Coral ID please :: soft and orange

[GrouperStupor]

These hitchhikers have been in my tank for a while. They look like Cheetos. You can see how it's spreading, but none of the colonies are getting bigger than a 1/4". Please ID for me so I find out how to properly care for them.

 

[skinz78]

Looks like Carnation coral but hard to tell from the pic.

 

[GrouperStupor]

A better pic.

 

[GrouperStupor]

Carnation appears correct. Thanks.

Carnation Coral-Orange - Dendronephthya spp.

Hmm, non-photosynthetic. But would it hurt something like this to be in bright light? VHO bright.

I've had it in a low flow kind of shady area. I'll move it to a high flow area and see if that helps.

 

[ritter6788]

These are nearly impossible to keep alive in aquariums long term. They need a constant supply of food (phytoplankton?). I don't think people that have dedicated NPS only systems even have good luck with these.

 

[GrouperStupor]

yeah, as soon as I read they were expert only...I knew they were doomed.

I feed both phyto and zoo. Maybe they will hang around for a while.

 

[jonbar1]

Scleronephthya, often called Orange Cauliflower Tree Coral. Luckily easier to keep than Dendros, but still not the easiest.