View Full Version : Sick or Stressed Coral
Hello, very new here and believe I got some bad advice regarding when I could put coral in my very new tank. I used RO ocean water salinity was at 1.023. I bought a coral frag today it is purple with a long stem and what looks like a mushroom cap on the top. It was standing up straight when I put it in the tank but it then slowing fell over. Does this mean that I have killed it? I wish I could tell you exactly what kind it is... your help is appreciated.
7itanium
05-03-2009, 10:38 PM
coral tipping over has nothing to do with its health
corals need to be attached to rocks with superglue gel, or reef epoxy in order to stick.... especially frags
also keep in mind that it will take up to a couple of weeks for this coral to show itself much, as it will be stressed from the move (and being glued to a rock lol)
It didn't so much as fall over as it is drooping. It is attached to a rock that I placed in a small crevice on my live rock. It is as if flaccid... and I am guessing that dosing with viagra would throw off the specific gravity of the tank... I will keep an eye on it...if I killed it, then I will consider it to be a learning experience. I am very excited about the idea of keeping coral (just as much as I am about plants in my freshwater).
7itanium
05-03-2009, 11:25 PM
hmmm... well there is a strong possibility that you have severely stressed it out
but.. I DONT think its dead.... about 90% of corals will completely dissolve into nothing almost immediately when they die... they pretty much turn into goo and dissapear
if the coral is still holding its shape-- then its alive... just give it a few days hopefully it will perk up
Amphiprion
05-04-2009, 12:33 AM
Can we get any pics? All of your tank's measurable water parameters? We just need more info to operate on.
Thanks folks. Check on it this AM and its looking a bit better. I think it is just stressed the hell out. had an issue with my heater so the temp rose to nearly 85 degrees before i noticed. Also was lighting way to much (following directions from manufacturer and had lights on for 13 hours). Took care of heater and temp is holding steady at 80. Will only light for 10 hours today (one hour actinic in the am, 8 hours of full light, followed by one hour of actinic). Does that sound right.
I didn't buy a test kit yet as I didn't think I would even be cycling this tank (have sense learned differently). After work I am runnign to LFS to get the API Reef Tank test kit. Is that a good test kit?