help identifying species?

djordje · 03-12-2007, 07:07 AM

I recently acquired a specimen from the LFS. Since it is not a saltwater specialty store, they offered no insight. I originally believed it to be an orange cup coral, but I'm not quite sure. I have no picture to post at this moment. The outer skeleton is orange and there are tubes extending from the base about 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches. At the end of the tubes there is a yellowish mouth recessed. Can someone tell me what this is, prior to a photo. I want to make sure it is in the proper light and flow zone. I currently have it under an overhang until lighting needs are verified. I pride myself on being educated before each of my specimens is acquired, but this was more of a goodwill gesture as lighting and accommodations at the LFS would have surely met this specimen's demise. There can't be too many bright orange specimens out there? If you have a photo that would be great too. Maybe I could verify the match 100%.

Thank you,
Alex

tims · 03-12-2007, 07:11 AM

this is a orange cup coral...

Tubastraea coccinea

hope you can snap a picture soon.

djordje · 03-12-2007, 07:18 AM

djordje · 03-12-2007, 07:25 AM

That is what this is. I found a picture which more resembles the chutes. I know these are low light species. Can they have some light? Here is a picture that I found, with your help, that is dead nuts for what I have. I haven't seen these cups open up the first two nights, but the water quality is there for it. 1.024 s.g., ph 8.15, calc-410 ppm, calc reactor on-line, and cyclopeze supplements for my coral friends. Whatever insight you can give me would help. My lighting is 3x65W PC 10K, 3x65W PC actinic, 3x150W 15K HQI above 125 gallon reef. Power compacts are being removed and fixture is being retrofitted with (2) 5' VHO bulbs.

Thank you,
Alex

tims · 03-12-2007, 07:41 AM

good deal on finding it!
these guys are not a easy coral to care for!!!!!!
the lighting should be fine and the parameters are good, it may take a few dasy to open up for you. but you must feed it, it does not have any Zooxanthellae. make sure you take pics as it grows, you will be surpised one day to find new heads on it. i belive they dont like a ton of flow on them , so no direct placement in front of a return or power head. a constast steady flow would be better. but this makes it hard to feed.. you may have to ove it or make something to isolate it to feed

dobejazz · 03-12-2007, 07:54 AM

Just a note they are nocturnal for the most part. They can be trained to open during the day by regular feeding at the same time each day

djordje · 03-12-2007, 07:59 AM

Can these things filter Cyclopeze from the water column? It will be difficult to isolate each head for feeding. How can these survive in the wild? There can be no isolated feeding there?

hng · 03-12-2007, 04:44 PM

Agree that they can handle light without much of a problem, they just don't "need" light. Yes, they can filter out cyclopeeze but unless you see the little tentacles sticking out, it will not catch any. You really do need to spot feed these corals. One easy way is to get airline tubing that is a little larger than average, use it to suck up some presoaked cyclopeeze of blender mush, stick the end of the tube down to the corals and then release a cloud of food directly at them (turning the flow down or off will help them eat I think).

leveldrummer · 03-12-2007, 07:25 PM

another easy feed... cut the top half off a soda bottle, set it down over the coral, and use a turkey baster to puff some brine or mysis in, what ever touches them they will eat, but i wouldnt leave it up to filtering.