Purple torch trouble!!
 

This is the second time ive tried a purple torch. The first time, I placed it in the tank, it came out looking great, then went back in. It kept doing this for a few days and finally never came out and died after a week. Just put another in today. Came out, looked great, now its halfway in again. Looks to be starting the same routine and I dont know why.
I have a hammer coral, and it's doing great, has a new head growing and getting bigger every day. A couple montipora's and both are having descent growth. A stylophora, good PE and color, and a tabling acropora in the tank about 3 weeks also looking good. What in the world is wrong with me and torches?
70 gallon tank with 20 gallon sump
Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate - 0
Cal - 430
ALk - 8.5
Mg - 1380
All corals and fish are looking awesome except this dang torch. Do I need exceptionally low flow or something? It seems pretty low to me. It is at the bottom of the tank, lights dimmed. Could sand particles be irritating it?
Anybody out there a torch expert?
Thanks!!

Could sand particles be irritating it?

Are you 100% positive the nitrates are 0? My torch seems much more sensitive to nitrates than my hammer does. One of the first things that happened when my nitrate troubles started was my torch stopped extending.

Yes Nitrates are 0.
Well, I kinda answered my own question. I moved it to a location with less flow and no sand irritation and it's doing great. I didn't want to before because this spot happens to be a little closer to my hammer than I wanted, for reasons of both aesthetics and possible coral warfare. But so far it is doing great. No more expanding and retracting, great polyp extension all the time now. Will Torch and Hammer do battle or will they not trigger an aggressive response being both Euphylia?

No way to be sure if the coral will get to stinging each other.
Best flow for a torch is flow that comes from the bottom up or placing it under a powerhead but not to close. The flow being pulled in will keep the torch happy and extended.

Kinda like this
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/pi...ictureid=71769

That is a huge torch, did you buy it like that or grow it from smaller? How long did it take to get that big?
I have mine on the bottom, so having flow go from bottom up might be impossible, but it seems to like the spot I have it in now. It extends the most ive ever seen it and stays that way.
I see a lot of torches with very long wavy tentacles like yours. Whereas mine seems to be smaller, like a hammer almost, bunched up like a head of hair. Will the tentacles elongate as it matures?

Nope, Originally it was 7 polyps now it's 30+ and all of them are in the process of splitting now. So it will be 60+ in another 6 months or so. I've had this coral for a little over 2 years now.

They like a lot of indirect flow so you just don't want to sit it in front of a power head. It would depend on the torch when it comes to the tentacle length.

2 years ago
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/pi...ictureid=58244

quick video
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8yKjsymi9Kk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Dang that is a nice one! The flow is pretty high as well, surprises me, it may be because it is so big, and mine is so small, that that is the kind of flow I was sorta avoiding that was irritating mine I think, that and sand particles. But I found some good indirect flow now so I think i'm on the right track.

Sounds good. A lot of flow just not direct. Yeah it's actually gotten to the point that I'm going to brake down my system and re-do it and make the torch the center piece. I need to get all other corals away from it.

Dang sounds like a tough job to do. I can never imagine re doing mine unless I was going to start over. Seems like i'd loose too many specimens. Makes me nervous.

Not looking forward to doing it but it's not the only reason. I started this tank with dry rock that was loaded with phosphates and had big problems with hair algae even though I have it under control I just can't get rid of the green. Plus bubble algae and aiptisia.

125lbs of Fiji dry rock curing now.

I did mine with dry rock as well, mix of fiji and pukani, about 60/40. Where did you get your's from? I got my rock from BRS and haven't had any problems with algae or phosphates, i've been pretty successful keeping the tank rather sterile actually. Only downside from the dry rock for me was the cycle took much longer of course. But a reef tank that one plans on growing and have running for years, a few extra weeks for the cycle I thought was insignificant. I was always more worried about pests and having to break down the tank to get them out. If you used dry rock, how did you get aiptisia in there?

Feng shui wise 60 heads as a center piece I am not sure. Cut one off and rehome it in New Jersey lol

Wow, that is nice!!! Way to go!

First set of rocks came from Marco rock. New rocks came from Brs. Yeah I'm not to worried about how long it takes for the new rock to cure. When there ready I'm going to take a week vacation to do all the work. Aiptisia most likely came in from some of the coral. Plan is once the tank is finished sps will go back in and torch and hammers will stay in quarantine.

Lol...:lolspin:
I have a frag with 2 heads that are in the process of splitting that I can hook you up with.

Thanks !