Soft Coral Q's

[Shirtlessbill]

Hey all,
So I just got my first expensive soft coral and I have a few questions. I had him in a 120 g tank which ruptured the day after I got him so I ran out and got a 75 g to stick my marine life in. I figured this probably stressed my tank out so i new it would take an extra fay or two but It has now been 6 days and and I barely have seen it open up (and never to its fullest) is this normal?
my local store said to put it in the sand and pinch it between a rock ( I have its stem almost fully submerged in my sand). The only other soft coral I have in the tank are recordias that are now multiplying so I would think my water quality is good enough for it

Also I am seeing a lot of translucent strands on it. Should I brush these off?

Thanks

Ph: 8.3
Temp: 77 F
Specific Gravity: 1.0265
Ammonia: none

 

[Shirtlessbill]

NVM.... Guess I just had to be patient. Now it looks like this!

 

[Daniel Fishy]

Yeah looks great and so does the golden head like you said patience

 

[Luis1662]

Like always with this hobby patience is everything. Had the same thing with my toadstool not opening up and a few days later it's open. Glad to hear its doing well. Good luck.

 

[Shirtlessbill]

So I've had this crown coral for a few weeks now and routinely it closes itself up. And I'm pretty sure it's due to my goby dropping sand on it. I have a turkey baster that i blow the sand off of it every day. I don't want to move it again however would it make sense to get a frag stand or something and put it out of the way on the glass?

The goby moves sand everywhere however in a way it's nice because my sand bed is always white due to his maintenance. I'm just hoping I don't have to choose between him or my corals

 

[Luis1662]

I Know it involves moving it again but can't u just put the coral up on a rock just off the sand? That way the coral and fish could stay.

 

[Shirtlessbill]

If its that simple then that would be great however I dont know if putting it "just off the sand" would be much of a difference. My goby will grab a mouthful of sand and crop dust the length of the tank. I often see him swimming 5 inches above the bottom dropping sand grains.

Maybe that is the answer. I just am at a loss as to what the best route is. My sand is super white but at the expense that my $150 leather is unhappy. I'm just hoping for a middle ground

 

[Shirtlessbill]

Ok so I moved it a to a higher location. I woke up this morning to a hermit bran walking across it lol... I may just have to accept that it won't always be open

 

[Luis1662]

Yea but the crab shouldoce quickly across and then it will open again. Hey at least there's no sand on it lol

 

[Gregcoyote]

Unless he is burying the coral, it is probably okay. My gold Midas blenny does the same thing. He crop dusts. These corals put up with a lot of this in nature, so a little is no big deal. My clams get a dusting every now and then and they just blow themselves off.

 

[Shirtlessbill]

Alright. Good to know. I'l think its just because I'm so new to corals that I'm a little over protective. On a side note my recordias have multiplied by 3!

 

[Gregcoyote]

Excellent. Just wait...they can spread rapidly.