Seriatopora Caliendrum "Birdsnest"

[recoiljpr]

All,

I purchased a frag of birdsnest coral last weened on Saturday. When I first purchased it you could clearly see in between the polyps and the polyps were small and kind of stringy (see the first picture). It also looked fairly "stony" When looking on the internet, most pictures I find of Ser. Cali. look like my first picture.

After a week in my tank, during the day it now puffs out where the polyps greatly expand, extend and sway in the current. Instead of looking stony, it now looks very velvety and the polyps have expanded greatly.

Is this a good thing, or is this a sick coral? I do know the second picture is bad quality. I will be getting my normal camera back tonight and I will take another shot if you need it. Take my word that the colors of the coral are the same.

My params are -
Sal - 1.024
Ammon - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 10
PH - 8.2
Alk - 9 DKH
Calcium - 460
I use RO/DI water
weekly water changes
29 Gallon biocube (144W PC lighting upgrade 2 actinics, 2 10k bulbs), about 4 months old.


Last week
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/recoiljpr/birdofparadise.jpg

This week
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/recoiljpr/after.jpg

[BIGBIRD123]

the bigger the polyp extension, the happier the coral...the way I see it.

[Submariner]

Looks great. Good job.

[solo75]

first picture looks sick to me. The second one looks like a healthy green birds nest, try googling that instead.

[recoiljpr]

first picture looks sick to me. The second one looks like a healthy green birds nest, try googling that instead.

Thanks for that info Solo. I'm wondering if the LFS that sold it to me had it misidentified? Because the pictures of green birdsnest you pointed me to look much more like what I have then the Caliendrum.

Only thing I'm concerns me now is that the lighting requirements (at least through googling both Calendrum and Hystrix is it seems Hystrix needs stronger lighting. I have it on the top 1/3 of my tank. I'll just keep an eye on it and make sure it keeps doing well.

Thanks!