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jpiotrowski 
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 Topic: Porites xmass tree
Posted: November 30 2004 at 9:43am |
I have a porites xmass tree coral that has taken a beating over the past couple of years. I have read that they need lots of light and water flow. The polyps started to come out a few months ago but have closed up again. It doesn't appear diseased. The whole head was covered with polyps originally but quickly was reduced. Over the past 6 months I have seen the area reduce from silver dollar size to about that of a quarter.
Currently, it is under 12 hour vhos and 4 hour 175 metal halides at the top of my tank.
pH=8.05 to 8.30 Ca= 430-450ppm -Carbonate =11.0 dKH Temp = 77-77.5F sea swirl directly bathes the coral in medium current.
Changes made from last polyp extension = strong water flow and lighting schedule which inlcuded 8+ hours of halides. The position was changed due to polyp extension being very slight just bumps really (barely noticable) with noted reduction in area. I have seen other porites that have beautiful full polyps.
I would like to know if anyone has any ideas given the conditions. I have tried many positions in the tank with little success. I would like to get a yellow branching porites but ...am having troubles with this one.
John
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: November 30 2004 at 10:32am |
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"I have read that they need lots of light and water flow."
That's funny. I've heard they are deeper water organisms that suffer in shallow water, high light conditions!
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jpiotrowski
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Posted: November 30 2004 at 10:36am |
Don't have my books with me now, I'll have to look it up. A naughty little fish knocked the coral to the bottom of the tank. I was aiming at rearranging anyway so, left it for about a week. The polyps never came out when on the bottom, but I didn't change the lighting schedule until recently.
Your quote fits me...maybe I should just leave things alone...I also over water plants!
John
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jpiotrowski
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Posted: November 30 2004 at 12:04pm |
After using my entire lunch hour to surf I've come up with three things, two of which I knew. First, they require high light. Secondly, they like strong turbulent water flow and third the polyps emerge at night????
Is this third thing right?? Does anyone know if this is true? I have seen the polyps extend as 'bumps' during the day but never actually extended as polyps. I will look at them tonight to see if they extend at night, but it still doesn't explain why I'm slowly losing this piece.
John
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reptoreef
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Posted: November 30 2004 at 12:12pm |
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Mine seems to get very "fuzzy" at night due to polyp extension.
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jpiotrowski
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Posted: November 30 2004 at 12:46pm |
reptoreef
do any of my parameters seem a bit off? I was thinking about tinkering with lowering the temp. to 75-76. I am fighting to keep the coral alive at this point. It will soon disappear into the nothingness. Do you have halides? and/or VHO's? What is your lighting schedule? and do you have them in front of a powerhead? What position in the tank? Top?
John
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Simple
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Posted: November 30 2004 at 2:08pm |
Hello everyone,
First of all I've never kept an xmas, but I have kept yellow porites sucessully.
 I was thinking about tinkering with lowering the temp. to 75-76. |
IMO your temp is already too low. I've done very well with this advice.
| Currently, it is under 12 hour vhos and 4 hour 175 metal halides at the top of my tank. |
Does 4 hours seem short to anyone else? If you haven't already, try variations of direct and indirect light from the halides. FWIW, I've watched corals melt in one spot only to do well 2 inches away.
| and third the polyps emerge at night???? |
I've seen them out during the day at LFSs, I suspect your coral is unhappy.
Just curious, how are the worms in the coral doing?
HTH,
Chris
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Ascultã tot, dar nu crede tot.
Believe nothing of what you hear, and only half of what you see.
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reptoreef
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Posted: November 30 2004 at 6:42pm |
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My temp is from 79-81* all other parameters seem ok. I do run halides. My schedule starts at 8am w/2 55 watt act 03 pc, 9am 2 55 watt act blue pc's kick on and the halides(2 175 watt 10k XM's) follow at 10 am... the shut down sequence begins at 7pm with the halides, blues and then 03's. Reef keeping seems to have some odd "can never be an answer for that" happenings that just can't be explained.
