BirdsNest

ChilisREasy · 02-09-2008, 10:03 PM

can SPS keepers tell me how to best keep a Hystrix birds nest, ive had mine almost 1 week now & i have yet to see polyps...its in a high flow area, high-light area as well..any more info ?

hng · 02-09-2008, 10:23 PM

No polyps is kind of concerning. Birdsnests are usually one of the easiest sps to keep, like montiporas. If you had a good piece and did a reasnable job acclimating the frag, you really just need decent light, decent water quality, and decent flow.

ChilisREasy · 02-09-2008, 10:35 PM

could you give details on acclimating, i have the cold

, so i did not let it gradually acclimate to the tank.

ChilisREasy · 02-09-2008, 10:39 PM

may i add that the frag was damaged in 3 places when i bought it, ill get a picture

hng · 02-09-2008, 10:43 PM

Well, that might have stressed the frag pretty bad. There's no turning back now. Keep your fingers crossed and give the frag more time.

ChilisREasy · 02-09-2008, 10:57 PM

could acclimation be my only problem ? ive been struggling with a monti-confusa frag for 3 months now, & now my Hystrix wont show polyps..my water parms all check as perfect except for calcium at 480-500. all other corals are doing excellent including porites, im really wanting to get into serious SPS keeping but i never thought i would have so much trouble getting these little frags to survive. ive seen people who hardly ever do water changes, use cheap salts & crazy chemicals, & use T5 or PC lights have better luck than me.

chrischris · 02-09-2008, 11:03 PM

well it looks really pale try moveing it around the tank to a lower flow area for a day or 2 and see if it improves
do you have any leathers in the tank?
hey i can keep montiporas relatively good but i cant keep a chili coral for poop but your chili looks great

ChilisREasy · 02-09-2008, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrischris

well it looks really pale try moveing it around the tank to a lower flow area for a day or 2 and see if it improves
do you have any leathers in the tank?
hey i can keep montiporas relatively good but i cant keep a chili coral for poop but your chili looks great

this is a 30g long tank

Yes, one Cabbage about 4 inches, 2 tiny toadstool frags,
other corals are 1 massive Hammer (almost 100 heads)
2 yellow porites
40 xenias
colony of 50(polyps) zoas
monti-confusa
large favia (8 inches)
blue sponge,
chili coral,

thats about it i belive

Fat Tony · 02-09-2008, 11:13 PM

everybody has that one type they can't keep.. for me it's GSP... i can keep them, they just don't multiply... LOL i guess i shouldn't be complaining

chrischris · 02-09-2008, 11:14 PM

well i think leather produce some thing that does something bad to sps but im sure someone eles will correct me or give you details
did it look like that befor you bought it?

ChilisREasy · 02-09-2008, 11:16 PM

yes, ill PM you on that chris.

jph · 02-10-2008, 12:00 AM

do you see the polyps at night?
maybe there's too much flow on it?

just some random thoughts

then again... maybe you just shocked it

J.

hng · 02-10-2008, 09:10 AM

That frag doesn't look very good to me. Give it a bit more time, but i wouldn't be surprised if it didn't make it. Next time try to start off with healthy frag. I don't know why your system won't keep sps, but I also know very little about your system. It could also be the way you've been acclimating. Keep in mind that there is a reason why people consider sps to be an "advanced" coral - they are very picky and fragile.

Mike01z · 02-10-2008, 12:26 PM

hows your flow in the tank in relation to the frag? hows the lighting? this stuff is pretty importand, My birdsnest needs alot of flow but not direct to be perfectly happy ( thank God for Tunze's)

This probably sounds bad but I have put healthy frags in my tank with no acclimation at all and they do fine.

WilyGuy · 02-10-2008, 01:03 PM

I too have immense trouble with Birdsnest. I have tried Pink and Green both. Funny thing is that my Acros grow pretty well and I've got Poci trying to take over which is a pretty close family with Birdsnest.

I have a leather, but I run Carbon in my fuge along with the normal skimming.