How much flow can a violet Cespitularia handle?

[Jason Coy]

Good afternoon, I recently purchased a frag of this and it's currently placed in the middle of a reef bowl that gets fairly direct flow. I have a mini wave maker that puts out quite a bit for the small volume. When I first got it it was bigger and open a little bit more in the shipping bag. Now it seems retracted/more compact and staying steady where it's at.

I'm wondering if it will adjust or if I should try to move it somewhere where it has less flow?

Thanks Jason

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

IME it likes a more gentle flow compared to other leather corals

 

[Jason Coy]

Here is a pic. It is like this with lights on too. In the shipping bag it was bigger. This is in a high flow area and wondering if I should move it.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

The tentacles are not fully extended, and the polyps are not open at the end of the tentacle. Its not completely upset but its not happy either. If its been that way for a few days then I would try moving to slightly less flow spot.

And keep an eye on the nitrate/phosphate level, it likes slightly 'dirtier' water.

Good luck its a gorgeous coral, one of my favourite soft corals.

 

[Jason Coy]

The tentacles are not fully extended, and the polyps are not open at the end of the tentacle. Its not completely upset but its not happy either. If its been that way for a few days then I would try moving to slightly less flow spot.

And keep an eye on the nitrate/phosphate level, it likes slightly 'dirtier' water.

Good luck its a gorgeous coral, one of my favourite soft corals.

Thanks yea it has been there since last Saturday. I think I will try moving it as it is one of my favorites as well. I would have to check it but I think nitrates and phosphate are pretty low, maybe 0. Being I have various polyps and lps in the tank I can probably get by with running a dirtier system.

 

[Tub Life]

yah, I'd drop it into a medium-low flow zone.
IME cespitularia is pretty hardy.
Probably needs more time to acclimate, not just to flow, but water chemistry.

Give us an update pic when it's opened up!

 

[Jason Coy]

yah, I'd drop it into a medium-low flow zone.
IME cespitularia is pretty hardy.
Probably needs more time to acclimate, not just to flow, but water chemistry.

Give us an update pic when it's opened up!

It still hasn't opened very much. I try to post a picture later. I left it a couple days and then moved it to a frag rack. Off to the side a little bit. It definitely has less flow but still not really opening. It actually seems like it opens slightly more at night when the lights are out, but I don't think the lights are too strong.

 

[Jason Coy]

I should add. It does not look like it's getting smaller or dying. Just not opening all the way

 

[Jason Coy]

Here is a picture of it on the frag rack kicking with the lights off and it seems like it's open slightly more than when the lights are on.

I also posted a picture of what was sold as a Solomon hairy leather. Not sure the Genus but it opens more at night than with the lights on as well. Flow for it is not as strong as it is blocked by a tubinara.