Which Coral is the most difficult to keep?
- Thread starter vatso
- Start date
Acropora is the hardest of SPS.
The hardest corals to keep are Non-Photosynthetic corals.
Just ask Jaco Schoeman
The hardest corals to keep are Non-Photosynthetic corals.
Just ask Jaco Schoeman
Hehehe Poiro...
Not all NPS are difficult, in fact most of them are easier than SPS IMO, that is IF you are dedicated to meet their feeding needs.
But top of the list, by far, is Dendronepthya sp.
Even in a system like mine, survival rate is very low...
Why?
This is a very active coral that expands and contracts a lot, thus it needs plenty of energy. Because they have no algae inside its tissue, it needs to constantly feed to gain those energy levels. In the wild, they live in a Phyto Plankton soup, so they have an abundant supply of food. To replicate that in the aquarium, is very difficult.
Not all NPS are difficult, in fact most of them are easier than SPS IMO, that is IF you are dedicated to meet their feeding needs.
But top of the list, by far, is Dendronepthya sp.
Even in a system like mine, survival rate is very low...
Why?
This is a very active coral that expands and contracts a lot, thus it needs plenty of energy. Because they have no algae inside its tissue, it needs to constantly feed to gain those energy levels. In the wild, they live in a Phyto Plankton soup, so they have an abundant supply of food. To replicate that in the aquarium, is very difficult.
Feeding on time etc is not the issue. With dosing pumps etc one can have a constant supply of food yes...
BUT...
...then comes the bio load issues. More food = more waste = more bio load = unstable system = bad params = DEATH!!!
That, and then the cost to feed 24/7 is just unheard off.
Just a thought on your thread here Vatso and this is to all other newbies too... Do not ever go, and find the hardest coral / fish you get, and keep it just to be able to say: "this is the hardest coral / fish you can keep" to your friends.
When looking into the specialist livestock, you really need to have your wits about you, and know your game inside out. Normally, the scarce or difficult are also quite costly, so you loose more than just "nog 'n vis" Take not ot this, and I hope your question is rahter aimed at preventing the difficicult species for now, rather trying your hand at keeping them.
With time, and experience, you will be able to keep your acro's etc, but learn first by keeping other "easier" (if there is such a thing) species.
BUT...
...then comes the bio load issues. More food = more waste = more bio load = unstable system = bad params = DEATH!!!
That, and then the cost to feed 24/7 is just unheard off.
Just a thought on your thread here Vatso and this is to all other newbies too... Do not ever go, and find the hardest coral / fish you get, and keep it just to be able to say: "this is the hardest coral / fish you can keep" to your friends.
When looking into the specialist livestock, you really need to have your wits about you, and know your game inside out. Normally, the scarce or difficult are also quite costly, so you loose more than just "nog 'n vis" Take not ot this, and I hope your question is rahter aimed at preventing the difficicult species for now, rather trying your hand at keeping them.
With time, and experience, you will be able to keep your acro's etc, but learn first by keeping other "easier" (if there is such a thing) species.
It's was more to find out - I mean Google is your friend - just wanted to see how it has changed over the years that's all
What is so interesting is finding the balance! & it gives one an idea of how important a whole reef is! it's as if everything needs everything!!
What would be great was to see some people specialize in keeping some of these things & maybe learning enough to help the community & in fact what we learn in our tanks we should be sharing with people trying to protect reefs!
I do not know why we do not "Frag" our reefs? or create new reefs with frags?
What is so interesting is finding the balance! & it gives one an idea of how important a whole reef is! it's as if everything needs everything!!
What would be great was to see some people specialize in keeping some of these things & maybe learning enough to help the community & in fact what we learn in our tanks we should be sharing with people trying to protect reefs!
I do not know why we do not "Frag" our reefs? or create new reefs with frags?
Agree with Jaco,
also to add to his post:
Most of the difficult to keep corals (SPS, Goni's, elegance etc) all require a stable and mature system.
As Jaco said, growing your knowledge first will help you to keep those corals with minimal loss.
also to add to his post:
Most of the difficult to keep corals (SPS, Goni's, elegance etc) all require a stable and mature system.
As Jaco said, growing your knowledge first will help you to keep those corals with minimal loss.
Double post :grr:
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Elegance is one of the easiest LPS corals to keep. That said, for the last 5 - 10 years or so there has been a species specific disease that kills 95% of elegance corals within a month of arrival. For this reason and until someone finds a way to sort out the problem, it is a very poor choice of coral that is becoming more rare in nature.