Tongue Coral and Plate Coral Tips

[67Stang]

Hi again

I just purchased a beautiful 10" tongue coral. (Wonder if they named it after Gene Simmons) I also picked up a 6" diameter Green Plate Coral.

Both are doing great in my 200 gal reef but was wondering if you guys can give me any tips on the care?

Lots of light or shady area?
High or low current?
Mostly, what and how do you feed? Would the tenticles accept brine shrimp like my polyps do?

Currently the Tongue coral is sitting on the DSB. The Plate coral is on a ledge 5" from the bottom of the tank. Is it ok to be placed directly on the DSB?

OK, Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.
Bruce

 

[AnotherGoldenTeapot]

I have a 12 inch long tounge sitting on my sand bed directly in the path of one half of the main return from the sump. It seems to like the strong flow.

I've had it a couple of years and have never "fed" it anything. I have a clown in the tank that seems to have mistaken it for being a good home. At night the tentacles retract and the fish sleeps leaning up against the skeleton.

In terms of light it's two feet away from a 250w 10K bulb.

They are capable of moving - they sort of puff themseleves up and move a little bit.

I've no idea what's considered optimal - this works for mine...

 

[KenH]

I will speak to the Plate coral as I have never kept a tongue coral.

They are better off on the sand in a low to moderate water current area. They can inflate their tissues and drift with the current and you may find it on the sand anyway. Since they can move and have a fairly powerful sting, you do want to keep them corraled with some small rocks or similar. Lighting doesn't seem very critical. I have kept them under both moderate and intense lighting. Feeding is not necessary, but they will take most meaty foods like brine shrimp, pieces of shrimp, Formula One, etc if it is offered.

You can find a little more info here: http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSheets/plate_coral.htm

HTH,
--- Ken

 

[gka]

My plate coral is low maintenance. They expand quite a bit so make sure it has some room. Mine is on the bottom of the tank under direct light. I seems to like more versus less light. I don't feed it but it readily eats almost any type of meaty food that happens to fall it's way. Also likes low current to medium current. It has grown from about 4 inches in diameter to about 6-7 inches in about 18 months.