Toppling corals and such...

[payge]

Our new setup has me constantly worrying about where all the corals are placed..how close is too close?-I know they need at least 6in...--Is there too much flow?? How will I know these things?

1st I thought the TOrch coral was getting buffeted around a bit too much..i read they like a low-med water flow..and their first spot wasnt that...so we moved him and he opened up nice and was very pretty...

then, the 2nd mushroom we got started to pull itself up againt itself like it was tryin to hide..I thought this was odd as our others never did this...so I go to move him to a lesser hit with "flow spot"....before I even got to pick up his lil rock..it -literally- jumped off the rock...like it was actually trying to get off his rock and then just plucked itself off..I tried to get it cozy in a dip in the other LR and finally he seemed ok..then about 20min later he started folding himself again and rocked around in his hole from the current..and tumbled away...now Im not sure where he is

ANd this morning I wake up to find the torch coral "face-down" in the sand...and for god-knows-what reason I couldn't get the bugger to fit back on the rock my hubby-esears-got him onto that he liked.....so I had to put him up somehere he wouldn't get smooshed...which meant I had to move our xenia--(who also isn't looking good since the new PC lights came)--

Which brings my last question for you guys...how much can I handle these corals before completely stressing them out?? How important is it for them to have a stable spot?? Im sure its obviously very important for them, as they get accustomed(sp) to certain lighting and flow and how far they can reach etc....


Any help/suggestions advie is greatly appreciated!!
Wow sorry for the loong post..just wanna make sure Im doin this right with as lil stress to these plants/animals..they are truly beautiful and worthy of my respect

 

[steve-s]

Constantly moving the coral is generally a bad thing to do, even if to correct placement. Once you find the right spot for a given species (flow/light/neighbours), anchor them with either epoxy puddy, superglue gel (containing cyanoacrylate) or both.

You will be very pleasantly suprised how much better the corals will do when undisturbed.

Cheers
Steve

 

[payge]

do most stores carry the epoxy? or just fish stores? I will be out today and can pick some up...

do corals like being in the sandbed??

Anyone know how to pep up a xenia? I fear mine is not doing so well even dying..its turning white and losing the lil "pumping hands"..not sure if the 240w PC set is too much for him?? we also got a few new "power head pump things"..


1 Seio 820, another used "water pusher" dont know make or model..and a ViaAqua Powehead Pump (180)..as well as our sump set-up with protien skimmer.

I hate being such a noob with such awesome lil creatures

 

[jlehigh]

do most stores carry the epoxy? or just fish stores? I will be out today and can pick some up...

Plumbers Epoxy is very similar to the two part marine epoxy but IMO that stuff causes more problems then it helps.. I stick to the Super Glue Gel in the Quickloc dispensors..

A few tricks I use when applying the Gel:
- Cut the tips off
- After getting the initial squeeze out, use pliars and you will get more
- Once under-water the gel will form a coat around itself. Wait a few seconds then when placing the piece twist it around while applying preassure to break the gel sack, then hold it in place for 1-2 minutes.

I get about a 90% success rate with this method whereas the more expensive two part epoxy has literally almost never worked well..

I get my Super Glue Gel from Home Depot and use about 1 tube for every two corals.

 

[liveforphysics]

If you xenia is dying and most other things look fine, get some Iodine in the tank pronto.

Xenia seems to be the first thing to inform you that your Iodine level dropped.

Its around $3-5 per bottle in most LFS. I would just add a little at first and see if it peps up. You dont wana over dose it, but its essential that it be present.

 

[mmkeeper]

You can get super glue gel at Dollar Tree store or Big Lots
Dollar Tree $1.00 gets you three tubes, 88 cents for two tubes at Big LOts

 

[payge]

Thanks guys!! The hubby picked up Iodine and a Ph buffer..the Indoor Reef guy said the PH may have dropped and that would kill the xenia...We checked the Ph and indeed it did drop from about 8.4 to 8.0 So we fixed that hopefully..we will retest tomorrow...we got a new tester (more accurate) as well...

Thanks for the glue advice I will have to pick some of that up !!

 

[payge]

OK I need more advice...2 things 1...My new 3 "headed" frogspawn is now wedged between the side of the tank and the LR..having fallen off its perch..do I move him?? And return it to its ledge?..*goes to the store for glue* mwahahahaaa

2nd...are there fish or crabs that knock these over?? They were "perched" about the same as they were in the guy's tank we got them from....We have a Green Clown Goby, Sally Light Foot Crab, hermit crabs-all blue legged and a zebra legged, 1x Sand sifting star, 1x Valentini Puffer, 1x PJ cardinal, and a Red Scooter Blenny..

Can any of these be "re-arranging" the corals?? I know the Scooter has been thuroughly excited with all the new very cultured LR..but he has never toppled or moved anything before.... altho the hermit crabs may have been able to move this last coral.. they couldn't have dislodged the torch...Im so confused and feel so helpless when it comes to this "hobby".....

 

[mmkeeper]

Fish, hermit crabs and snails will move your coral if they are not achored. Move your torch. you might want to just stick him in the sandbed until you get the glue. Is the torch on a small rock or just a loose piece?

 

[payge]

the torch is laying on a stable thick back "wall" of rock..the frog was sittin nestled on a smaller ledge...do they like being in the sand?? it wont irritate them?

thanks guys

 

[mmkeeper]

I don't know long term, however when I have place my frogspawn and other branching coral in the sand bed while aclimating it and deciding where to put for the long haul, they opened just fine.

 

[payge]

OK hopefully will get a fast reply on this....I just got back from gettin the glue...I got Loctite SuperGlue Gel but the guy at Ace hardware said it will kill all my fish..as it has cianoacrilato..a form of cyonide?? Is it REALLY ok to put this in there?!

Please respond hehe thanks!!! :shock:

 

[mmkeeper]

cyanoacrylate ester is just fine to use. I must have 30 tubes in my 46 gallon.

 

[payge]

HAHA i was looking at the Spanish "Warning" when I wrote that....oh its been a long day yeah that cyanoacrylate..cool thanks gonna go fiz my poor lil corals then!

 

[mmkeeper]

Good Luck!!!!!

 

[payge]

Well I got the frogspawn on pretty good-I think And I really hope I got the tiny waving coral bit on right side up ...man this "hobby" sure has learned me stuff..I'm not soon to forget

Thanks for all the advice!