Birds Nest coral

[captexas]

I happened to make the LFS rounds this weekend and stopped by Texas Tropical just to look. They had a nice Birds Nest coral that had two hitchhikers, a small crab and some kind of tiny fish that looks like some kind of goby. The price list wasn't out as normal so I asked one of the main guys there that happened to be updating the list as they had just gotten some stuff in apparently, including the coral I was looking at. When I said "Birds Nest" he looked at me funny and asked me to show him which one I was talking about and from the look on his face he apparently thought I didn't know what the hell I was talking about. To his surpise, I was correct with the identification. I have only scene one in a picture in a book once and I knew what it was and he the "professional" didn't! :-o :hammer:

I probably paid too much for it, but I'm happy! It's a really neat coral and it's cool to watch it's residents. Other than good lighting and the typical coral requirements, does anyone know if it needs anything special? I've placed it mid level in my tank and is away from anything that could bother it. Hopefully someday I will get access to a digital camera so I can take pics of my tank. :D

[Tim Marvin]

Good lighting and lots of water flow.

[captexas]

Thanks Tim. Well with a 400watt metal halide and 380watts of VHO lighting on my 58gallon, lighting isn't a problem. Just last week I got my two new Sea Swirls installed on my tank so water circulation is much improved. Hopefully the coral does well as I really like it. Thanks again Tim :D

[newtosa]

Hobbyist pages:
http://www.globaldialog.com/~jrice/coral_page/birdnest.htm
http://www.andy-hipkiss.co.uk/index.htm?http://www.andy-hipkiss.co.uk/secaliendrumgrowth.htm

Information & commercial pages:
http://www.dynamicecomorphology.com/tracyseriatoporafarmdata.htm

I like these corals too. I've never had any, but if I ever figure out what requirements they have for my tank, I'd like to try one. My problem is I can't get a consensus on their care; until I resolve that, I'm staying away.

[OrionN]

These corals are extreemly fast grower. Mine grow about 1.5 inches per months. This is the fastest SPS grower in my tank. As far as SPS goes, they don't require very high light. You will need to place it lower (bottom) of your tank or it may bleach. They are hardy and will do very well in our tank.
The more flow you give it the thicker are the branches.
The other more percular distiction of this coral is that they don't encrust very well at all. It is hard to frag them due to this reason. I use plastic cable ties to tie a frag to rock because it will have to last for a long time. i aso try to frag them very small. I use fishing like to tie frags that are about .5-.75 cm to shell. Theyse frags grew very quickly and will attach by the time they are ready to sell at 2 months rather than 2 week like most other SPS.
I got many of these if anybody want them (Pink)
Minh Nguyen

[newtosa]

Minh,

As usual, thanks very much for the info. I'd like to try one of these in the next month or so.

Following your suggestion, I'll put it 20-30" below the 400w MHs, in the middle of a surge zone. Is that right?

Sent you a pm on buying a frag of this from you.

Everyone - I'm interested in getting a CR frag or 2 of this. Based on my experience, I could ruin several WC colonies in my impatience (and take 6 months doing it), or I could get a couple CR frags that stand an infinitely better chance of actually growing and looking good in my tank. Same 6 months, with a similar end product, a lot less money and no dead WC colonies.

Thanks,
Dean