Hydrophora guidance

[Chase B]

Hello, I am new to saltwater tanks and am having an issue with my Hydnophora. Over the last few weeks I have noticed it’s green tenticals haven’t come out and it’s horned/ darker parts seem to have gotten bigger. I have tried moving its location a few times now and nothing seems to get it to come out and it almost looks unhealthy. Any suggestions would be great. The zoomed out picture is when I first got it and as you can see to me it looks a lot healthier than it is now.

 

[Tahoe61]

Please provide basic chemistry and lighting, with age of tank.

Hydnophora is a hardy coral. It doesn't require the intense lighting that sps and Acropora do.

I have always treated more like and LPS.

 

[Chase B]

Please provide basic chemistry and lighting, with age of tank.

Hydnophora is a hardy coral. It doesn't require the intense lighting that sps and Acropora do.

I have always treated more like and LPS.

So Tank is about 4 months old. Lightning was gotten off Amazon I believe with a 2.75 par, let me know if that doesn’t make sense. I’m not certain about what my nutrients levels are but I know salinity is .026. Please let me know what else you need like I said I’m new to this and don’t know much.

 

[Tahoe61]

To keep stoney corals you will need to monitor Alkalinity and Calcium, and Magnesium. Those are just the basics.
I am not sure about the lighting fixture you mentioned. Perhaps take an image of the fixture and brand.
Roughly Hydnophora should be getting about 100 par.
At some point you are going to need to test Nitrates and Phosphates.
I strongly encourage an Automatic Top Off/ATO. You can buy a gravity feed adapter off Amazon for 11 bucks to help with top off.


Welcome to Reef2Reef. :)

 

[Chase B]

I have the hygger 22W light and ATO I’ve had since the start. This is what the tank is looking like currently

To keep stoney corals you will need to monitor Alkalinity and Calcium, and Magnesium. Those are just the basics.
I am not sure about the lighting fixture you mentioned. Perhaps take an image of the fixture and brand.
Roughly Hydnophora should be getting about 100 par.
At some point you are going to need to test Nitrates and Phosphates.
I strongly encourage an Automatic Top Off/ATO. You can buy a gravity feed adapter off Amazon for 11 bucks to help with top off.


Welcome to Reef2Reef. :)

 

[Chase B]

On my latest photo the Hydnopora is probably getting the strongest flow you can from my setup as well

 

[Tahoe61]

Stoney corals, SPS and LPS are going to require more light.

Is that a 10 gallon tank?

I would wait for a couple more months to acquire more stoney corals. Get the right test kits, I like Salifert.
Eventually get more flow. Hygger makes a nice nano wave maker.

With that lighting for now I would stick with soft corals like Toadstool, Mushrooms, Sinularia, GPS.

You're off to a good start. Keep researching and asking questions.

:)

 

[Chase B]

Stoney corals, SPS and LPS are going to require more light.

Is that a 10 gallon tank?

I would wait for a couple more months to acquire more stoney corals. Get the right test kits, I like Salifert.
Eventually get more flow. Hygger makes a nice nano wave maker.

With that lighting for now I would stick with soft corals like Toadstool, Mushrooms, Sinularia, GPS.

You're off to a good start. Keep researching and asking questions.

:)

Thank you for the info, and it’s a 20g tank. I found that small wave maker, out of curiosity what would introducing more flow do

 

[Tahoe61]

Thank you for the info, and it’s a 20g tank. I found that small wave maker, out of curiosity what would introducing more flow do

If the only flow is from the HOB filter than yes. I use the Hygger Wavemaker a 14 gallon with soft corals.
Flow is really important in SW tanks with corals. You increase gas exchange and prevent detritus and algae from accumulating on corals.
That particular wavemaker has a controller, you can dial down the gph rate.

 

[BryanM]

Thank you for the info, and it’s a 20g tank. I found that small wave maker, out of curiosity what would introducing more flow do

One way to think about flow is that we're trying to mimic the ocean in our little glass cages.

Its both delivering nutrients to corals and removing waste products.

If.when you get any hammers, torches, gonis, the flow also adds movement, and to me, interest, to the tank.

 

[Dburr1014]

I have the hygger 22W light and ATO I’ve had since the start. This is what the tank is looking like currently

Going to need 2 or 3 more lights. That's just to keep lower lighting stuff.