Tree coral not opening fully

[esmithiii]

I have a tree coral (capnella, I believe) that is not opening fully. Other specimines of the same species (cuttings, actually) are opened fully, some are placed near the specimine in question. All other corals seem to be fine. The coral is firmly attached, and is the largest of the bunch.

 

[esmithiii]

Anyone? It doesn't look like anyone is nipping at it...

E

 

[Mike02]

how long have you had it?

 

[esmithiii]

Almost a year. I moved it several months ago (cut it and placed it in the crack of a piece of liverock.) It has flourished since then, and is probably three to four times as big as when I got it. All other corals are doing very well.

Ernie

 

[esmithiii]

UP!

 

[esmithiii]

it is within 3" of another cutting which is doing fine.

Two things have changed in the last two months. First, I went from 2 55W 5500K bulbs to 1 65W smartlamp and 1 55W 5500K bulb. Second, I started soaking food in selecon. Both these changes happened about two months ago. I am not sure why the mother colony would have issues and the cuttings not.

Thanks in advance,

E

 

[6_line]

Hi,
I have capnella spread all over my tank (the mother capnella kept dropping babies) and I have found that they can be somewhat tempermental even when the rest of the colony is fine. Placement can change the appearence of the coral drastically (higher current makes them busy, lower current tends to make them droop) light and current are two primary issues. Where is it in relation to the rest of the cutting?

 

[davelin315]

It could just be that another coral is outcompeting it. I used to have a colt coral that grew to occupy 1/4 of my 125, stretching from it's base in the middle of the tank up to the surface, down to the bottom, and front to back, and side to side. Then, another soft coral (think it might have been a tree, not sure) started to get bigger and bigger, and the colt got smaller and smaller. It could be that one of your other corals is releasing toxins into the water to discourage other corals from flourishing and competing with it for food, and that it is only affecting the one specimen so far.

 

[esmithiii]

Interesting. Why would the toxins not affect other specimines of the same species?

E