Nighttime Lights Off Wavemaker Flow Problem

testuser · Oct 22, 2023

Hi All, I have a wavemaker in my 5g nano along with my random nozzle for my return pump for basic flow. During the day when the lights are on, the coral can take the flow very well and don't bat about at all, and seem to enjoy it. However, when it's their nighttime and the lights go out, they are far more vulnerable (especially my ricordea mushrooms, which start to turn up like an inside out umbrella). I can't turn the wavemaker any lower, and I can't find any better placement for either the ricordea nor the wavemaker that won't make them left up.

If there is no alternative for flow for this nano tank, would a return pump on max suffice? I barely see anything move on the sand bed (thinking detritus), but is that okay? Otherwise, are there any alternative for nighttime flow to help keep my new coral happy?

BairCorals · Oct 22, 2023

Maybe put your WaveMaker on a timer so that when your night light comes on it turns off.

testuser · Oct 22, 2023

BairCorals said:
Maybe put your WaveMaker on a timer so that when your night light comes on it turns off.

Right, that's what I have now. Is that fine that there isn't much movement again until the morning? I was worried about lack of movement/potential detritus build up.

BairCorals · Oct 22, 2023

I wouldn't worry about it, when it kicks on in the morning it should stir that stuff back up and get it filtered out. Plus allows your cuc to get a good bite to eat in their midnight munchies

testuser · Oct 22, 2023

BairCorals said:
I wouldn't worry about it, when it kicks on in the morning it should stir that stuff back up and get it filtered out. Plus allows your cuc to get a good bite to eat in their midnight munchies

Phew! That's a relief. And that's right! I saw one of the sand snails lurking about hunting, haha. So I take it this is fairly common for nighttime + small tank?

Since I just got these guys as a second round (post dinoflagellates), they're all on the sand bed for now. I imagine it'll be better for my other coral once I start placing them on rocks (not the mushrooms though, or maybe a very short island).

BairCorals · Oct 22, 2023

I'd be worried if they didn't open up when the lights come on but since they're loving it during the daytime cycle I wouldn't be a bit worried. Small tanks have their quirks, currently trying to figure out a 10g I started a little while ago.

Ricordias can be hit or miss, not 100% sure but I think they're all wild caught so they can have their issues. I had one in my tank that jellied out under extremely ideal conditions. Drove me nuts trying to find the fire that lit that bomb but never found anything wrong. So don't take it hard if it doesn't make it, but hoping for the best for you!

testuser · Oct 22, 2023

BairCorals said:
I'd be worried if they didn't open up when the lights come on but since they're loving it during the daytime cycle I wouldn't be a bit worried. Small tanks have their quirks, currently trying to figure out a 10g I started a little while ago.

Ricordias can be hit or miss, not 100% sure but I think they're all wild caught so they can have their issues. I had one in my tank that jellied out under extremely ideal conditions. Drove me nuts trying to find the fire that lit that bomb but never found anything wrong. So don't take it hard if it doesn't make it, but hoping for the best for you!

Thank you very much for the support! I /think/ that these were aquacultured (maybe these weren't and the rest of mine were?), that was my plan for this go around. Everything I had before was maricultured and more difficult to keep anyway. Plus the dino bloom, it wrecked everything when that got all out of control. For now though, during the day I think (hope?) they're happy so far. Here is how they look.

I wish you best of luck with your tank as well!