great has doubled size in a yr. unlike my frogspawns that like minimal flow I would say that my torch is in medium flow.. some times high depending on the blast of current it gets.