Red Chili Droop

RandyO · 03-07-2005, 10:11 PM

I just got this one and it was fine for about 48 hours then it kind of drooped over. I moved it to the substrate in a low flow/low light spot. Is this terminal?

wharyat · 03-08-2005, 12:04 AM

Chilis and other non-photo synthetic corals need high water flow. Is it attached to anything? If its not you might want to try to "stitch" it to a piece of LR with fishing line or something. These corals don't mind high light so they can be in it, they are usually only puffed up at night, when they feed. Oh yes, you will want to start adding some sort of phytoplankton to your feeding schedule. These corals are rated at difficult.

LISound · 03-08-2005, 12:14 AM

whats the best way to add photoplankton.
i just started a week ago and got a nasty bright green algae bloom.
not sure if i really need it? so i'm stopping for now.
i think if added directly to tank...if i don't have much feeding on it, it's just like adding a dose of phosphates, right?
should this stuff only be used in well seeded tanks... a year older or more?

wharyat · 03-08-2005, 12:30 AM

I add kent phytoplex, zooplex, and chromaplex, and dont have any problems. The live stuff will sometimes cause problems; but any food not used will degrade into bad compounds. A refugium will help with supplying plankton. If you don't have any strict filter feeders it's really not necessary to add any.

yardboy · 03-08-2005, 04:59 AM

If you started this tank a week ago and you're putting a red chili coral in it now, he has little chance of survival. Best bet is to take him back to the lfs as your tank is by no means ready for any coral, much less a chili. Sorry about that.

RandyO · 03-08-2005, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yardboy

If you started this tank a week ago and you're putting a red chili coral in it now, he has little chance of survival. Best bet is to take him back to the lfs as your tank is by no means ready for any coral, much less a chili. Sorry about that.

My tank is almost 2 months old. I have read so much conflicting information on this particular coral it is amazing.
I found at nano-reef.com where I found "they grow in caves in the dark" and a couple users finding success in suspending them in very low light, upside down. Go figure.... at any rate this morning I got this:

**MaryHM** · 03-08-2005, 08:08 AM

Chili corals are non-photosynthetic, nocturnal corals. They will generally wilt down during the day and then "puff up" at night to feed.

RandyO · 03-08-2005, 08:16 AM

So how exactly do you think this little guy should be placed? I have 3 sets of ideas and none are even simular to each other. I am guessing that his polyps are coming out as at least a sign he may be ok in the end.

rockster2599 · 03-08-2005, 08:40 AM

I have had one for about a year or so but my answer has to be that I dont know how to place it. It doesnt thrive anywhere I put it or how I feed it. It is a hard coral to keep and I cant even target feed it.
Sorry its just not a good coral for reeftanks in my experience.
Rockster

rockster2599 · 03-08-2005, 08:43 AM

Oh I should add that at the moment it is upright, under an overhang (I found that the lights burned it or at least made it go a dark brown colour rather than the maroon red) in a high flow area.
Rockster

David Grigor · 03-08-2005, 03:20 PM

In general, these corals will gradually shrink when unable to provide the nurishment it needs. Consider yourself lucky if it lives much longer than a year in captivity....

akeyzoo · 03-08-2005, 04:23 PM

RandyO,
You should return it, and ask for a refund. If the store owner knew you had a "new" tank and sold you this coral, he was doing yourself and the coral a big disservice. Use this credit to buy a more appropriate coral once your tank is ready. No amount of placement instructions will save this coral in your tank. It will die. I wouldn't add one to my old tank for fear of it dying, and am confident yours wont last long.

We in the hobby have found that photo-synthetic corals are appropriate to keep because with a little money we can reproduce the sun (to an extent). We cannot, however, in most cases reproduce the nutrient level of the ocean unless we are extremely skilled.

Sorry to be so frank, but it may be the best approach here.

Chris