Flower Pot Coral surprise!

rebekwl · 07-17-2007, 10:24 AM

Ok, so I know from my extensive use of the RS forum that Flower Pot corals are very difficult to keep, and only expert reefers should attempt to keep the healthiest of specimens.

My husband snuck off to the LFS by himself the other day, guess what he brought home? A FLOWER POT CORAL!!! YAY! So as I was investigating it while explaining to him that he should not have bought it, I noticed that 3 of the 5 heads were already receeding.

I figure that it will die whether or not I take it back, since it's already on it's way out. Should I try to take it back to the LFS and see if they will trade it since they sold it to him already dying, or should I just keep it since they will probably not want to give a refund on a dying coral?

I'm so sad, I don't want it to die, even though it looks like it most certainly will. It has not fully opened either, and has been in our tank since Sunday. Is there anything I can do to make it more comfortable? Can I possibly save it if I try trading it to a fellow reefer with a better system? Thanks!

lcstorc · 07-17-2007, 11:16 AM

What are your water parameters? Flow? Lights?
Some people do have short term success keeping these corals but most last less than a year. There are of course exceptions but they are pretty hard to keep.

rebekwl · 07-17-2007, 11:24 AM

My water perameters are perfect, and have been steady for a couple of months. I tested about 3 days ago. I placed it on the sand, so it's in a low-med flow area. I can always move it if I need to. Also my lighting is 4x 65w PCs, 10,000k. I read that these are higher light creatures, so only haiving PCs will not help it. Do you think it has a chance since it has already started dying??

lcstorc · 07-17-2007, 11:33 AM

It is really hard to say. Particularly since I don't know a lot about them. It's current unhappy state could be just shipping stress and adapting to a new tank or it could be as you say dying. I just don't know enough to even hazzard a guess. I do know that many corals will pout for several days after being moved but have no idea if this is what you are seeing or not.

rebekwl · 07-17-2007, 11:51 AM

I'm hoping it'll be ok. I THINK I can see where it has started to dye, I'll have to get some pics and post them tomorrow. There are parts on the base of the heads that don't have any flesh on them, the skeleton is exposed

Poor thing! Keep your fingers crossed!!

kathywithbirds · 07-17-2007, 03:35 PM

Try goniopora.org, they have a slow server but the moderator (John I think) is very knowledgable. I had one for a short time and it ate for me, but I think it got brown jelly. I gave it back to the friend who gave it to me and he "saved" it -- he's had ALOT of success with them, he's even fragged!

rebekwl · 07-17-2007, 04:01 PM

Cool beans, thanks Kathy. I'll look into it. Hopefully I will be able to save it!

DrHank · 07-17-2007, 04:55 PM

I would also recommend staying away from alivoporia for the same reason.

Triggerjay · 07-18-2007, 12:10 AM

Next time I see John Kelly, I will poke at him about his slow host, and maybe I can get him to get a new one..

Jason

Woodstock · 07-18-2007, 07:39 AM

John Kelly's site is awesome!

Triggerjay · 07-18-2007, 11:02 AM

he has basically dedicated the last couple years of his life to goni research. You should meet him in person... he is a great guy.. I am lucky enough to only live about two blocks from him...I dont know anyone that knows as much as he does about the hobby in our area... I am asking him questions all the time...He just added a cool video of his goni tank on there last night too...

Jason

lcstorc · 07-18-2007, 11:05 AM

You should ask him to stop by RS now and again.

Triggerjay · 07-18-2007, 11:06 AM

I will do that right now!.... BRB

Jason

lcstorc · 07-18-2007, 11:07 AM

Wow that was a fast response.

rebekwl · 07-18-2007, 11:40 AM

I took a look and it seems that mine is receeding. Hopefully I can save it. I DO put Zooplankton in my food mixture as well as Cyclopeeze so hopefully the Flower Pot will extend it's tenticles sometime soon and eat!! I took a couple of pics and was going to post them, but forgot to bring the cord, I'll have to do it later.

