Torch coral question

[Tradevg]

My green tip gold cristata isn’t looking healthy. Never really seen it fully extended. It’s on a rock in the sand, light to moderate flow, lower light spectrum, water parameters NSW. Seeing this dark band below the polyps that I think should be white tissue. Would love your thoughts/suggestions. Thank you.

 

[MikeB]

From what you’re describing, it sounds like the Cristata has been stressed for a while rather than just having a normal color change. That darker band under the polyps usually isn’t what you want to see, you want to see healthy tissue there and it should look fuller and lighter. The fact that it’s never really opened up all the way is another sign it hasn’t been totally happy since you got it.

This is often tied to placement issues like light being a little too low, flow not being quite right, or irritation from sitting directly on the sand. From what I researched, they tend to do best with gentle, indirect flow, low-to-moderate light, and a stable spot where sand can’t blow onto the tissue. Feeding can also make a big difference, they respond really well to occasional target feeding at night.

The good news is since the polyps are still there, it’s not a lost cause . With a small adjustment to placement and some regular feeding, these can bounce back pretty well.

 

[The Ugly Phase]

don't cristata's like higher light? maybe i'm wrong but worth a shot?

 

[Tradevg]

From what you’re describing, it sounds like the Cristata has been stressed for a while rather than just having a normal color change. That darker band under the polyps usually isn’t what you want to see, you want to see healthy tissue there and it should look fuller and lighter. The fact that it’s never really opened up all the way is another sign it hasn’t been totally happy since you got it.

This is often tied to placement issues like light being a little too low, flow not being quite right, or irritation from sitting directly on the sand. From what I researched, they tend to do best with gentle, indirect flow, low-to-moderate light, and a stable spot where sand can’t blow onto the tissue. Feeding can also make a big difference, they respond really well to occasional target feeding at night.

The good news is since the polyps are still there, it’s not a lost cause . With a small adjustment to placement and some regular feeding, these can bounce back pretty well.

Could be levels and it just needs time. I got it in August when levels were moving around but stable for last month.

It is also getting decent flow - you think it needs more?


View attachment 20251214_115913_E4398010-DBF2-4723-B128-DD8FE7701160.mov

 

[kevgib67]

It needs to be taken off the sand need and placed higher up on the rocks receiving 150-200 par and moderate random flow. Could you list your parameters?

 

[MikeB]

It needs to be taken off the sand need and placed higher up on the rocks receiving 150-200 par and moderate random flow. Could you list your parameters?

I agree with this!

 

[Tradevg]

It needs to be taken off the sand need and placed higher up on the rocks receiving 150-200 par and moderate random flow. Could you list your parameters?

It’s on a small rock - not directly in the sand. How much higher you think? Under Prime 16 (not HD) in a 27 gallon cube (~20” tank height with Red Sea mesh tank lid, light 8” above surface)

Salinity 1.0255
Kh 7.8
Ca 430
Mg 1350
No3 3-4
Po4 .12

 

[kevgib67]

It’s on a small rock - not directly in the sand. How much higher you think? Under Prime 16 (not HD) in a 27 gallon cube (~20” tank height with Red Sea mesh tank lid, light 8” above surface)

Salinity 1.0255
Kh 7.8
Ca 430
Mg 1350
No3 3-4
Po4 .12

Your parameters look good, that’s not what’s causing it but I would try and bump your nitrates up to 10-15. That leaves par and flow. What type of corals are currently on the top of your rock?

 

[Tradevg]

It’s on a small rock - not directly in the sand. How much higher you think? Under Prime 16 (not HD) in a 27 gallon cube (~20” tank height with Red Sea mesh tank lid, light 8” above surface)

Salinity 1.0255
Kh 7.8
Ca 430
Mg 1350
No3 3-4
Po4 .12

Your parameters look good, that’s not what’s causing it but I would try and bump your nitrates up to 10-15. That leaves par and flow. What type of corals are currently on the top of your rock?

Back left rock top down: Birdsnest, psammacora, styloceniela, zoas, leptoseris, elephant skin

Back right rock: Pocillopora, neon polyp green turbinaria

Front right short rock has Xenia. Was going to move a favia to it also.

