New coral in trouble

mallasee · 05-07-2007, 06:23 PM

I bought this coral on Saturday. It looked great until today. The one tree looks all shrivled up and looks as if it is dying. They all opened on the first day in my tank and looked to be doing really well. Can this coral be saved. Is it possible it will kill the others? Can anyone tell me what I should do? Thanks Brandon

Jason McKenzie · 05-07-2007, 10:13 PM

Hey Brandon, Did you get your new lights?
If so that could be the cause. But I would look into your parameters as well. Anthelia sp likes moderate flow moderate lighting good water conditions. Iodine has been used to increase it's health. But always know the current levels in your tank prior to adding any as Iodine can be fatal if over dosed

J

geekdafied · 05-07-2007, 10:17 PM

That looks like xenia. Like jmck said, check your par. They like high light and moderate flow/indirect flow.

coral reefer · 05-08-2007, 03:02 AM

That is Xenia as it varies from Anthelia by the base. Xenia grows like stalks of broccoli, where as Anthelia grows as single polyps attached by a mat at the base.
Iodine would be a good addition.
The Xenia should be fine...it may have been stressed, maybe one of your fish caused it to shut, maybe water movement is too strong.
If it is dying, it will quickly and really shouldn't affect your tank livestock and the water parameters IMO.

nemo79 · 05-08-2007, 09:29 AM

I have xenia and in the beginning keeping them happy was a b*#@h. Check your water perameters. They like moderate flow and will close up every time they are touched or moved. I noticed mine did better when my salinity was raised, they were moved to the top of the tank, and when I started adding seachems reef plus. Reef plus has low amounts of iodine and lots of vitamins. I also keep my salinity at 1.025. If you have your salinity below 1.024 they won't do as well. They like nitrates too. I thought mine were going to die on me, once I changed some things they were fine but it took them a few days after purchase to open up.

mallasee · 05-08-2007, 03:17 PM

Thanks for all the input guys. The one that looks bad looks worse today. The 3 others look great. I picked up tech-i from the LFS and dosed it today. My salinity is 1.025, ph 8.2, temp 78, and the alk is around 110. I dont have a calcium test. Also if they like the light how long should I wait until I move them closer to my lights? I have 128 watt power compacts and a 25 watt actinic fluorescent. Thanks

geekdafied · 05-08-2007, 04:03 PM

I would put them about about 8"s from the light.

nemo79 · 05-08-2007, 05:16 PM

I have mine a few inches from the surface of t5ho lights and they have been happy since I put them there. One thing, with xenia, move them around gradually. They are fussy so make sure you don't fiddle with them too much. If they are on the bottom of the tank move them mid way now, and then move them again. Make sure they aren't in a high flow area.