Need Green Ricordia Advice

[NaH2Ofreak]

I have recently aquired some ricordia polyps myself and have been trying to find a place they like. My experience has been, "indirect", intense lighting. My setup is 2 175W halides and 4 110W Vhos. I find that strong, indirect lighting might be like in the upper, back corner of the tank. Or, kind of under a large soft coral, like a sarcophyton or toadstool. Also maybe if they are tipped so that the mouth is facing straight out the front of the tank. This is opposed to having them face strait up into the light.

These are just some things to try. I have a 3 year old, rather mature reef tank and I cant get 'em to be happy either. YET!!!!!!!

Good Luck,
Let me in on the secret when you find it!
Dennis

 

[dendronepthya]

I have kept ricordia for several years. Only recently have they done really well, and I attribute the success to feeding. I tried moving them all over the place in different kinds of light/flow, and I didn't really see a big difference one way or another. I would suggest starting it out in medium light, medium current(whatever those things mean), and feed the guys directly with a turkey baster.

I have fed mine a blend of brine and mysis shrimp soaked in zoe and selcon. They seem to take in the mysis better than the brine.

 

[Mike02]

i have a 10 gallon tank with 72 watt PC. i have orange FL recordia. i had one, now 4 since they've split in the 8 months i had them. i have them in the front, bottom of the tank. its mostly all actinic lighting there. i think theyre getting low water current. once in a long while i'll drop some flake food on them. once one polyp was eating the shell of the peppermint shrimp. the food does kind of stick to the tenticles and the ricordia folds around it. i did have one green polyp but that was eatin by the peppermint shrimp

 

[Rek84]

I have some regular green ricorida I recently acquired. I have searched for answers on their care, but everything has been contradictory. For instance, a couple of places and posts have stated they need medium flow, and high lighting. A couple other places and posts have said low current and low lighting. I have also read that they need to be fed. How and what?? My polyps are about the size of a dime, and maybe 1 or 2 nickel/quarter size. I tried to feed them last night, but nothing "sticks" to them...they are so small that everything just blows off of them, they make to attempt to grasp any food like an anenome does. Also, I had them at one of the highest points in the tank for lighting which also was in at least a medium flow area(I have 3 VHO bulbs, 2 aquasuns and 1 blue actinic on a 70 gallon long tank). But they didn't seem too happy there, they never really "puff up" like my other mushrooms. Part of one of the polyps is "white" looking (ie..not healthy/happy). I moved them down to a low area in the tank today to see what happens. But should I try to shield them from light? My other mushrooms that are in low light open up pretty big. Any help/advice appreciated. I really want some big fluffy ricordia!!!

(please see pictures...they look bigger in the pics than they actually are)

 

[MaryHM]

I have observed here at my facility that ricordea placed under halides tends to hold its color better and the colors get brighter than those left under regular mushroom lighting. This only seems to hold true for ricordea- not other types of mushrooms I've tried.