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Weimers
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Posted: November 30 2004 at 7:08pm |
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Have you tried target feeding? How are the worms looking? Are they coming out all the time?
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Renee and Damon Weimer
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jpiotrowski
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Posted: December 01 2004 at 7:54am |
Thanks for all your replys.
First, the worms are doing ok. They seemed to grow at first but I haven't noticed them getting any bigger in a while. There are three commensal crabs that are also doing well.
Second. The lighting was adjusted to appease the soft corals as I am trying to find an appropriate combination of all parameters that will make them happy. I have only had my halides for a year and am starting to think they are too strong for some of my corals. My capnella hasn't been looking good for a while.
Third. The temp. Come to think of it when the tank ran 'hot' my corals may have looked better. Unfortunately, this wasn't something I noted at the time. The reason for the change is a constant post in the literature that corals are to be kept at between 72-78 degrees. Maybe this is in regards to your article Chris about running the tank at lower than optimun temps.
I've lowered the seaswirl and moved the coral to directly under one of the halides and in a stronger? current. The stronger current is debatable at this point but it was the best I could do.
My tongue coral is looking better than it had now that I've reduced the time the halides are on. So, I do know that at least one of the corals is benefitting from reduced light! I'm setting up a 30g low light so maybe I'll have to move things over to see.
My halides are pendants which may be more efficient therefore the 175w rating may not be comparable to others. So what are the lighting schedules for those that have the more powerful halides??
John
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jpiotrowski
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Posted: December 02 2004 at 2:41pm |
Chris,
Do you have a yellow porites frag I can buy off you? I could meet up with you this weekend or wait until the club meeting.
John
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Simple
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Posted: December 02 2004 at 3:42pm |
Hello everyone,
| corals are to be kept at between 72-78 degrees |
Jeez, who's telling you 72 is acceptable?
| The lighting was adjusted to appease the soft corals as I am trying to find an appropriate combination of all parameters that will make them happy. |
IMO, mixing different kinds of corals can be difficult for a variety of reasons. Lighting of course is near the top of the list.
| Do you have a yellow porites frag I can buy off you? |
Sorry John, that was the my last tank when I was doing stonies. These days I'm doing zoos, rics and such..
| So what are the lighting schedules for those that have the more powerful halides?? |
I suspect most of the answers will fall from atleast 6 to as many as 12 hours.
HTH,
Chris
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Ascultã tot, dar nu crede tot.
Believe nothing of what you hear, and only half of what you see.
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jpiotrowski
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Posted: December 03 2004 at 8:25am |
Chris,
Marine depot's site is one. Their temp range is between 72-78F. This wasn't the first time I saw these temps quoted. I actually read the article you sent before but just took it as one persons opinion. My tank is now at 80F and I plan on keeping it there.
I have decided to set up my 30g for the softies and will be cleaning it up and adding water, sand and rock this weekend. Because, as you say, it is difficult to appease both soft and hard corals. Adjusting the lighting and water flow for one seems to have dire consequences on the other.
Thanks for your input.
John
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Simple
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Posted: December 03 2004 at 5:06pm |
Hello everyone,
| Marine depot's site is one. |
Wow, they've got some great advice  .
FWIW, wholesalers and retailers likely keep colder temps to reduce the metabolism of their corals. If the coral is going down hill, it will go slower and have a better chance to make it out the door. Additionally, it's my understanding that temps also affect the development of parasites, etc.
I could easily attack more of their "advice" but it's not worth the time. They're in the buisness of making money. They're not around to provide quality information to increase the survival rates of their sales.
HTH,
Chris
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Ascultã tot, dar nu crede tot.
Believe nothing of what you hear, and only half of what you see.
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jfinch
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Posted: December 03 2004 at 5:31pm |
A reduced metabalism is one good reason to keep cooler temps (in the event of a power outage). Although 72F is too cold for me.
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