Oregon Blue Tort and STN/RTN

[Reef Rhino]

Is there some little known secret about Oregon Blue Tort and RTN/STN? Are they prone to this more than others?
Or some secret to successful care with these?

Or is it just something about my tank ....

I have obtained Oregon Tort from at least six different vendors and it seems like all eventually RTN/STN.
No other Acros in my tank seems to have this problem (other than an occasional random event with another type acro).

Any help appreciated as I do love these and hope for success.

 

[czynot]

Some systems just cant keep certain corals alive. I cant keep Pink lemonade or confetti alive in my system.

 

[Lavey29]

Never had an issue with blue torts but check out my thread on dead corals coming back to life.

 

[bubbgee]

Yes, I have gone through six or seven Oregon Tort frags (which is my favorite) this year. I finally got some success going with a mini colony. They do like intense light around 250-300 par (once acclimated, my current one is directly under a hydra 32 at 60% intensity and around 10in away under the light). They do NOT like strong flow (direct at least, I lost four this way). I placed mine between two power heads so it doesn't get hit with flow directly. It's been happy and growing so far.

RTN in my experience appears to be a symptom of flow (lack of causes polyp bailout or too much of it which is leads to peeling). That appears why some power heads are placed to be duelling (facing each other or something) to cancel the movement of water to each other. Not to the point of zero flow, rather to show ebb and flow (via random/reef crest settings).

Hope this helps. I love blue acros so I've been collecting them to mixed success.

 

[Reef Rhino]

Some systems just cant keep certain corals alive. I cant keep Pink lemonade or confetti alive in my system.

I had heard about the difficulty some have with Pink Lemonade. Recently got a frag (1-2 months ago) and whereas many new frags initially lose color that one above all others seems to be coloring up and encrusting very quickly. Go figure.

 

[Reef Rhino]

Yes, I have gone through six or seven Oregon Tort frags (which is my favorite) this year. I finally got some success going with a mini colony. They do like intense light around 250-300 par (once acclimated, my current one is directly under a hydra 32 at 60% intensity and around 10in away under the light). They do NOT like strong flow (direct at least, I lost four this way). I placed mine between two power heads so it doesn't get hit with flow directly. It's been happy and growing so far.

RTN in my experience appears to be a symptom of flow (lack of causes polyp bailout or too much of it which is leads to peeling). That appears why some power heads are placed to be duelling (facing each other or something) to cancel the movement of water to each other. Not to the point of zero flow, rather to show ebb and flow (via random/reef crest settings).

Hope this helps. I love blue acros so I've been collecting them to mixed success.

Sorry to hear about yours and Thanks for the tips. My issue may be that the flow is too strong. They tend to peel, a small patch at first, and do sometimes seem to recover.

One seems to be fine, and another new one is soon being shipped, and I will try them both in a safer spot.

 

[kartrsu]

Correct on the tendency to peel under strong flow. I had mine show these random white pockets where the flesh was blown off. It eventually healed over on its own rather quickly, but I found this coral to be a puffier acro.

 

[kartrsu]

Also not to high jack but if we are on the topic of this coral, how do people get vertical growth? Mine just shoots out horizontal branches.

 

[bubbgee]

Also not to high jack but if we are on the topic of this coral, how do people get vertical growth? Mine just shoots out horizontal branches.

That's probably because it's following the flow. To test this, get a turkey baster and blow air behind it and see how the flow looks like. You can also use an airstone continuously on that area and observe how the bubbles flow around the tort.

 

[kartrsu]

That's probably because it's following the flow. To test this, get a turkey baster and blow air behind it and see how the flow looks like. You can also use an airstone continuously on that area and observe how the bubbles flow around the tort.

I see and that makes sense. It’s near the top so the flow is more horizontal. If I move it lower will it grow upwards?

 

[bubbgee]

I see and that makes sense. It’s near the top so the flow is more horizontal. If I move it lower will it grow upwards?

Possibly. You also risk it not being happy if you move it.