Birdsnest Care

FSOL · #1 01/19/2007, 02:58 AM

Hey guys,

Please tell me what type of flow and light birdsnests do best in? I bought a huge piece today (about 7" in diameter) that was in a showtank and I want to make sure it's happy in my tank.

Thanks

toothman · #2 01/19/2007, 09:20 AM

My birdnest doubles in size every 6 months and is real vivid dark pink. It is placed 6" from a 400watt 10k bulb with medium flow.

DaddyJax · #3 01/19/2007, 09:51 AM

Pics? There are a couple of different types of birdsnest out there and they can require a slightly different placement.

FSOL · #4 01/19/2007, 10:11 AM

Thanks.
I'll post a pic in a few hours.

CeeGee · #5 01/19/2007, 10:16 AM

lighting depends on the color. Pink needs high light other variations go in medium light. High flow and PRISTINE water. I find birdsnest as somewhat difficult although others disagree. As long as your water is in good shape you are good to go.

twon8 · #6 01/19/2007, 10:40 AM

if it is a large colony it will need heavy flow to keep the inside alive

FSOL · #7 01/19/2007, 10:44 AM

Well when I look at some of the branches under it, they are a nice pink/light purple in color, but this is just a few branches that are hidden under the main branches. The main branches are not pinkish, they are kind of dirty orange/brownish in color and show nice fuzzy texture (I'm assuming birdsnests have PE also).

Vanquish · #8 01/19/2007, 03:53 PM

I keep a frag of birdnest hysterix near the bottom of my reef, about 20 inches away from the water surface and it's been doing well, growing and maintaining it pink colour with hardly any hint of browness, it has stumped me....

Can anyone explain?

NICERICAN4YOU25 · #9 01/19/2007, 05:44 PM

hi guys

i really dont think they are too hard like ceegee said it bout placement i have 2 one green and a purple birdnest bout 15-18in
below my halides they looking good. just read try to find out exactly what species u have then go from there.

happy reefing everyone

carlos

FSOL · #10 01/19/2007, 06:12 PM

Here's a pic of the birdsnest. I have it under Phoenix 14k's (250W) and it's about 2.5 feet under the bulbs w/ medium flow on it.

louist · #11 01/19/2007, 06:21 PM

Notice the thick branches and dense growth? That indicates that the colony came from a high energy environment where water movement is fast.

I would give it good water movement. How the colony grow in your tank will also depend on what env. you give it. Studies have shown that corals in high energy env. take almost twice as long to reach the same size as a colony growing in a low energy env. but the skeleton is twice as dense (thicker branches, denser colony).

I have my S. hystrix right in front a of Tunze 6025 (2500L/h) and it shows full PE and very fast growth.

FSOL · #12 01/19/2007, 07:03 PM

I can see PE on this thing, but it's not like the PE you see on acros. It's just some fuzzy stuff on the branches that don't seem to be moving around.
I didn't place it in direct flow area, fearing of tissue loss. When I put my hand in the water to feel the tunze stream's flow, the birdsnest sits right where the width of the tunze stream's flow comes to an end. So if I was to move the tunze a little to the right, it would directly hit the birdsnest, but gently of course.

DaddyJax · #13 01/19/2007, 07:25 PM

It needs good flow. Looks really healthy too. I have one exactly like it and it is in a medium flow area with strong light.

Marko9 · #14 01/20/2007, 12:10 AM

That is a nice find.

FSOL · #15 01/20/2007, 08:57 AM

This used to be a pink birdsnest, judging from some of the pink branches I see deep underneath. Will it be possible to bring the pink back, and if so, how? Like I said earlier, right now it's orange/light brown in color.

CeeGee · #16 01/20/2007, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NICERICAN4YOU25
hi guys

i really dont think they are too hard like ceegee said

that is why I said others have different opinions. I stand steadily by what I said about your water has to be in pristine shape with these corals if not the ends will die off and algae will grow there. I have seen it firsthand. As long as you don't have high phosphate and nitrate you are good to go. It is just a matter of finding the right placement if all else is in line.

IME this coral and the ORA Chips Acro are the canary in the coal mine.

twon8 · #17 01/20/2007, 01:14 PM

i have mine in heavy flow, about 2/3 of the way down in the tank, a bit to the side of the 400w 20k

Dansin · #18 01/20/2007, 02:17 PM

Love those Birds nest years ago i had one the size of a 16 in. solfball. I didn't have enough current and started getting alge on it before you no it it was gone. Great looking peaces.

LBCBJ · #19 01/20/2007, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by twon8
if it is a large colony it will need heavy flow to keep the inside alive

Exactly...Birdsnests usually have a very thick growth pattern and require strong flow to penetrate the inside of the colony. Really nice find.

damienkee · #20 01/20/2007, 09:41 PM

IMO, they need very good flow. but not hard to keep. once the water parameter is right, they r quite easy to keep.

FSOL · #21 01/22/2007, 08:57 PM

Hey guys, I had some good flow on it. Here's what I noticed. When I brought it home from the LFS the branches were dirty orange/brown colored but showed nice brown polyps on them.

After two days in the flow, I notice that the branches have lost that dirty orange/brown color and show a little pink color, BUT I don't see any polyps. It's just a smooth pink surface w/out any brown polyps showing (like you see in TWON8's posted pic above).
Does this mean the flow is too much?
I have it sitting about 24" in front of a tunze stream 6100 that's alternating between 30% and 100% blast on a multicontroller.

cward · #22 01/22/2007, 09:27 PM

It shouldn't be too much flow, but I wouldn't have it directly in the path of the Tunze. Mine seems to love bright light, so mine did best for me about half way up the tank under 400w MH's.

FSOL · #23 01/22/2007, 10:48 PM

I've always been confused w/ high/low flow. I mean it's all kind of relative. How does one define high flow or low flow

When I put my palm in the front of the birdsnest, I can feel a nice pressure from the tunze. Would it be safer if I slow down the flow a bit and see if any browning occurs, then just increase it gently.

DaddyJax · #24 01/22/2007, 11:20 PM

Flow is something that corals can take alot of! It is constant direct flow they generally dont like. if you have yours in a alternating flow then that is better. I point my Mods in a clashing way just in front of all the corals so the flow is bouncing all over the place and never just blowing things over in one direction. I would play with things and see if you could bounce it off of the glass or something if you start to get problems.

FSOL · #25 01/22/2007, 11:23 PM

It's kind of hard for me to make all 3 tunzes meet in the middle of the tank and collide their flow, because I have SPS that are in the way. I've tried bouncing flow off the front/sides/back of the tank, but it's tough w/ the DSB. I've spent at least an hour each day in the past few days trying to get the flow just right, but it's a pain in the butt to get enough flow, yet not direct flow, yet not having the sandbed shift