07-17-2007, 10:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
rebekwl Achilles Tang Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 842 View Gallery Karma Komment	Flower Pot Coral surprise! Ok, so I know from my extensive use of the RS forum that Flower Pot corals are very difficult to keep, and only expert reefers should attempt to keep the healthiest of specimens. My husband snuck off to the LFS by himself the other day, guess what he brought home? A FLOWER POT CORAL!!! YAY! So as I was investigating it while explaining to him that he should not have bought it, I noticed that 3 of the 5 heads were already receeding. I figure that it will die whether or not I take it back, since it's already on it's way out. Should I try to take it back to the LFS and see if they will trade it since they sold it to him already dying, or should I just keep it since they will probably not want to give a refund on a dying coral? I'm so sad, I don't want it to die, even though it looks like it most certainly will. It has not fully opened either, and has been in our tank since Sunday. Is there anything I can do to make it more comfortable? Can I possibly save it if I try trading it to a fellow reefer with a better system? Thanks! __________________ Rebekah Member of: Snails Are Stupid Society 90 Gallon Display w/ 2-3" LS & 100-120 lbs. LR. 20 Gal sump w/fuge that has 4" sand, LR and rubble, and Chaeto. CUC - Lots of assorted snails, 3 conchs, Serpent Starfish, Hermit Crabs, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, 2 Sand Sifting Starfish (I think that's it). Fish - Bi-Color Blenny, Orange Spotted Prawn Goby, Scooter Blenny, Clarkii Clownfish, Yellow Watchman Goby, Fiji Devil Damsel, Tomini Tang, Sailfin Tang, Lawnmower Blenny, and Pink Skunk Clown. Corals/inverts - Pink Branching Hammer Coral, Green Branching Hammer Coral, Torch Coral, Frogspawn, Bubble Coral, Neon Green Fungia, Green Star Polyps, Cup Mushroom, Green Candy Cane, Kenya Tree, Pom Pom Xenia, Toadstool Leather, Finger Leather, Devil's Hand Leather, LOTS of shrooms (red, green, blue), Orange Sponge, Green Monti Plate, Brown Gorgonian, Blundell Buttons, Flower Pot, Zoanthids, Palys, Green BTA

07-17-2007, 11:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 16,431 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Flower Pot Coral surprise! What are your water parameters? Flow? Lights? Some people do have short term success keeping these corals but most last less than a year. There are of course exceptions but they are pretty hard to keep. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g Jawfish enjoyment ASM answer girl. Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

07-17-2007, 11:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
rebekwl Achilles Tang Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 842 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Flower Pot Coral surprise! My water perameters are perfect, and have been steady for a couple of months. I tested about 3 days ago. I placed it on the sand, so it's in a low-med flow area. I can always move it if I need to. Also my lighting is 4x 65w PCs, 10,000k. I read that these are higher light creatures, so only haiving PCs will not help it. Do you think it has a chance since it has already started dying?? __________________ Rebekah Member of: Snails Are Stupid Society 90 Gallon Display w/ 2-3" LS & 100-120 lbs. LR. 20 Gal sump w/fuge that has 4" sand, LR and rubble, and Chaeto. CUC - Lots of assorted snails, 3 conchs, Serpent Starfish, Hermit Crabs, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, 2 Sand Sifting Starfish (I think that's it). Fish - Bi-Color Blenny, Orange Spotted Prawn Goby, Scooter Blenny, Clarkii Clownfish, Yellow Watchman Goby, Fiji Devil Damsel, Tomini Tang, Sailfin Tang, Lawnmower Blenny, and Pink Skunk Clown. Corals/inverts - Pink Branching Hammer Coral, Green Branching Hammer Coral, Torch Coral, Frogspawn, Bubble Coral, Neon Green Fungia, Green Star Polyps, Cup Mushroom, Green Candy Cane, Kenya Tree, Pom Pom Xenia, Toadstool Leather, Finger Leather, Devil's Hand Leather, LOTS of shrooms (red, green, blue), Orange Sponge, Green Monti Plate, Brown Gorgonian, Blundell Buttons, Flower Pot, Zoanthids, Palys, Green BTA

07-17-2007, 11:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 16,431 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Flower Pot Coral surprise! It is really hard to say. Particularly since I don't know a lot about them. It's current unhappy state could be just shipping stress and adapting to a new tank or it could be as you say dying. I just don't know enough to even hazzard a guess. I do know that many corals will pout for several days after being moved but have no idea if this is what you are seeing or not. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g Jawfish enjoyment ASM answer girl. Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

