Help and Suggestions

[Ltspd]

Well I am sorta bummed but recovering.

I purchased some stuff a few weeks ago from a new live MO compnay, that has always treated me well with drygoods. They were offering free shipping for orders over a certain amount. I went in with a local reefer and ordered my stuff. I got a Very nice bubble tip that is doing super, a couple of cleaner shrimp that are also doing very well. I ordered a few stars, they were out of stock so I recieved others in replacment (They got my approval first) They were a blue linka (didnt want orignally) and a marble star. I recieved the linka and its doing fine so far, the marble, which I think may have been something else is MIA since it hit the tank. I ordered a short tenacle plate coral and a large green brain. Well I have attached the shots of the last 2 items. They were all subjected to a 4-5 hr acclimation with small bits of water added every 15min, I had to drain water out of the bags to add more after some time. I have other corals in the tank that are doing great. All water parms are super. I purchased a brain some time ago that was listed as a Java Brain, but I think its a green that had fadded. This brain is slowly regaining some green color but overall is doing very well. What do you think happened to the plate and the brain? Both of these came from the MO company at the same time. The plate never opened and extended any tennicles. The brain, slowly is degrading I think. I would appreciate your comments.
The lights are 6500k Iwasaki's with actinic pc's. I dont think its a light issue, as a matter a fact I know its not. I have acro frags and montipora frags plus some hydnophora that have been given to me and they are all begining to grow well

[Ltspd]

Here is the plate coral shots.

I am happy now becasue I went to a local LFS and got a VERY nice and large Green brain and a Very nice long tenecle plate coral.

I tried the MO livestock once and wont do it again. The only place I have had great luck and was 100% happy was with PA, but their stocklist is very limitied. I guess I will pay more, but be able to see what I get by buying around here. Only problem is there is a very limited selection here, and no one uses mh's, they all say it will burn the fish and corals up I can get them to order me stuff, and I guess thats what I will do from now on.

[Ironreef]

depending on the lighting the lsp came from, you probally have to much light? i would shade them let them get less light. My lsp really don't like to much halide. Alot of coral deaths result from light acclimation= too much at once just as well as not enough. For the most part acclimating them to your tank wasn't a prob. I don't acclimate mine just a few min. for temp that all.5-10min. Most corals don't need it and when they are shipped alot of stores don't acclimate there fish/corals due to the ammo/ph spikes.

[scubadude]

Hey Paul

Have you checked at nite to see if you get any feeding tentacles from the GOB ? I think Susan had a ROB and said she revived it by turning off the lights then the feeder tentacles would come out and then she would feed it.....She said it ate like a pig! Maybe she can come in here and comment. I would think (but not sure) that the plate would be very similar.....If you have tried this already and your water parameters are good then the only other thing that I can think of is possibly a infection? Maybe a freshwater dip might help them? Just a thought. Good Luck bro! BTW are you close yet to finishing off your HQI Lights yet? Also when did you receive the GOB and Plate? 9/9 ?

[Starmstr]

Lighting is definately the key. After having my brains under 250's when I moved them off to the side to gain precious real estate they started looking bad. What ever you do try to get them acoustom to their final resting place.

[orion25]

For my GOB lighting is not as much as a key as current is. Whenever I hit the feed button on my Wavemaster Pro it only takes 5 minutes for the GOB to extend it's feeder tentacles.

I must give credit to Joanne for educating me on what to feed my GOB. As she said, I now feed it frozen Brine, Prime Reef, Formula One, etc. I had only been feeding it silversides. It seems to be doing much better now! Thanks Joanne!!!

Ryan

[Ltspd]

Well I never say any feeder tenecles from the GOB or the plate from the begining. I initailay had the plate up high with current and stronger light. The GOB was and has always been low. It was shaded like the other on I have but when it started looking bad I moved it further out in the sand away from shelter. I had tried feeding both pc's but not at night. I had minced up shrimp very small and placed it on top of both to eat, nothing.

Should the new brain be in good light and flow?

Should the new LTP be in the same? If it were something I did I dont want to repeat.


