Are Millepora's Difficult To Keep?

[zoous]

About month ago I purchased some millepora frags. Two of them have bleached out within the past two weeks. Now I have one left. Can someone tell me what are the keys to keeping millepora frags alive and growing?

 

[Troylee]

stable alk and good flow.... i would check for aefw myself millies are there favorite food i have bought a few frags littered with them in the past... straight to the trash they went....:(

 

[zoous]

I have flatworms in my tank but I think I would see bite marks first opposed to bleaching out in one day.

 

[Troylee]

Any other Sps in the system???? Btw you won't see bite marks on millies there not a smooth skin where you can notice it... Give them a dip in revive for 5min and blast it with a turkey baster and see if anything comes off....

 

[zoous]

birdnest, encrusting and plating montis and green slimer.

 

[swannyson7]

+1 on dipping to see if anything comes off.
Have you had any recent swings in your Alk that you're aware of? Do you have any other Acroporas in the tank, or just the SPS you mentioned. If it's AEFW, they don't consume Montis or Seriatopora, but the slimer might show sings.

 

[Troylee]

Let's try sticks any other sticks in the system??? Those are more easier types to keep besides the birdsnest can be finicky sometimes.... It's either alk or aefw from my best guess.... How is the polyp extension??? If there is a pest they don't show polyps and lose colors very quick....

 

[AquaWorldPSC]

+1 perfect flow is key. Just enough to see their polyps waving actively but not being blasted.

 

[zoous]

There is polyp extension on my other corals. I'm thinking maybe a linear flow might not be best.

 

[Troylee]

a nice gentle but high flow is what you want to much can peel the flesh right off it.... something high and broad i guess i should say a high power stream is no good you want to see the polyps just waving in the wind so to speak not all blown one direction....hth

 

[UncleJT]

Are you talking about Acropora millepora or Millepora sp.? Two totally different corals here. I assume Acropora millepora to which you've already received some good advice.

 

[SteezySPS]

I've seen color morphs with this species the most. strong light and strong flow. blast that mug. polyps should be dancing in circles