NPS eye candy

[biophilia]

My Tubastraea from Ebay arrived last night. The polyps are just beginning to open with a bit of coaxing with some mysis and cyclops. Was sold as "20+ polyps". In reality, it has about 35 large polyps and about 40+ more tiny ones. Going to carefully frag it into a few pieces this weekend to spread it around on the rockscape of my NPS tank.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

My Tubastraea from Ebay arrived last night. The polyps are just beginning to open with a bit of coaxing with some mysis and cyclops. Was sold as "20+ polyps". In reality, it has about 35 large polyps and about 40+ more tiny ones. Going to carefully frag it into a few pieces this weekend to spread it around on the rockscape of my NPS tank.

WOW.

 

[Sallstrom]

@Sallstrom have you missed this thread, I know you will love it

I'm here, lurking around Haven't had the time to post yet, but following this thread with big interest!

 

[i0nz]

Not the best photos, but here are some black coral (Antipathes sp.) and spiral wire coral (Cirrhipathes spiralis) along with a few other NPS in one of the tanks at the PA I volunteer at:

The same NPS tank also has a Sacura anthias which may be the only one in captivity in the world:

Oh my. I’m so beyond jealous. Name a price

 

[i0nz]

Menella sp. is my absolute most favorite gorg and by far the hardiest in my tank. I’ve had my colony for 3 years and fragged it over 20 times for locals. I used to have a purple/violet polyp variant that I found on DD. Sadly it didn’t make it. I’d love to find one with purple flesh and yellow polyps though... in addition, I do concur. My menella responds to Reef Roids better than anything else.

We have a sad version of the gold. Is that strictly NPS?

It isn't in high light but it is the only one that ever has algae issues.

It closes completely at night.
It is happiest after feeding RodsReef. We don't feed anything smaller except occasional phyto.

That's a menella, and yes, they are strictly nps.

Your's doesn't look too bad. I've found menella not to be too difficult, but if tissue recession does occur, keeping algae off can be a struggle (true of any gorg). I've cut the tips of branches off, or, in case of losing the algae battle, I'll completely cut branches off and remount. My small gold menella,in front of the blueberry gorg, was originally about the size of yours... I cut off the remaining healthy branches after battling algae on it for 1.5 years (I've had tissue recession when letting water parameters get off... high alk, phophate, and salinity have all been culprits). Once algae takes hold, it seems hard for them to regrow tissue, otherwise, I see healthy gorgs regrow tissue at rate of 1" in a week.

That's good sign it's open, although, a very healthy one will have "fuzzy" appearance. Any meaty food in the water column should entice it open... they don't open necessarily because it's dark. My large yellow menella stays open most of time, including the during day, while my large, purple one tends to be closed during the day and open with food in the evening (remaining open throughout night).

They eat zooplankton and not phyto-plankton... I recommend target feeding with reef roids and smaller micron size frozen food such as rotifers. Anecdotally, I've read people keeping with just reef roids (or similar). If it seems to be opening less-and-less, then it's not getting proper food and action should be taken... letting it stay closed makes it more and more difficult to get them to open.

 

[i0nz]

Update coming soon

 

[i0nz]

Trying to figure out how/when to hatch my bamboo shark. If there are any experts on here, please pm me

 

[vetteguy53081]

NPS offers some of the nicest colors. Gotta love colt coral

 

[PiscesPower]

I think I have started a love affair with them. Got this one last month and just ordered another NPS sea fan.

 

[i0nz]

Anybody experience long term growth with the (impossible) Dendronephthya, Blueberry Gorgs, or other rarities? I’d even love to see some photosynthesic cousins to them such as rare Duncan’s or unique photosynthetic gorgs.

In addition do post photos and experiences you’ve had with the Red Tip Tree Coral,
(Stereonephthya sp.) they’re fascinating, I simply haven’t had any luck finding them

 

[WillH]

 

[i0nz]

An unusual encounter...

***Don’t worry, this was temporary as my seahorse reside in a seperate display now***

It was quite interesting watching the two seahorse beat the Ribbon Eel to and ate the feeder guppies that were met for him. The eel never once showed any signs of agression towards the seahorse. He would even allow them to hitch onto it’s body.

As with this being an NPS thread, one of my
Truncatoflabellum veroni can be spotted in the bottom right corner

 

[i0nz]

Also here’s a new Real Reef aquascape I’m working on right now to put inside of an RSM MAX S 650. This stuff is HEAVVVY

 

[i0nz]

Getting there... need to make a few minor adjustments to the rockscape

 

[i0nz]

Still searching for a Black Coral/Spiral Wire Hexacoral, anybody know see one available in the US?

 

[i0nz]

This purple sea fan is hands down one of my favorite species I own. It’s violet flesh with while polyps looks incredible together.

 

[i0nz]

Not the best photos, but here are some black coral (Antipathes sp.) and spiral wire coral (Cirrhipathes spiralis) along with a few other NPS in one of the tanks at the PA I volunteer at:

The same NPS tank also has a Sacura anthias which may be the only one in captivity in the world:

Where were these acquired?

 

[LisaAP]

I'm a big fan of NPS corals, I just have some suns at the moment, I would like more but I have no more space and also they are quite difficult to source in the UK.

Balanophyllia sp.

Tubastrea sp.

Dendrophyllia sp.

T. micrantha

Regards

Lisa

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Beautiful,thanks for sharing. I'm just noticing small yellow sun coral polyps(babies) in my DT.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

I'm a big fan of NPS corals, I just have some suns at the moment, I would like more but I have no more space and also they are quite difficult to source in the UK.

Balanophyllia sp.

Tubastrea sp.

Dendrophyllia sp.

T. micrantha

Regards

Lisa

A vendor has some Balanophyllia sp., their gorgeous. Thanks again, comrade