~sofe coral needs~

[sapgranth25]

hello all i`d like some advice with star polyps but soft corals in general as my star polyps have been eaten by some thing bristle worms, slugs ( nudibranch ) are another hitchhiker..!!!!

BUT the question is im thinking of moving my star polyps in to a tank on there own with no fish filter etc is this possible in other words do soft corals need bacteria like fish to live are do they only need a good salt in the water plus a good lighting system plus water movement????

please help all advice welcome thanks

 

[Max]

They do need a cycled tank to live. If it's a nudibranch that's eating them removing thier food source will eliminate their population. Most nudi's only eat one or a very few food item. What are your water parameters, flow, lighting etc? I doubt the bristle worms would eat anything that wasn't already dead. It's true that their are a couple of species that do eat coral but, IME they aren't very common.

You can get a sponge filter and keep the sponge in your main set up for a couple of weeks so it can develop a bacterial colony and them move out the polyps. They do need light and wate movement but, they'll do ok out side of your main tank until you solve your issues. It's just going to take you some time to get their home ready.
hth

 

[sapgranth25]

i`ve had a sponge in my main tank that is from an internal filter in case of a quarantine emergency was needed so i guess that will be full of bacteria after 8 months but i thought bacteria died after 6 hours without fish within the tank etc?????

my main tank turns over around 18times an hour sounds alot but i gotta have alot of movement due to the tank been deep 24inch....

ammonia 0,nitrite 0 nitrate 5ppm ph 8.3~8.4

i have 2x18w T5 power compacts ( one power compact is white the other is white blue 50/50 mix )

 

[Max]

You'll have to feed the filter a little when you put it in the q.t. Just give it a very small amount of fish food to keep your bacteria alive.
hth