Keeping a Carnation Tree Coral in a 5G Pico - Impossible??? Or just very difficult???

[STiTCH87]

Well like it or not, i'm gonna have to find out the hard way:

Picked this up today on a whim because I liked it, forgetting that it's "one of the most difficult corals to keep".

I know it's a NPS coral and I have Roti-Feast that I plan to target feed it with twice a day, and it's in a low light area, but will that be enough to keep it alive in a 5g?

I have yet to find any threads on anyone successfully owning one for more than a few months. =\

 

[STiTCH87]

Forgot the pic:
Large Image Link (158 kB)

 

[jamesdong009]

Sorry I can't be of help but it's a nice coral looking though.

 

[afrankiewicz12]

What I do is leave the filter sock off and let the marine snow build up, it's not the prettiest but other people don't notice it and it feed all NPS and sponges... I love my sponges they're sooooooo cool. Also the marine snow isn't very noticeable

 

[STiTCH87]

I don't fully understand what you mean. How does the marine snow build up?

I have a closed system so there is no filter sock. I just give a few squirts of Roti-Feast in the morning, afternoon, and night. I have to keep an eye on my water conditions though t make sure it doesn't get toxic or dirty in general.

 

[jackd625]

I have to keep an eye on my water conditions though t make sure it doesn't get toxic or dirty in general.

I'd guess that would be your only issue. If you could keep the water clean enough in such a small tank while making sure the coral is getting enough food. I think you'll be fine, it's not like it's a full NPS tank that you'd have to feed a ton.

I'm basing my info on a little reading I have done a few months ago, so I would still keep looking for advice from someone who know's what they are talking about.

 

[STiTCH87]

It's doing pretty damned good today I must say. Was extended to it's fullest. Bigger than when it was at the LFS even. And very red polyps. Maybe i'll get lucky...

 

[STiTCH87]

One week later and it's still doing just fine (I relocated it to an area with more flow and more shade):


Seems happy to me. Great coloration, and always seems to perk up when I feed it.

I was kind of concerned when I noticed it's been a bit droopy, but apparently these don't grow straight up and instead grow downward and droop since they are usually found growing downward dangling from underwater caves.