Has Anyone keep elegance coral with success?

[fufu]

I just bought an elegance today, impulse buy I guess, it just look so awesome :) I did some research and most dont live for more then a few months or so until they perish. Wondering if anyone has some tips or tricks.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/215046elegance.jpg

[MeVsTheWorld]

Was curious about them as well, tagging along...

[harlequin75BB]

ask :elegance coral on TRT. He's supposed to be the EC guru.

[ludnix]

This might help clarify some of the conflicting reports on this coral.

From Eric Borneman's book Aquarium Corals (http://www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Corals-Selection-Husbandry-Natural/dp/1890087475/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242288020&sr=8-2)
Many years ago, Catalaphyllia were among the easiest corals to maintain, but the majority today are not surviving. They adopt an abnormal appearance, with an initially swollen polyp body and shriveled tentacles. Eventually, the polyp shrinks tight against the skeleton and succumbs by recession or opportunistic invasion. No environmental or treatment protocol seems to help. I cannot help but feel that collection, shipping, and transitional care has played a significant role in the number of injured or sick examples, and contributes to these recent failures.

[Gawain1974]

There has been talk that elegance corals from Australia were faring better than the Indo-Pacific variety, but I haven't heard anything recently on long-term success of the Australian specimens.

I worked part-time for about three years in LFSs and I never heard of anyone having success with the Indo-Pacific variety in recent years.

[NiTr0x911]

The Australian Elegance coral is EXTREMELY hardy in my experience.I had a tank crash over the past Christmas when I went out of town.Lost 75% of livestock.My aussie Elegance wasn't affected at all.

[jenglish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15008524#post15008524 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by harlequin75BB
ask :elegance coral on TRT. He's supposed to be the EC guru.

EC is on here as well, just not nearly on as much. I believe EC has nursed back some indo ones but it was a long process and he has tanks setup just for them.

[boz151]

should be plenty of info in the LPS forum.

[cloak]

Here's a good article.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-01/eb/index.php

[64Ivy]

I've had my two for about a year and a half now. Never had a problem with either. Both sold as Aussies; kept in a relatively low flow system (40g breeder), T-5 lighting, direct fed twice a week with Rod's Food and about a 1/2" piece of silversides.

http://www.moyesreef.com/uploads/Elegances-5-09.jpg

[fufu]

How can you tell it is Aussie vs Indo?

[Markus9]

Thought I would jump into the mix. Here is my elegance. I have been growing it for about 12 years now It was the size of a softball when I first got it form a friend who fragged it and it has grown to the size of a basketball twice. I fragged it 2 years ago and one piece that I sold was about 1" and now is 6." It is probably the heardiest coral I have ever had. I believe the over collection in shallow waters over the last 10 years has led to the decline of helthy species. I do not keep it low in the tank, I do not dose with Lugols on a regular basis, and I do not think it helps the coral at all. I do not directly feed the coral, it gets what it needs from the feedings from the fish which is pellet or flake food. I do not do regular water changes but do try to do one at least every 2 months. My nitrates are not extremly low I believe I had it checked at the fish store a week ago on a quick tab test and it was in the range of 40 ppm. I try to keep salinity at around 1.023 and there is only 5 fish in the tank. Lighting has been VHO then vho w/ 125 MH and now 4 t5 overdriven with a Ice Cap 660 ballast. With all of this the coral has grown to the size of a basketball inside a 37 and now a 58 gallon tank. I fragged about a month ago and the pieces are doing well. This coral has been the showpiece in every tank it has been in and has always been my favorite since I got it. It is a shame that this type of coral is so hard to keep now for most people. I am no expert so I know it is not my expertice that keeps it alive, it is just a really hardy species.