Some questions on Chili Cactus corals   2/10/06 Hello Bob. <James> I have been reading Anthony Calfo's book on coral propagation and your joint venture on Reef Inverts as I now have quite and assortment of 'friends' growing from my live rock. While I am enjoying the proliferation of sponges, horseshoe worms, zoos, mushrooms and many other 'unknowns as of yet' I have been tending to my growing frogspawn colonies and will soon have to consider pruning them. This backdrop is just to let you know that the tank is doing very well. <Good to hear/read> So, the 55 gallon tank is doing well (only set up since this summer). However, I have had my eye on the Chili Cactus coral as a filter feeder. <Mmm, not easily kept...> I have a relatively shady spot with good turbulent flow near but not direct to the 260 watts of PC lighting on the tank (everything is going to be moved to the 75 gallon Megaflow tank since the wooden stand is more stable than the iron one that came with the 55 within a period of time). In the meantime I have discovered I like the chili cactus corals and from what I have read so far they seem an easier soft coral to care for. <... are we talking Nephthyigorgia sp., Scleronephthyas? Some folks have stated the former are "easy"... not IMO/E> However, the specimens I have seen at the LFS's have been... well, less than optimal and they say the mortality rate is high. <This has been my experience... in seeing, handling many specimens> I attribute this to the lighting and lack of decent current in the tank they keep these particular specimens in (from my reading not experience). What should I be looking for with this species in particular? <Size, conformity, consistency in color, shape... length of time on hand (a couple weeks or so ideally)> I notice at the store they are droopy and often flopped over however, when the lights were shut for 10-15 minutes the polyps did extend. As I have had much success with the other corals I 'became steward of through natural growth' I feel they might benefit in several areas of my tank. The fish in the tank are messy feeders and I feed more than I should as not everyone gets to eat if I don't. Fish are the Royal Gramma, Foxface, Flame Angel and Firefish with a cleaner shrimp. May I have your thoughts on the matter please? Thank you, James Zimmer <I would steer clear here... For your size, type system... best to avoid. Larger systems with refugiums... I'd try other families of cnidarians. Bob Fenner>
Re: Some questions on Chili Cactus corals  - 2/11/2006 Thank you Bob. <Welcome James> Not what I was hoping to hear but I would rather the odds were in my favor. Another issue becomes which is it of the species you listed... this I am not sure. Almost always; fish and corals are labeled by common name at nearly every fish store I go to. I ask for specifics (where does the live rock come from, species of fish coral and location they came from) but you know how it is. The knowledge of the chili corals at this LFS were less than adequate. A shame really they are a handsome specimen. <Gorgeous animals> Anyway, the 75 is next to go up and I am still throwing around the ideas of a canister filter which was a strong recommendation from a former LFS owner/technician/system builder (he said he would show me how to plumb and adjust it) and a Reverse Daylight Photosynthesis refugium (beneath) in the stand. I am thinking a 30 gallon tank should fit and standard lights on at night should be adequate without tipping the electrical side of the equation with too much draw and outlets used. <Some of these (Eheim is best) are very low electrical draws. Check the amperage/wattage...> I am leaning towards the RDP so I can have more water capacity and a safe place for pods/planktons to thrive. <Good> I have a 24 nanocube as a replacement for the 5 gallon tank with only sand and rock and the transported star polyps (the flame angel finally discovered they were tasty but I saved them): POD Palace!!! =) What size tank/system is appropriate for these chili corals? <Bigger...> When are you going to be in this neck of the woods again? <NJ> <Don't know... maybe my Mum-in-laws bday later August...> Thank you. James Zimmer <Again, welcome. Bob Fenner>