[aMcColors]

Hi all,
I am new to the RB forums here so bare with me till i get my bearings. My husband has been building tanks fresh and salt for a few years now. I have been mostly been just an observer. We have a new tank and I'm much more involved in setting this one up. Last SWtank died badly in Hurricane Ike.

Our new tank is a 44gal pentagon set up for reef and a few fish to be added later (see pics) We had it going about 4wks now.
So far we have good Coraline growth and lots of hitchhikers are starting show up 3 mushrooms, a porcelain crab, bristle worms, and tiny shrimps or anthropoids.

2 weeks ago we added a small green tip Torch coral. We slowly acclimated it and it has been doing well until 2-3 days ago. We notice a small blue starfish (less than pea sized) cruising around the outer edge of its 2 heads. We managed to knock it of with gloves. It pulled in briefly but opened back up with in a few minutes. The next day it seemed less than its usual size. We attempted to feed it some shrimp. It grabbed for it and began to pull in again. Since then it has been darker purplish colors pulled in with its mouths exposed.
(All Chemistry appears to test at normal levels.)

Does anyone know if this is normal behavior or is something amiss? suggestions?
thanks...
am.

[pogodzib]

Many factors can affect how LPS corals expand - disturbance by fish/critters, lighting, water flow, water parameters, etc...

Since your tank is new, I'd check the water chemistry first for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates, then I'd look at your water flow and if it is being bothered by your critters, and finally I'd look at having too strong of lighting over your LPS corals which can sometimes keep them from expanding fully.

[SECRETREEF]

well it is looking pretty good maybe he is still getting used to the tank. in the pic i see bubbles rushing side ways behind the torch, maybe the bubbles are bothering the coral and making him stress out or the flow is to strong or aimed directly at the coral and making him closeup.

[aMcColors]

Thank you for the advice and suggestions.
We'll check the power head & current near the torch.

Since we are still learning the unique behaviors of the torch, star polyps and hitchhikers. It is very helpful to talk to others that have similar species.
The torch seems to be improving or recovering these past 2 days. IT still has a few swollen tentacles but most are back to the lighter coloration and bloom. I think that adding the buffer and trying to feed the Torch was stressing it.

As for parameters on the tank (all week long).
Chemistry still checks out at normal.
Amonia, Nitrates and Nitrites are all 0. Salintiy: 1.025
The Kh is between 9.5-10.

We have a 44 gal pentagon thats 29" deep. 96wt coralife lights. We have been running the lights for approx 9hrs p/day bc of the lower wattage. Approx 45lbs of rock (35lbs was deadrock).

We have yet to add fish. We are trying to give the tank time to cycle and the ph/kh were stable.
Fish plans (Eventually):
2 Perculus Clowns, possible 2 wheeler gobbies, 1 fire or peppermint shrimp and maybe a flame angel.
As well as a few more polyps and snails. We are going slower and much more carefully with this tank to be sure we don't get thinks we don't need in it. (Our fist SW tank had hitchiker Mantis. 2 of them!).

I'll post updates soon.
-am.