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View Full Version : Identify This Coral and Is it sick?


Nosinya
01/12/2011, 01:12 PM
I'm very new to marine aquariums but so far I am very interested in everything having to do with them. I just started a 20g high salwater tank a few months ago and just recently got lighting that will support coral. I went to a coral convention around the time I setup my tank and was given a few free corals while there. I let my friend keep the corals in his tank because his was already an established and supporting corals of his own. So I got my lighting which is a T5HO coralife 24Wx2 with a 24W10k bulb and a 24W actinic and put my coral in my tank that I got from the convention. I wanted to know if anyone can tell my what this coral is and also if it is healthy. last night I noticed brown string things coming out of its eyes and after doing some research wasnt sure if it was poo or brown jelly disease. I have added pics and the green arrows in the pics point to the brown stuff I was describing above.
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc276/JLamz04/C2.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc276/JLamz04/C1.jpg
Thanks alot for any help.

greech
01/12/2011, 02:57 PM
It's not dead but it's not happy either. Kind of tough to ID but pretty sure it's a chalice (possibly a favia). Neither like a ton of light (typically) and are not high flow so you may need to move it down some to reduce light and/or shelter it a bit from the flow. You only have a 2-bulb T5 so you may be fine but I would move it down and see how it does. If it puffs up a bit then it's happy and you can slowly move it up the rock if thaqt is where you want it. BTW the cyphastrea to the right is also a lower light/lower flow coral so you can use that as a gauge too.

The brown goo is the zooxanthellae alage which they do from time to time on their own but is also an indicator of stress (and the coral does look stressed). Any recent water tests you can share? Also sounds like this just went in the tank. Did you acclimate it or just drop it in?

Sk8r
01/12/2011, 03:04 PM
My water params in my sig tell you where you have to be chemically to keep this guy: hit those, and you'll do well, given lighting

Nosinya
01/12/2011, 07:57 PM
I do not have a complete reef test kit in my arsenal yet unfortunately but it is in the works. I do have have a PH, Calcium, Nitrate and Salinity test kits tho.

PH = 8.4
Nitrate = 10PPM
Calcium = 420 ppm
Salinity = 1.025

I did move a few of the corals around to position where lighting wont be so intense on the coral in question. Check out the pics I have added and let me know what you think about my equipment and position of the corals.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc276/JLamz04/tank/DSC05234.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc276/JLamz04/tank/DSC05233.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc276/JLamz04/tank/DSC05232.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc276/JLamz04/tank/DSC05231.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc276/JLamz04/tank/DSC05230.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc276/JLamz04/tank/DSC05229.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc276/JLamz04/tank/DSC05226.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc276/JLamz04/tank/DSC05235.jpg

I know its a lot of pics but thanks for taking the time to look at them. Any comments are appreciated.

Thanks

greech
01/12/2011, 09:21 PM
You got some nice free frags there! That coral looks better already and no so receded. Good numbers for what you have tests for. Get an alkalinity test and stick your water changes. Watch/double check the pH and know that it will fluctuate over the course of a day.

On another note, your aquascape (which looks nice) scares me. Those are some big rocks for that size tank and they do not look stable. You should consider breaking some/all of those pieces up and rescaping so they are secure. Maybe they are but those bottom rocks should be buried in the sand. They look like they are just resting on top.

Nosinya
01/13/2011, 06:05 PM
Do you think I have sufficient lighting to support my corals?