My Torch Coral

[Mike612]

I've had this Torch Coral for about a month and a half now. Until about a week ago, the Torch Coral was big and open all the time. Now, I only see one or two of its branches (out of six) big and open. The other branches are closed up during the day but will open just a bit more at night. My ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite are all zero. The alkalinity is 2.3, the calcium is at 400, and ph is at 8.3. All of my other coral (lps coral and soft coral) and fish look fine and healthy. I'm using metal halide and actinic lighting.

Does anybody know how I could make this coral show itself more like it used to?

I'm just thinking, I think it started to close up after I topped off my tank with freshwater.

 

[saltank]

Is there anything bothering it? Mine will close up very tightly when hermit crabs crawl up on to the stalk

 

[Mike612]

Not that I've ever seen. None of my fish pick at it and the only inverts I have in the tank are a Blue Linkia Starfish which doesn't go anywhere near the coral, a Cleaner Shrimp that just hangs around in its own territory, and a Bubbletip Anemone that is nowhere near the Torch Coral.

 

[WRASSER]

maybe too much water flow or not enough. they tend to enjoy a lite flow across the. :wink:

 

[bleedingthought]

And how high up the tank are they? Maybe too much light since they are opening up at night...

 

[MartinE]

maybe too much water flow or not enough. they tend to enjoy a lite flow across the. :wink:

This would be my guess as well.

 

[bleedingthought]

The alkalinity is 2.3

I'm almost sure it's not, but just wanted to know if this is dKH.

 

[Mike612]

It has been in the middle of the tank. I moved it up towards the top of the tank and it seems happier now. It's more open.

 

[Newportreefer]

IMO alkalinities need to be 3.5 to 4.0. That is where I keep mine. My torch is near the surface under a 175W MH. It stays open all day. It is partially protected from the full force of the current by some live rock.

Interestingly there appear to be symbiotic barnacles living in the center of each polyp.

 

[bleedingthought]

Interesting about the love for light! Mine is currently stuck in the sand under 440 watts of VHO (about 20 inches from the bulbs) and is incredibly open and super plumb! It gets enough current that it sways back and forth depending on the direction of the water.