Maybe I can put it where the turbinaria is…

 

[kevgib67]

Back left rock top down: Birdsnest, psammacora, styloceniela, zoas, leptoseris, elephant skin

Back right rock: Pocillopora, neon polyp green turbinaria

Front right short rock has Xenia. Was going to move a favia to it also.

Maybe I can put it where the turbinaria is…

I think that would be a good spot. It’s hard comparing lights but as you can see mines at about the same height as my birdsnest and above my monti to give you an idea.

 

[Tradevg]

Nice. How big is your tank?

Can’t spot your birds nest but is that the cristata on top right?

Here is a side view (ignore the ugly diatoms - persistent buggers)

 

[kevgib67]

Nice. How big is your tank?

Can’t spot your birds nest but is that the cristata on top right?

Here is a side view (ignore the ugly diatoms - persistent buggers)

32g, birdsnest is circled.

 

[Tradevg]

Nice. How big is your tank?

Can’t spot your birds nest but is that the cristata on top right?

Here is a side view (ignore the ugly diatoms - persistent buggers)

32g, birdsnest is circled.

Looks great. I’ll move mine and see what happens. Thanks.

 

[kevgib67]

Looks great. I’ll move mine and see what happens. Thanks.

You’re welcome and good luck! There is actually four torches up there, two more behind the NY Knicks. Aussie Rasta torch and hellfire.

 

[Tradevg]

Looks great. I’ll move mine and see what happens. Thanks.

You’re welcome and good luck! There is actually four torches up there, two more behind the NY Knicks. Aussie Rasta torch and hellfire.

They don’t bother each other?

What lights are you running ?

Is that a yellow wrasse in the pic? I used to have one till it found the small opening in the back.

 

[kevgib67]

They don’t bother each other?

What lights are you running ?

Is that a yellow wrasse in the pic? I used to have one till it found the small opening in the back.

Standard Biocube LEDs. No torches can touch each other but nothing else. Hammers can touch as well as frogspawn and hammers and frogspawn can touch each other. Yes yellow Cori’s wrasse.

 

[vetteguy53081]

My green tip gold cristata isn’t looking healthy. Never really seen it fully extended. It’s on a rock in the sand, light to moderate flow, lower light spectrum, water parameters NSW. Seeing this dark band below the polyps that I think should be white tissue. Would love your thoughts/suggestions. Thank you.

This is recession and often due to insufficient flow, too much light and elevated Phosphate. One of the biggest issues I see is not meeting the calcium demand for these corals. If there is insufficient calcium in your aquarium water, these corals will not be able to build their coral skeleton.
Like most large polyp stony corals, torch coral benefits from moderate water flow.
They are best placed at upper half of tank where they can receive proper light and water flow. Too little or too much flow will cause this shrinkage. Torch require typical parameters ranges including:
Temperature around 78 degrees
Specific gravity of about 1.025
Ph of about 8.2-8.3
Calcium level of about 400 ppm
Mag 1300-1380

Torch corals do best in moderate water flow.

 

[Tradevg]

My green tip gold cristata isn’t looking healthy. Never really seen it fully extended. It’s on a rock in the sand, light to moderate flow, lower light spectrum, water parameters NSW. Seeing this dark band below the polyps that I think should be white tissue. Would love your thoughts/suggestions. Thank you.

This is recession and often due to insufficient flow, too much light and elevated Phosphate. One of the biggest issues I see is not meeting the calcium demand for these corals. If there is insufficient calcium in your aquarium water, these corals will not be able to build their coral skeleton.
Like most large polyp stony corals, torch coral benefits from moderate water flow.
They are best placed at upper half of tank where they can receive proper light and water flow. Too little or too much flow will cause this shrinkage. Torch require typical parameters ranges including:
Temperature around 78 degrees
Specific gravity of about 1.025
Ph of about 8.2-8.3
Calcium level of about 400 ppm
Mag 1300-1380

Torch corals do best in moderate water flow.

Thanks, that seems to be consensus so far. I think my parameters are ok. No3 dropped a bit low so dosing to bring that up. PO4 a touch high. Will work on repositioning it.