Questions on Oregon Tort

[kb27973]

Hello.

I'm trying this coral for the 3rd time. The last two frags just slowly wasted away. Where do you guys keep them to keep that color and how much flow? I have a LOT in some parts of my tank. Also, how do you get the frag off that pointed black plug from Liveaquaria?

Thanks.

Ken

[Mikigo]

high light and flow.
i keep the plug. its easier to change position when needed.

[ros_sco]

High light & a good medium flow here. To get the coral off the plug, I have had good luck squeezing the plug at the widest part with channel locks. The frag and super glue pop right out. Make sure you have it centered so the plug does not slip and the frag gets crushed.

[flyyyguy]

as said, lots of both

your post made me realize I need to take an updated pic of mine...been well over a year. this first pic is recent...but it isnt all that great as it really isnt of the tort, its of a monti I was having issues with. There is also a stag in the background making it look like it has funny branches :)

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/09/sunsettorch3shrunk.jpg


http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/09/tort.jpg

[kb27973]

Thanks for the replies. Looks like high light and good flow. I will slowly acclimate it to both. Hopefully 3rd times the charm. Mikigo, I see what you are saying about ease of moving with the plug but the plug is to big for me to put it on the rock and have it look natural. I think I will very carefully try ros_sco's method and try not to crush it. flyyyguy, that thing is amazing. Did you grow it from a frag? How many years did that take?

Thanks,
Ken

[flyyyguy]

thanks. Ive had it a couple of years. it was bigger than what I would call a frag when i got it, especially if comparing it to what ORA is giving out these days. I also have another piece of it going about 1/3 that size.

a 3/4" masonry bit, your rock of choice and some epoxy will set that awful; plug wherever you want. So will a dremel and cutting wheel or roscoes method.

[kmckay]

flyyyguy, what kind of light is that under? I would love to achieve that rich blue color, but I can only get a paler blue (still very nice though :))

[flyyyguy]

10k reeflux

[toothman]

I find this to be a hearty undemanding coral as well as the ora tort. Why not try a frag from the origional home of the Oregon tort upscales.com. Located in Oregon. Look at my gallery there is several nice pictures of the tort.

[ankor253]

I agree lots of light and mdedium-high to high flow is best for my OT.

[kb27973]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15133154#post15133154 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by toothman
I find this to be a hearty undemanding coral as well as the ora tort. Why not try a frag from the origional home of the Oregon tort upscales.com. Located in Oregon. Look at my gallery there is several nice pictures of the tort.

I like your tank. You've got some nice stuff. It's not hearty and undemanding for me. :( I don't have problems with many corals (my purple monster is doing great) but the OT just will not grow for me. Maybe this time. And I think my first attempt was one from Upscales, second was from ********** and this last attempt is from Liveaquaria. If it doesn't work this time I will just chalk it up as a coral that will not grow in my tank and call it good.

Ken

[Elan L.]

I found that my Oregon Tort did badly when being in almost direct flow of my mp40w. Its now near the bottom getting the flow from the undertow and is doing much better

[kb27973]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15134548#post15134548 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Elan L.
I found that my Oregon Tort did badly when being in almost direct flow of my mp40w. Its now near the bottom getting the flow from the undertow and is doing much better

I agree with this as I think my second attempt died because of to much flow. I'm hoping this may have been the problem. I have 2 Tunze 6000's and 2 6100's in a 6' tank and I had them all cranked up to 90%. I have since backed them down to 60%.

Ken

[flyyyguy]

I highly doubt it was too much flow, maybe the wrong kind of flow

no such thing as too much. At least ive never seen anyone actually do it assuming they arent pointing cls outputs or powerheads directly at stuff in close proximity

If you need to aim powerheads directly at anything in close range to get the in tank flow you want, then instead of doing that, add more and aim all of it directly at nothing.

[kmckay]

Agreed, mine is in a very high flow area and directly under a 400W radium, 6 inches from the surface. Under these conditions in my tank it has been very forgiving of mild nutrient fluctuations and of alk swings. Admittedly, growth rate is quite slow, but this is to be expected with this coral. It is infamously slow growing.

[kmckay]

Toothman, that is simply beautiful. How long has that colony been growthing and where did it start? My has simular coloration to yours, though not nearly as big. Thanks for sharing all.

[kb27973]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15138826#post15138826 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kmckay
Agreed, mine is in a very high flow area and directly under a 400W radium, 6 inches from the surface. Under these conditions in my tank it has been very forgiving of mild nutrient fluctuations and of alk swings. Admittedly, growth rate is quite slow, but this is to be expected with this coral. It is infamously slow growing.

What are you calling very high flow?

Ken

[kraziezx]

high light. high-med to high flow. What are your water parameters?

[kb27973]

PO4 - .03
NO3- 10ppm
NO2- 0
Amm-0
Ca-500
dkh-11
Mg-1300

81 times turnover flow

250 DE MH + actinic

Ken

[dieselab]

OT is one of the nicest torts out there. Very hardy and looks amazing when grown into a nice sizes colony. Mine does best under high high light and high random flow. IF you are seeing daytime time polyp extension, its a good sign the OT is healthy and thriving.

Nice colony flyyyguy.

[tfp]

i tend to agree with dieselab.

http://photos.frags.org/bigger/280/1503_20090412123907.JPG

[tmantaylor18]

How do you guys get these pics that look like they are taken with just a moon light over the top.

[dieselab]

tfp always has the best stuff. i really need to make a drive up north and check out your tank Tim.

[kb27973]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15141810#post15141810 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tfp
i tend to agree with dieselab.

http://photos.frags.org/bigger/280/1503_20090412123907.JPG

:eek1:

Wow. Maybe my 1" frag will look like that in about 37 years.
Ken

[tfp]

LOL!! It picked up steam at the 4-5 year mark.
Frags from it do amazing well in other peoples tank.
I got it as a 1/2" nub from reefstuff long ago.

[kmckay]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15139062#post15139062 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kb27973
What are you calling very high flow?

Ken

I don't mean that my tank has very high flow; my flow is probably typical for an SPS tank with a low coral density (45x). I mean that the OT is in a very high flow area of the tank. It is on the top of my rock structure in the direct path of a vortec (speed dial turned all the way up, reef crest mode, 4 feet away from the OT) and half the output of reeflow hammerhead (directed through a wavy sea, 3.5 feet away). It gets constant, dynamic, direct flow, but it is far enough from the outputs that it is not getting hammered with lamellar current.

[kb27973]

Ok thanks for that. Because it turns out that I have a spot directly under and maybe 10" from a 250W DE MH or another spot that would get less light but would get a LOT of flow. Right now it's on the bottom but maybe the best move would be to do the flow first and then the high light if if doesn't do well. I've only had it a couple of days but so far it looks great. Maybe I should just leave it on the bottom. :)

Ken