Is this a Birdsnest Coral?

delpni

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Does anyone know if this is a Birdsnest coral? It was listed as misc. coral where I purchased it....
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Interesting piece. Is it hard or soft?

It sort of resembles a birdnest but the corallites are usually a bit pointier on a birdnest.

Jenn
 
It's a soft coral (very firm, but soft). When I touch it or squirt phyto on it, it immediately turns white...bleach white, and then quickly returns to the color you see here....weird...</em> lol
 
Looks like orange digi but you say it is soft but firm. Can you flex the branches or is the polyps the only soft part?:confused2:
 
Fish Scales2;553231 wrote: Looks like orange digi but you say it is soft but firm. Can you flex the branches or is the polyps the only soft part?:confused2:


The branches do flex to touch and sway in the current. I've been caring for it for 2 weeks thinking it's a birds nest then came across a true birds nest today which brought up my question. :confused2:
 
Then it's definitely not a birdnest - birdnest is a hard coral (builds a skeleton).

If it's soft/fleshy/flexible then it's a soft coral - no skeleton. I tend to agree with Ace that it's likely a Sinularia, or finger leather.

Jenn
 
Looking at the Sinularias', I can see the resemblance however, mine doesn't look quite</em> the same. Hmm...I guess I got something unique! :thumbs: Either way, I really appreciate all of the feedback! It seems to be thriving in my tank and I have even had a Clown Goby host it, but he got stung by my BTA the other day and died :sad:; I really liked him. I feed the coral oyster eggs and DT's phytoplankton. I am assuming the food I am providing is healthy regardless of what type of coral (I can't imagine it would hurt)? I also have a Maxima Clam and Goniopora, which as I understand, may live longer and healthier with phyto and oyster eggs being fed regularly.
 
Ace of Spades;553290 wrote: Just be cautious of overfeeding. Keep an eye on your nitrates and phosphates, and keep up with water changes.

What he said.

Sinularia come in many shapes/sizes/colour variations.

Jenn
 
JennM;553295 wrote: What he said.

Sinularia come in many shapes/sizes/colour variations.

Jenn

Ace of Spades;553290 wrote: Just be cautious of overfeeding. Keep an eye on your nitrates and phosphates, and keep up with water changes.


I try to keep the feedings to 3 per week; my nitrates have climbed a bit though. :unsure: Maybe I should cut back a little...
 
delpni;553302 wrote: I try to keep the feedings to 3 per week; my nitrates have climbed a bit though. :unsure: Maybe I should cut back a little...

:yes:

What's, "a bit"? What are your nitrates at?
 
JennM;553306 wrote: :yes:

What's, "a bit"? What are your nitrates at?

Well, one test (API strip) is reading 0 and Tetra Chemical test is reading 12.5 (not good). I have been told to try another brand, which I am in the process of waiting for arrival. Both the API and Tetra read my tap water at 0 ppm, so I am thinking the Tetra kit is more accurate. The strange thing is, I changed 35-40 % of my water and the nitrates did not move at all on the tetra test 24, nor 48 (tested the next day and the following) hours after the change out. :confused2: During that time, I made sure not to supply any phyto or oyster eggs to my tank and cut back on my primary feeding (flakes). Then again, I noticed one of my clown gobies 'found' its way into the filter sock in my sump :sad:, which I'm sure wasn't helping my nitrates but I cannot imagine would that big of an impact for a 1/2 inch fish?
 
Take your water to your LFS and let them test. Something doesn't sound right there. I wouldn't recommend that large of a water change it will throw off the ionic balance, and you could end up with another diatom algae bloom. Rather, smaller water changes, but more frequent. IE 20% every 4 days or so IF there is indeed a problem.

A clown goby found in a filter sock and removed, shouldn't do much. Even if it decomposed, unless it was a tiny tank, it shouldn't make much of a blip at all.

Jenn
 
JennM;553324 wrote: Take your water to your LFS and let them test. Something doesn't sound right there. I wouldn't recommend that large of a water change it will throw off the ionic balance, and you could end up with another diatom algae bloom. Rather, smaller water changes, but more frequent. IE 20% every 4 days or so IF there is indeed a problem.

A clown goby found in a filter sock and removed, shouldn't do much. Even if it decomposed, unless it was a tiny tank, it shouldn't make much of a blip at all.

Jenn

The tank is 75 gallons, so I imagine, as you suggest, the goby did not have much impact. I did have my LFS test my water however, they use the same test kit that I have, so I got the exact same results...ugh! I'll have to see if another LFS will test with a different brand.
 
To me, Phyto seems to be bottled Nitrate.. I quit using it long ago.. My nitrates were always waaaay to high.. I quit using it and its much lower these days..
 
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