What's the Secret With Elegance

[azkass]

I've had it with trying to keep this coral! I've been through several specimens with some dying in a matter of weeks to a few months with my longest lasting about eight months. I'm not a beginner. I've read countless articles on these corals and am aware of the high mortality rate with them. My latest piece was an amazing specimen I bought from Carlos that was a beautiful neon florescent green that died in less then a month. He said it was an Aussie but I don't know how to tell. Has anyone here had long term success with them? I absolutely love this coral and don't want to give up with trying to keep them. It's unfortunate as this was once considered a good coral for beginners and now even the most experienced of hobbyists have difficulty keeping them.

 

[zrogst]

My understanding is the Indonesian ones are all but impossible to keep, having been collected from deep over-harvested sections of the reef.

But I've heard essentially the opposite from Aussie collected specimens! I would try to read as much as you can and maybe contact this user. He seems to have a lot of experience working with elegance

 

[azkass]

I was able to keep an Indo for about eight months. While the Aussies are suppose to be much easier to keep, most hobbyists, including retailers, cannot distinguish between an Indo or an Aussie unless they are getting them directly from the importer who collected them.

I've read a lot of Elegance Coral's posts along with Eric Bormeman's study with them. If I do try another one, I'm going to make sure it is in fact an Aussie specimen. The problem trying to find one locally. I'd rather not buy online. They might say it's an Aussie but there is no guarantee.

 

[Stolireef]

I put elegance corals in the same category as goniopora. Look great at the store, look good for a little while in the tank and then slowly die.

I know there are many anecdotes about successfully keeping both of these but I think the overwhelming majority fail. Leave them in the ocean.

 

[AntiSatan]

Work ed 3 years in lfs and very little success with elegance would say 95% mortality. It is one of the corals best left in wild.

 

[Nibrown9]

I put elegance corals in the same category as goniopora. Look great at the store, look good for a little while in the tank and then slowly die.

I know there are many anecdotes about successfully keeping both of these but I think the overwhelming majority fail. Leave them in the ocean.

There is a new goniopora food out there, I picked it up online. I got a green goniopora from Carlos and it's feeding and thriving. Julian spring goniopower is the food I'm feeding you can actually watch each polyp feed

 

[Stolireef]

There is a new goniopora food out there, I picked it up online. I got a green goniopora from Carlos and it's feeding and thriving. Julian spring goniopower is the food I'm feeding you can actually watch each polyp feed

How long have you had it in your tank? Not to be a wet blanket, but I've heard this story before too many times (and in my own tank). Target feeding, perfect flow...

Coral seems good or even thriving for a while and then slowly dies.

BTW, I think the elegance coral is one of the most beautiful out there among the LPS so it's not that I don't like them.

 

[Nibrown9]

How long have you had it in your tank? Not to be a wet blanket, but I've heard this story before too many times (and in my own tank). Target feeding, perfect flow...

Coral seems good or even thriving for a while and then slowly dies.

BTW, I think the elegance coral is one of the most beautiful out there among the LPS so it's not that I don't like them.

Iv had it 2 months now, no signs of receding

 

[Stolireef]

I truly wish you the best of luck with it.

 

[tatuaje08]

The problem trying to find one locally. I'd rather not buy online. They might say it's an Aussie but there is no guarantee.

An lfs could do the same thing.

 

[zrogst]

While we're talking about Elegance, I found this video from TidalGardens particularly interesting: http://youtu.be/hOAWg5X3kTI

It's Thans favorite coral and I've heard really good things about the elegance that TidalGardens propagates and sells (Australian origin)

 

[azkass]

I currently have three goniopora. All are different species, one being blue and the other two red and orange. All three are thriving and I've had them for about a year. I don't feed them at all. I have them in moderate flow and fairly high light. I've never had long term success with the green ones. They slowly receed and die off after several months.

Thanks zrogst for the link. I'm going to try to contact Tidal Gardens. Is there no one locally that is having success keeping elegance!

 

[evolved]

Tiff had one for years, then it was split amongst a few people. Those pieces are still around I believe.

 

[azkass]

Just spoke to the guy who did the video at Tidal gardens. They do not propagate elegance, however all his specimens are Aussie (so he says) and he has had great long term success keeping them. He also said that there is virtually no way of distinguishing an Indo from an Aussie.

 

[evolved]

Here: www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2260324

 

[Daniel62]

Hi, I have 1. I got it from a local reefer who had it for about 2 yrs. I have had it in my tank for a 1 yr now, for a total of three years. In my tank it has double in size. The original owner kept it on a rock. It is now on my sand bed. I also feed it regularly. So this probably has helped with the growth. No budding yet, but I am hopeful. Also it always has a gentle current moving it. lighting has been LEDS with he and halides with orig. owner. Very lovely coral in my oppinion.

Good luck

 

[azkass]

IMO the only one's that have a good chance of survival are the ones that have been kept in captivity for several years and have successfully acclimated to our systems water chemistry and lighting. If it ever buds or you decide to frag it I want one!