Elegance Coral

Makbarracuda · Jan 18, 2010

What is the reason so many reef keepers have issues keeping this type of coral. What are its specific care requirements(lights, flow, supplemnts, feeding, the works)?

makingbubbles · Jan 18, 2010

I have no idea. I dont have it yet but plan to add some soon. I do have 3types of frogspawn and 1 torch in my tank. My purple tip frogspawn is the fastest growing coral in my tank other than zoas. I figure it will do well if all the others are growing.

makingbubbles · Jan 18, 2010

I just read that it has sensitive flesh, and thats about it. I wouldn't recommended putting it in the substrate like pet websites suggest. Sand can irritate the flesh. I have all my Euphyllia corals up high in my tank, and they do just fine.

JNye · Jan 18, 2010

its a low light coral, i believe it comes from lagoon areas so the water may be a bit cloudier. I think the main reason people have trouble is they blast it with light and it can be extremely sensitive to this. Its also more susceptible to disease/infection so water conditions should be top notch IMO. The first one I owned died on me and this was after some serious research(i thought), the second I still have and it was an aquacultured specimen. its very hardy. If you can find one of those DEF go that route.

makingbubbles · Jan 18, 2010

after what PTR said, i should mention that i have 260watt pc on my tank (low light). I wouldent recomend putting any coral up high in a metal hilide tank at first.

Makbarracuda · Jan 18, 2010

Brought one home from the pet store i work at because it barely opened in the past three weeks. I think it is partially because two days after we got it, a big bubble tip anemone hopped on his face and im sure that did nothing to make him happy. i have two double t5 ho strips over a 29 gallon bio cube. i put him near the bottom in the front wedged between two rocks so he can't touch the bottom. Does he stand a chance?

makingbubbles · Jan 18, 2010

Dude what i have learned, Is that you never know. All you can do is provide the best water conditions for it and place it in a reasonable spot. I believe you may have it in a good spot as long as it has light. I have seen frogspawn flourish on the bottom of a 55gal with 260watt 2 year old pc lamps (the tank was dark). Leave it there for a while. The more you move it the more agitated it gets. After a while it will hopefully bounce back. I cant tell you that it will live or not, too many factors.

Azurel · Jan 19, 2010

Put it in the sand Elegance corals are a sediment based coral with the tooth(skeleton) buried in the sand/mud etc. Having it in the rocks will actually do more harm than good in the long run.

If it is a Indo-pacific Elegance they have horrible record of survivability almost 100% mortality rate due to the depth they are collected along with horrorably handling during collection and shipping which leads to bacterial infection which s easily passed on to others in the same tanks as them. Aussie elegance are fare allot better and don't have the death rate that Indos do. I have an a Aussie or aquaculture not sure which as the LFS said it was labled as both on the billing....Google Elegance corals and you will get plenty of info on then and thier requirements.

reefsmokinFOOL · Jan 19, 2010

ime The flesh does seem to be a bit sensitive, The top and underside. I have mine buried in the sand a 1/2 in below where the flesh meets the skeleton. No rocks are touching it. I bought a sexy shrimp that decided to make it his home and for a week or so the Elegance was real grumpy and out of his normal behavior. Now when the shrimp walks all over him the Elegance doesnt seem to care anymore. This is my expierence.

reefsmokinFOOL · Jan 19, 2010

BTW this is a pink tip Ausie

Azurel · Jan 19, 2010

Yea the tissue is sensitive as it is actually very thin....I had mine stuck to my hand and actually pulled some tenticles off it with no ill effects. If it is healthy they are very durable and can handle quite a bit. It's just getting a healthy one, if it's Aussie then I would say you are good to go just keep it low and on the sand and feed it.It should be sticky like a carpet anemone which is another way to tell or measure it's health...Pink tip I bet that looks nice....Got any pics?

luisgo · Jan 19, 2010

Elegances don't like strong flow. Just moderate flow and some direct feeding will make it grow fast. I have mine under a 175 watts metal halide but was introduced at the bottom and then it was moved slowly to a rock in the middle of the tank.

dnov99 · Jan 19, 2010

Azurel said:
Put it in the sand Elegance corals are a sediment based coral with the tooth(skeleton) buried in the sand/mud etc. Having it in the rocks will actually do more harm than good in the long run.

If it is a Indo-pacific Elegance they have horrible record of survivability almost 100% mortality rate due to the depth they are collected along with horrorably handling during collection and shipping which leads to bacterial infection which s easily passed on to others in the same tanks as them. Aussie elegance are fare allot better and don't have the death rate that Indos do. I have an a Aussie or aquaculture not sure which as the LFS said it was labled as both on the billing....Google Elegance corals and you will get plenty of info on then and thier requirements.

+1 on all counts, exactly how they should be cared for. I have had 2 beautiful Aussie elegances for 4 years and they are doing incredible.

stedfast82 · Jan 19, 2010

thank's for the info ive killed 2 and was wanting some info *** well

CTMarinelife · Jan 19, 2010

I have a 14" Aussie Elegance, that is under 400W halide in my 125 - directly under the bulb/skeleton in sand up to flesh edge. Two percula clowns host in it, feed it krill and silverside pieces twice a week. Total yrs in captivity - 2.5

Makbarracuda · Jan 19, 2010

It has been in the tank for 1 1/2 days now and is opening more than it was at the store. While sitting by the tank and staring at it watching the progress take place, i thought i lost my mind. sitting inside the folds near one of the farther mouths, is a tiny white and clear crab. he is too small to even get a pic of while the coral is not opening up all the way. i'm going to leave him there for now on the chances that he is a benefit rather than a threat for now(he is sitting on the side that is opening the most). Plus there are some odd star polyp looking things growing on the side of the elegance and they have begun to cross over the lip at the top. Should i get an exact o knife and cut them back or will the elegance sting them out of its way?
Plus, if this guy dies i would want to try an aussie elegance, how much am i looking to pay? and any recommendations where.

Azurel · Jan 19, 2010

It could be a commensal crab so just keep an eye on it.....Hard to say about the things growing on it would have to see a pic of it. I have mine in quite a bit of flow that the tenticles sway in the wave of the vortech. Try feeding it in the next few days and see if it is sticky if it is then it is in most cases a healthy elegance.

Diamondsinthereef · Jan 19, 2010

I actually just donated one that I've had for 8 years to a public aquarium because it got massive and it started eating more than silversides. It started eating other fish in my tank. One thing is for sure they're called elegance coral for a reason. They're beautiful in every way. This particular piece was from indonesia. Happy Reefing