Doing Research on Dendros

[brianjfinn]

I've been looking for some good research on keeping Dendros (Dendrophyllia) and haven't be able to find a single quality resource. If anyone knows of one please let me know, or if you'd like to share your knowledge here, I'd appreciate it.

Here's what I'm looking for: I have a 20gal long tank with two 70 watt metal halides and an 18" PC (used for actinics). Is this too much light for Dendros? Are there other factors I need to keep in mind?

Thanks!

 

[darren24]

I may be wrong but Dendros do not have specific lighting requirements. Someone else with more knowledge will chime in I am sure.

 

[grouper therapy]

Alex at one of the former lfs had some under in a solona under 150 watt with no problems they actually spawned in that tank. He had them every where . Mine in my big tank never come out but they are under 400 watt halides being burned at 500 plus watts. They are doing better in the nano with pc lighting. They like to be fed mysis and can be trained to feed at certain times once you coax them out . To do that I use cyclopeze.

 

[chymos45]

I've got a 7 headed dendro in my tank lit by 432 watts of T5's. It's towards the end of the tank and sheltered by an overhang and has been doing quite well for a couple of months now. Good extension, but a SLOW grower. Even comes out when the lights are full on at feeding time.

 

[markl]

ive got a 5 head dendro im selling for 30.00 . they do better in lower lights or even shaded by corals or rocks. mine eats mysis as well. mine stays open all the time. mine is in a nano started off as 2 heads and now is 5 . lighting on my 12 gallon is 70w hqi. 20k.if any one is intrested hit me up . i think normally they go for 40 a head.

 

[brianjfinn]

Thanks everyone! Mark, I may be interested in yours, that's a really great price! I'll pm you.

 

[markl]

Here is the dendro . 3 big heads and 2 small heads.Sorry my picture skils are'nt

alt="" />

 

[chymos45]

brianjfinn;415773 wrote: Thanks everyone! Mark, I may be interested in yours, that's a really great price! I'll pm you.

If he doesn't take it, I will.

 

[chymos45]

How often are you folks target feeding with mysis? Do you find that this makes a measurable difference in growth?

 

[coral_hog]

I purchased two heads of Denro about a year ago from Vivid aquariums (sorry sponsors I couldn't find any local at the time) anyway.. I use to take them out of the tank twice a week and place them in a 5 gallon bucket and pour a blended soup of mixed seafood in and let them sit and feed over night. I did this for about three months before deciding that it was too cumbersome of a process. Now I just leave them in my main display and feed them mysis shrimp and about a half ice cube sized chunk of cyclopeese (sp) every few days. Mine are sitting at the top of my reef about 18 inches below two 400 watt 20k metal halide de bulbs. I have never had an issue with them not opening.. In fact I have about 100 or more heads now sprouting all around the original two. I have sun coral as well and they are placed pretty high. although they are under high light they are opening fully and rarely close. These I will move further down so that I don't damage the tissue do to the intense lighting. But, as far as dendros are concerned, they seem to be an easy keep as long as you keep them fed, just like sun coral. My observation is that they multiply quite fast as well. Also.. if you crack the skeleton on one of the heads, they double.. or at least, that has happened to me once.

 

[chymos45]

coral_hog;415791 wrote: My observation is that they multiply quite fast as well. Also.. if you crack the skeleton on one of the heads, they double.. or at least, that has happened to me once.

First time I've heard this, but am too chicken to try. Since you have so many heads, care to try again?

 

[grouper therapy]

coral_hog;415791 wrote: I purchased two heads of Denro about a year ago from Vivid aquariums (sorry sponsors I couldn't find any local at the time) anyway.. I use to take them out of the tank twice a week and place them in a 5 gallon bucket and pour a blended soup of mixed seafood in and let them sit and feed over night. I did this for about three months before deciding that it was too cumbersome of a process. Now I just leave them in my main display and feed them mysis shrimp and about a half ice cube sized chunk of cyclopeese (sp) every few days. Mine are sitting at the top of my reef about 18 inches below two 400 watt 20k metal halide de bulbs. I have never had an issue with them not opening.. In fact I have about 100 or more heads now sprouting all around the original two. I have sun coral as well and they are placed pretty high. although they are under high light they are opening fully and rarely close. These I will move further down so that I don't damage the tissue do to the intense lighting. But, as far as dendros are concerned, they seem to be an easy keep as long as you keep them fed, just like sun coral. My observation is that they multiply quite fast as well. Also.. if you crack the skeleton on one of the heads, they double.. or at least, that has happened to me once.

That sounds awesome Pics??/

 

[coral_hog]

I used up all of my picture posting space so... after all this time, I am finally posting a response and a link to an older picture of my Dendros. They have grown like crazy since this picture was taken, but still it gives you an idea of the colony size. When I return from this Job assignment up in New York I'll take the time to reintroduce my setup... I've downsized equipment while upsizing tank size. Through it all, coral growth has been good. My only issue now is micro bubbles... I'm currently working on designs for a tower that will arrest the little demons. I'm the meantime, although the bubbles are annoying.. my corals seem to be loving the extra oxygen. And...I'm not home to see them daily so it's easier to accept.

 

[jnbrex]

Feeding makes all of the difference when keeping Dendrophyllia.
I feed them once a day with mysis. It keeps them very happy and mine have tripled in size in 6 months from 4 mature polyps to 7 mature and 6 baby polyps.
You can keep them in any lighting, but be careful to acclimate them to higher light slowly. I haven't experienced it, but their tentacles are so sticky that I am sure they would kill any coral they contacted. One last thing to watch out for is shrimps. If you have any, they will try to steal the food from the Dendo, even when it is half-ingested, and may damage or kill the polyp in doing so. I love my Dendros and definitely recommend them as an easy and beautiful coral.

 

[brianjfinn]

Nice. I ended up getting the dendro from MarkL, and it's doing great. It hasn't grown much, but I only feed a couple times a week. I'm going to get a piece of PVC pipe and cut it to surround the dendros while I'm feeding so that it won't be bothered by the other inhabitants.