07-17-2007, 11:51 AM	#5 (permalink)
rebekwl Achilles Tang Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 842 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Flower Pot Coral surprise! I'm hoping it'll be ok. I THINK I can see where it has started to dye, I'll have to get some pics and post them tomorrow. There are parts on the base of the heads that don't have any flesh on them, the skeleton is exposed Poor thing! Keep your fingers crossed!! __________________ Rebekah Member of: Snails Are Stupid Society 90 Gallon Display w/ 2-3" LS & 100-120 lbs. LR. 20 Gal sump w/fuge that has 4" sand, LR and rubble, and Chaeto. CUC - Lots of assorted snails, 3 conchs, Serpent Starfish, Hermit Crabs, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, 2 Sand Sifting Starfish (I think that's it). Fish - Bi-Color Blenny, Orange Spotted Prawn Goby, Scooter Blenny, Clarkii Clownfish, Yellow Watchman Goby, Fiji Devil Damsel, Tomini Tang, Sailfin Tang, Lawnmower Blenny, and Pink Skunk Clown. Corals/inverts - Pink Branching Hammer Coral, Green Branching Hammer Coral, Torch Coral, Frogspawn, Bubble Coral, Neon Green Fungia, Green Star Polyps, Cup Mushroom, Green Candy Cane, Kenya Tree, Pom Pom Xenia, Toadstool Leather, Finger Leather, Devil's Hand Leather, LOTS of shrooms (red, green, blue), Orange Sponge, Green Monti Plate, Brown Gorgonian, Blundell Buttons, Flower Pot, Zoanthids, Palys, Green BTA

07-17-2007, 03:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
kathywithbirds You talkin ta ME? Join Date: May 2007 Location: Philly area, NJ Posts: 4,922 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Flower Pot Coral surprise! Try goniopora.org, they have a slow server but the moderator (John I think) is very knowledgable. I had one for a short time and it ate for me, but I think it got brown jelly. I gave it back to the friend who gave it to me and he "saved" it -- he's had ALOT of success with them, he's even fragged! __________________ (\__/) (\__/) (@.@) (^.^) (")_(") (< >)

07-17-2007, 04:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
rebekwl Achilles Tang Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 842 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Flower Pot Coral surprise! Cool beans, thanks Kathy. I'll look into it. Hopefully I will be able to save it! __________________ Rebekah Member of: Snails Are Stupid Society 90 Gallon Display w/ 2-3" LS & 100-120 lbs. LR. 20 Gal sump w/fuge that has 4" sand, LR and rubble, and Chaeto. CUC - Lots of assorted snails, 3 conchs, Serpent Starfish, Hermit Crabs, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, 2 Sand Sifting Starfish (I think that's it). Fish - Bi-Color Blenny, Orange Spotted Prawn Goby, Scooter Blenny, Clarkii Clownfish, Yellow Watchman Goby, Fiji Devil Damsel, Tomini Tang, Sailfin Tang, Lawnmower Blenny, and Pink Skunk Clown. Corals/inverts - Pink Branching Hammer Coral, Green Branching Hammer Coral, Torch Coral, Frogspawn, Bubble Coral, Neon Green Fungia, Green Star Polyps, Cup Mushroom, Green Candy Cane, Kenya Tree, Pom Pom Xenia, Toadstool Leather, Finger Leather, Devil's Hand Leather, LOTS of shrooms (red, green, blue), Orange Sponge, Green Monti Plate, Brown Gorgonian, Blundell Buttons, Flower Pot, Zoanthids, Palys, Green BTA

07-17-2007, 04:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
DrHank Golden Moray Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,249 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Flower Pot Coral surprise! I would also recommend staying away from alivoporia for the same reason. __________________ Jim Dr Hank's 210 Build: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nks-tanks.html Dr Hank's 155 Bowfront:http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-bowfront.html

07-18-2007, 12:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
Triggerjay Reef Lobster Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Springfield MO Posts: 1,417 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Flower Pot Coral surprise! Next time I see John Kelly, I will poke at him about his slow host, and maybe I can get him to get a new one.. Jason __________________ 125g Mixed reef, 100g Basement sump, two 40g breeder frag tanks, Iwaki 100 main return pump, Sequence Reeflo Dart CL pump, Sedra 9000 powered DIY 3 foot tall skimmer, Aqua 40w UV, Two little fishies phosban reactor, Kangaroo dosing pump, 29g tank in my daughters room, All tied together into one system.

