New Red Chili Coral

[mooner]

I just got a new red chili coral and I hear that they are not very good with intense lighting. I have MH so I created it some shade with a LR bridge but it's still a bit bright down there. I got it locally and it was under some PC's that were actually rather bright so acclimation should not be to traumatic for it.

Sprung say's low lighting only (p181 in Coral's AQRG). Thing is that this is called a "red chile sponge" in his reference. It looks similar but not a dead match.

Any experience with these corals? I'd hate to give it a sunburn!

 

[Adrian]

I have never personally kept one, but I know they are not photosythetic, and require frequent feedings of phytoplankton or something similar. Whether they are sensitive to light or not Im not sure. HTH

 

[mooner]

I have never personally kept one, but I know they are not photosythetic, and require frequent feedings of phytoplankton or something similar. Whether they are sensitive to light or not Im not sure. HTH

Thanks. I do have a maxima clam that I feed DT phyto on a regular basis so it will get some food. Good to know...

 

[Anonymous]

High flow also seems to be beneficial - check it after lights out and see if it's putting out white polyps. I know some people that have had these for years - very hardy for a non-photosynthetic coral.

 

[mooner]

After three days this coral seems to be unhappy. Since I put it in with a full one hour acclimation and water mixing its just sitting in it's little shade cave looking weak day and night. No polyps out at night and it looks "deflated" and droopy.

I wonder if I need to just give it more time?

This is the first coral I have had that did not come around within 24 hours.

All my params are good: Amm 0, trites - 0, trates - 0, Ph - 8.2 to 8.4, calc - 400, dK - 8, temp 77

Not sure on this one. Any ideas?

 

[rbb213]

Mooner, Give it time, it will open......keep it in the shade though

 

[LFS42]

red chili's do best under low light,
moderate to strong current,
heavy feeding.


they are similar to sun corals

 

[Micah00]

When I first got mine it didn't polyp out for almost a week. When it did it was during the day, came out in the day for about a week. After that it started to polyp at night.