By the way I got these the 6th of this month (sept) from MDL.

I havent gotten the bulbs yet for the HQI's DIY I am working on. It will be a few weeks at the earlist before I switch over.

[organicreefer]

ltspd,
mdl huh,i hate ordering livestock through the mail if it aint bugs or worms,and its alive,it comes from the lfs.i dont think you did anything wrong,to be blunt ,i think you got some half dead corals the LTP should have good light(on the sand!) and moderate current.

[scubadude]

^

[scubadude]

Ok here is what I think...I think that the wavemaster and its "FEED BUTTON" is an excellent indicator here....I had a rob too once and lost it because it would not eat!! everyone says they eat like pigs!! orion just stated the same thing about the feed button. Paul if you have some way to turn the current almost off or atleast be able to make the GOB notice the difference so its feeder tentacles come out.....And Orion you got me confused :P It was Susan not Joanne. Paul here is the link if you want to see it

http://www.reefland.com/cgi-bin/foru...&highlight=ROB

[Ltspd]

Well I have pretty much concured to the same thing. No livestock MO except for the worms and simple stuff.

I moved the GOB to my 20g tank at work. The lights are not strong. I have sort of force feed the brain thru the mouth (s) some shrimp. I will have to see how it does here.

The plate coral IMO is gone, way gone. I never say any life from the begining but I thought it would take a few days to "come out" Guess I can save it to glue other corals to later on

Scuba, I will probally do the same thing I do with my sun coral, cover it up while I feed it, or stick it right on the OB.

[thezookeeper]

I came in here to see everyone was talking about me and it wasn't even supposed to be me! Yes it was Susan who saved the ROB. I have had luck in feeding my GOB when I originally got him. But for the last few months, he just won't eat. Looks great though. Now I have a meat coral that is amazing and will swallow a pizza if you let it! I have not turned the current off yet while feeding since it hasn't been a problem. I feel for you Paul. MO is great but you never know what you're going to get and LFS are nice in that you see the animal, but pay a hefty price depending on where you get it from. Sorry you had all this trouble. Hope everything works out.


Joanne

[Ltspd]

Well unless you order a large amount or split the order with others you dont really save much. I paid 100 for the LT coral and very large GOB I got yesterday. It would have balanced out by the time shipping was added to a MO order.

I gave it a try and got what I was afraid of, something that wasnt quite up to what I wanted overall.

Still PA is the only place I will do such a thing again.

[SCETT316]

Hi Guys:
Paul I would try the coke bottle trick on your GOB. I have mine placed in the DSB. Mine did not really start feeding until after a few months, and until I transferred him to the 168 gal from the 20 gal I originally had him in. Just be patient with him.
(and Scuba, pls. no remarks on why I call Xenia's girls and GOB boys......... )
Now his feeding tentacles are out, even when the lights are on.
HTH

[Bojinx]

FWIW, even the brain in the earlier picture looks pretty bad off. It's flesh had receded and it's mouths were gaping open. While I personally have had great luck with brains, most people seem to have a tough time bringing them back once they start to decline.

I agree with the above sentiments as I only MO worms and pods and other little critters.

[Ltspd]

Well Jim its dead.

The tissue was being eaten this morning when I came into the office. Its now resting in the trash can

I almost want to go back to MDL, but its been too long. I can say that the 2 cleaner shrimp and BTA are doing well. They cost me 48 a pc now that I lost the other ones. Still havent seen the blue linka in a day or so, so there's hope there.


I wont MO again. What I was afraid of happened.

[Bojinx]

Sorry to hear that Paul. How's the Plate doing? Any better? or is still declining as well?

Glad to hear that a LFS was able to hook you up. Good luck with the new, new brain.

[Ltspd]

Pretty sure the plate is dead also. I have it on the sand where its been all along hoping to see some sort of life. I will give it a couple more days and see but I am not expecting much.

The new GOB and LTP are both doing well. Larger now than in the lFS's.

Here is the GOB right after I put it in the tank.

[Bojinx]