Best conditions for a Colt (I think mine is dying)?

[Moonrs]

I have a colt that I got about a month or so ago. It doesn't look well at all at the moment. In fact, it's rather wilted and even more alarming, has several whole branches that have a destinctly dark cast to them. The polyps are mostly drawn up, not everywhere, though. Sometimes, whole branches do perk up, but not consistantly. I have two 96watt 10K bulbs and one 03 Actinic bulb. I have the colt sitting about halfway from the top of the tank in an area of moderate flow. I haven't checked the water perameters yet (will check in a moment), but everything else in the tank is Very happy, from my galaxia, mushrooms, and zoo's, to my xenia, blue linkia star and all the other fish, snails, and hermits. Besides ensuring optimum water quality, how can I ensure the colt is in the best spot in my tank? For example, how close to the lights should it be, and what is the type of circulation it does the best in? Also, should I be adding some type of additive or supplement for it? Thanks for your patience with my ignorance; I just want to save my coral!!! :cry:

[reefer]

colt corals require medium to bright intensity lighting, medium to high current flow, so i believe it is in a good spot. some colts don't fair well, while other do. if your water parameters are ok, then you may want to see if you have a predatory nudibranch that maybe munching on it. i have had a few colt corals in the past that i have lost to these nudi's.
8)

[Moonrs]

Thanks, I have no idea if it's a nubibranch or not; I've never seen in my current tank. I had one in my previous tank, whose contents I transferred to my current tank. I hadn't seen it for a week or so before the transfer, so I assumed it was dead. Maybe it was hiding and survived. Any other ideas, folks? Thanks.

[Tim Marvin]

I have to agree with reefer. Mine are in a 45 gallon breeder tank with 730 watts of light and barely able to hang on the rock it has so much flow and it seems to grow while I watch it. I put it in the acro prop tank originally for lack of space in the other tanks and it loves it in there.

[Moonrs]

so what was the flow like in your Acro prop tank? Although there's a fair amount of flow in my tank, the colt is not being over blown about by the current... I just see it declining day by day and I'm afraid it's going to continue. I don't know what else to do. Thanks, tim and reefer, for the quick answers. I'll keep you posted on wheteher he survives or not.

[Tim Marvin]

2 maxi 1200's and a mag 12 return.

[Ram_Puppy]

hey guys,

I came home today and noticed that my colt is now having problems... I got it as a frag from rocketeer about a month and a half ago, and it more than tripled in size over the intervening time. Now, it looks like the base has turned a slight brown color and is 'deflated' if i look at it just right, it almost looks as if there is a chunk of flesh missing down low.

Water parameters are normal except for nitrates, I need to do a water change, but was low on salt mix and didn't have enough to finish out my bucket. I will pick up more salt in the AM and hopefully do a water change before going to work tomorrow.

Only inhabitants of the tank right now are pods, 1 emerald crab, about 5 dwarf zebra crabs, some trochus grazers and a turbo snail. (which I have no idea how it got there since I have only put in trochus... , and it definately didn't hitch hike.. (must have been a mix up at the store.)

Anyhow...

The polyps on the coral are all retracted tightly but the vast majority of the coral is still well colored... I am wondering, if it doesn't crash overnight, should I frag it off the questionable area and stick it back on a rock?

any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[Ram_Puppy]

oh, and the xenia and starpolyps I got from rocketeer are in the same tank, well apart and also growing at exponential rates, and the rhodactus I got has nearly doubled in size in 2 weeks.

the colt is in a high flow area of water as well, but not so high it is subject to any 'whipping' type motions or anything.

[Ram_Puppy]

never mind... :)

I just got out of bed and grabbed a peek and it's doing great, fully extended... the bottom still look's 'odd' but hey, it's my first colt, maybe I'm the one that is odd.

[Moonrs]

well, My colt is difinately not doing any better. I think it's definately a goner. I've really no idea what else I should be doing to better his chances... Arrrgh!