Question on growth of corals.

[giambi4343]

i just got my shipment of my zoos, palys. Favia frag, and mushroom. i was just wondering, how do i get the zoos/ palys to grow on the rock that i have it epoxyed to? it is on a frag plug that is completely flat. it is sitting ontop of the rock that i epoxyed it to. also, is there a way i can make them grow more rapid somehow?

[giambi4343]

Nothing?

[ihopss]

Time Will Help, and Some Good Husbandry( a healthy tank).

[Gdevine]

Zoa's, Paly's and Shroom's on rock (although they can make it on substrate if you really wanted). If you can find a crevice or such depression and put the frags in that they will probably foot in a week or so. Or, if you want to put them in a place that are more vertical where they can slip off go get some 2 part marine epoxy. I use the one that looks like Coraline when mixed. Strong but you can break it off in the future if you want to move it.

The Favia belongs on your substrate in moderate flow and excellent lighting. You need to feed a Favia once a week or so as well.

[giambi4343]

so you dont think i should have the favia on the rockwork? it is also attached to a plug tho.

[MSX-Jeff]

Favia are VERY slow growers, chances of it encrusting over to your rock work are pretty slim...at least any time soon :)

Most people keep favia and other similar LPS on the sand bed because they tend to like lower light levels.

[giambi4343]

i have my favia under about 6 inches of xenia branches, so the light is not completely beaming down on the favia. is that ok?

[MSX-Jeff]

It should be...the coral will let you know if it's not getting enough light ;)

[giambi4343]

what are some signs of it not getting enough light.

[MSX-Jeff]

If it starts losing color, showing poor PE, or (worst case) receding tissue.

[giambi4343]

ok thanks

[Gdevine]

You need to feed a favia once a week or so...are you aware of that and know what to do?

[giambi4343]

no. how do you do that properly?

[crvz]

I've never fed a favia, and while I'm not saying it won't help, it's definitely not something you need to do in my experience. Usually, to target feed a coral, you kill the pumps and use a turkey baster (or similar) to deliver food (of any type, frozen mysis, homemade blender mush, cyclopeeze, etc.) right to the coral. Best to do it when the lights are off, else fish will try to steal their food.

Just don't forget to turn the pumps back on after 5 minutes or so.

[MSX-Jeff]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13912542#post13912542 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by giambi4343
no. how do you do that properly?

Faviids (Favia sp, Favites sp., Platygyra sp, etc) will open up and extend feeding tentacles at night. About an hour after lights out in the tank take a flashlight and look at your favia, you'll see what I mean. Once you see that the feeding tentacles are out, you can use a turkey baster to target feed the coral...just thaw some frozen mysis, brine shrimp, or other meaty food in some tank water and use the turkey baster to gently pulse food onto the coral. The feeding tentacles will grab the food and get it into the polyps mouth. It's really a neat thing to watch!

[giambi4343]

ok well i have it in my tank now and it still looks the same as when i first got it out of the bag. it isnt as colorful as i thought it should be. is this normal for a 1 polyp frag of prism favia to look not as good? its sbout halfway up in my tank with a MH bulb directly above it. should i move it or no?