07-18-2007, 07:39 AM	#10 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 21,652 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Flower Pot Coral surprise! John Kelly's site is awesome! __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~29 gal QT/Hospital tank~* *~3 gal Pico~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MH, dual Actinic t5s,AquaController III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

07-18-2007, 11:02 AM	#11 (permalink)
Triggerjay Reef Lobster Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Springfield MO Posts: 1,417 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Flower Pot Coral surprise! he has basically dedicated the last couple years of his life to goni research. You should meet him in person... he is a great guy.. I am lucky enough to only live about two blocks from him...I dont know anyone that knows as much as he does about the hobby in our area... I am asking him questions all the time...He just added a cool video of his goni tank on there last night too... Jason __________________ 125g Mixed reef, 100g Basement sump, two 40g breeder frag tanks, Iwaki 100 main return pump, Sequence Reeflo Dart CL pump, Sedra 9000 powered DIY 3 foot tall skimmer, Aqua 40w UV, Two little fishies phosban reactor, Kangaroo dosing pump, 29g tank in my daughters room, All tied together into one system.

07-18-2007, 11:05 AM	#12 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 16,431 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Flower Pot Coral surprise! You should ask him to stop by RS now and again. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g Jawfish enjoyment ASM answer girl. Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

07-18-2007, 11:06 AM	#13 (permalink)
Triggerjay Reef Lobster Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Springfield MO Posts: 1,417 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Flower Pot Coral surprise! I will do that right now!.... BRB Jason __________________ 125g Mixed reef, 100g Basement sump, two 40g breeder frag tanks, Iwaki 100 main return pump, Sequence Reeflo Dart CL pump, Sedra 9000 powered DIY 3 foot tall skimmer, Aqua 40w UV, Two little fishies phosban reactor, Kangaroo dosing pump, 29g tank in my daughters room, All tied together into one system.

07-18-2007, 11:07 AM	#14 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 16,431 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Flower Pot Coral surprise! Wow that was a fast response. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g Jawfish enjoyment ASM answer girl. Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

07-18-2007, 11:40 AM	#15 (permalink)
rebekwl Achilles Tang Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 842 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Flower Pot Coral surprise! I took a look and it seems that mine is receeding. Hopefully I can save it. I DO put Zooplankton in my food mixture as well as Cyclopeeze so hopefully the Flower Pot will extend it's tenticles sometime soon and eat!! I took a couple of pics and was going to post them, but forgot to bring the cord, I'll have to do it later. __________________ Rebekah Member of: Snails Are Stupid Society 90 Gallon Display w/ 2-3" LS & 100-120 lbs. LR. 20 Gal sump w/fuge that has 4" sand, LR and rubble, and Chaeto. CUC - Lots of assorted snails, 3 conchs, Serpent Starfish, Hermit Crabs, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, 2 Sand Sifting Starfish (I think that's it). Fish - Bi-Color Blenny, Orange Spotted Prawn Goby, Scooter Blenny, Clarkii Clownfish, Yellow Watchman Goby, Fiji Devil Damsel, Tomini Tang, Sailfin Tang, Lawnmower Blenny, and Pink Skunk Clown. Corals/inverts - Pink Branching Hammer Coral, Green Branching Hammer Coral, Torch Coral, Frogspawn, Bubble Coral, Neon Green Fungia, Green Star Polyps, Cup Mushroom, Green Candy Cane, Kenya Tree, Pom Pom Xenia, Toadstool Leather, Finger Leather, Devil's Hand Leather, LOTS of shrooms (red, green, blue), Orange Sponge, Green Monti Plate, Brown Gorgonian, Blundell Buttons, Flower Pot, Zoanthids, Palys, Green BTA

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