green plate lps questions

john · 02-08-2005, 03:28 PM

i put a long tentacle plate coral in my tank about 2 weeks ago and it opened up great for about a week.it only opens about half way now.i have it on the sandbed on the bottom of my tank and i just added a metal halide fixture(3-400 watters) about a week ago.is it adjusting to the new lights??should i raise it up higher in the tank?im not running a chiller yet and my tank jumps from 76-80 and back down to 76 at night.also,should i feed it when the tentacles are out or when i see the mouth open???thanks for the help

mps9506 · 02-08-2005, 06:30 PM

Probably adjusting to the lights. They are a lower light coral, just give him a few weeks to acclimate.
When you added the halides, did you acclimate your tank to the new lighting?
I acclimate every time I get new MH bulbs just because of the jump in intensity is VERY extreme and stressful for the corals. In my case I lift my light fixture about 6 inches and lower it over the course of 2 or 3 weeks.
Other people use window screen between the bulbs and water to lower the intensity until the corals adjust.
I would NOT recomend moving it up. They prefer being on the substrate. Also make sure that it isn't being covered up by substrate at all.

Travis · 02-08-2005, 10:15 PM

Good advice from Mike there... Karma Mike!

Also, you should know that any tissue damage heliofungia suffer will likely be the end of the coral. Combine that with the fact that if anyone in the transportation process picks it up by the sides then the tissue will tear, and you have a recipe for a tough coral to get a good specimen of. Make sure when you handle it, you do so by putting your palm under the flat part (bottom) of the coral.

Also, if it does die, leave it in the tank! Often, months later, hundreds of baby heliofungia may appear, seemingly from nowhere!

T

john · 02-08-2005, 10:21 PM

thanks a lot.one more thing,how often and what should i feed it???should i feed when the tentacles are out??dont mean to sound like an idiot here,just new to this speciman.thanks again

mps9506 · 02-08-2005, 10:32 PM

You can feed em. I don't think it helps any. Just my experience. Others may have experienced otherwise.

Travis · 02-09-2005, 12:58 AM

You should feed when the tentacles are out, since it will capture the food with them. Try a VERY small piece of shrimp for starters.

T

02-08-2005, 03:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
john Ricordea Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: ohio Posts: 188 View Gallery Karma Komment	green plate lps questions i put a long tentacle plate coral in my tank about 2 weeks ago and it opened up great for about a week.it only opens about half way now.i have it on the sandbed on the bottom of my tank and i just added a metal halide fixture(3-400 watters) about a week ago.is it adjusting to the new lights??should i raise it up higher in the tank?im not running a chiller yet and my tank jumps from 76-80 and back down to 76 at night.also,should i feed it when the tentacles are out or when i see the mouth open???thanks for the help

02-08-2005, 06:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally stoked dude Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 7,518 View Gallery Karma Komment	Probably adjusting to the lights. They are a lower light coral, just give him a few weeks to acclimate. When you added the halides, did you acclimate your tank to the new lighting? I acclimate every time I get new MH bulbs just because of the jump in intensity is VERY extreme and stressful for the corals. In my case I lift my light fixture about 6 inches and lower it over the course of 2 or 3 weeks. Other people use window screen between the bulbs and water to lower the intensity until the corals adjust. I would NOT recomend moving it up. They prefer being on the substrate. Also make sure that it isn't being covered up by substrate at all. __________________ Mike "The Bandwith Bandit" Help Build Reefpedia Premium Membership Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

02-08-2005, 10:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally stoked dude Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 7,518 View Gallery Karma Komment	You can feed em. I don't think it helps any. Just my experience. Others may have experienced otherwise. __________________ Mike "The Bandwith Bandit" Help Build Reefpedia Premium Membership Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

02-08-2005, 10:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
Travis Smilie Bartender Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 6,701 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Good advice from Mike there... Karma Mike! Also, you should know that any tissue damage heliofungia suffer will likely be the end of the coral. Combine that with the fact that if anyone in the transportation process picks it up by the sides then the tissue will tear, and you have a recipe for a tough coral to get a good specimen of. Make sure when you handle it, you do so by putting your palm under the flat part (bottom) of the coral. Also, if it does die, leave it in the tank! Often, months later, hundreds of baby heliofungia may appear, seemingly from nowhere! T

02-08-2005, 10:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
john Ricordea Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: ohio Posts: 188 View Gallery Karma Komment	thanks a lot.one more thing,how often and what should i feed it???should i feed when the tentacles are out??dont mean to sound like an idiot here,just new to this speciman.thanks again

02-09-2005, 12:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
Travis Smilie Bartender Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 6,701 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	You should feed when the tentacles are out, since it will capture the food with them. Try a VERY small piece of shrimp for starters. T

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