Alveopora: Placement & Lighting

szesteve · #1 03/27/2005, 08:01 PM

Okay, I got a branching alveopora 2 days ago.

So far, it looks okay to me, apart from the fact that not all the polyps are always out or fully extended.

I have it in a moderately low flow area...probably the lowest area in my tank. It's partially shaded, some branches get indirect light, some get direct light.

I realised that the ones under indirect light are happier than those in direct light. Oh, the alveopora is 3/4 of the way down in my tank.

How can I get it to be more fully extended?

JENnKerry · #2 03/28/2005, 04:48 PM

Feed it....

szesteve · #3 03/28/2005, 06:15 PM

itchy hands got the better of me.

I moved it to a spot right at the corner of the tank where it's not shaded but right at the bottom of the tank. Extremely low flow.

I think it was pretty unhappy last night cos i kept touching the polyps area to try to get it to stay in a position where it wouldn't touch any rocks. Finally got the spot though. Hope nothing knocks it over.

When i checked this morning, most of the polyps looked okay but were not extended(lights were off though).

szesteve · #4 03/28/2005, 06:17 PM

Okay,

Just got home from work...And to my pleasant surprise, all the polyps were out but not 100% fully extended. I'm still happy it's looking better, although it's way too early to tell. I'm guessing if it makes it past 1 year, it's fine?

Anyway, the polyps near the rocks and not facing the light are not coming out or are not fully extended. I'm very interested to see how they'll react or morph in the long run.

Adam · #5 04/06/2005, 06:09 PM

szesteve,

Mine have always done best under low-moderate light. Halides were not tolerated. Moderate current (just enough to gently blow the polyps around) seems best. Too much current and the polyps did not extend. Too little and they suffer. Intermittent flow (like from a sea swirl or other "wave making device) seems to be the best, even if there is an occasional strong blast.

Also... mine have thrived with a turf scrubber in the system and not so much since I have moved and taken it out of the system. I will be putting it back soon and hope to confirm that the turf scubber makes a difference. I suspect that 'pod larvae generated in the scrubber were providing nutrition.

Adam