Can Scolymia survive in dim lighting temporarily?

[Large Polyp Dave]

I have a bleached out scolymia (he had been out in the MH at the top of the tank for several months and lost his deeper colours)

i REALLY want to nurse him back to health. I can't seem to feed him in my tank too well because his feeding response is much slower than a fully healthy scolymia. and the current will blow it away.

i was wondering if scolymia will survive in my refugium? for a little while. I want to feed it every day. Much slower current in there.
It is lit by two 23 watt Compact Fluoresecent bulbs. not too bright....


i thought i'd ask before throwing him down there in case you think it wont' survive in that kind of dim lighting

[Anthony Calfo]

they are naturally low light corals... and as a stressed coral, arguably need to be kept in low light for some months before acclimating to brighter places in the aquarium.

The key with saving any bleached coral is feeding. In this case, you are very lucky that the coral will eat organismally (particles versus absorption).

Put a bit of thawed juice from frozen food (even squeezing a food shrimp in the tank) some minutes (15+) before feeding will often elicit a feeding response. With starved corals, you may need to do this for a week or more (after the lights go out) to get the coral to put out its feeding tentacles.

After you see the feeding tentacles, you can feed very fine minced meats of marine origin. Nothing larger than 1/4" bits please. Mysids word very well... pacifica plankton too. Or simply mince fish meat, krill, etc.

if you do this faithfully... it can be an amazing recovery in as little as 3-4 months

[Large Polyp Dave]

alrighty! thanks anthony

[M.Maddox]

I did the same thing for a Trachyphillia (spelling?) that survived and grew like crazy afterwards. Just remember to keep feeding after it's healthy, as well!