Alvepora Stopped Coming Out!!

[RayD]

My small Alvepora stopped coming out yesterday. This coral would flourish every day with tons of "daisies". Then come yesterday it just stopped just like that.

Any ideas or thoughts? Is Alvepora as difficult as Gonipora. I heard Alvepora is alot easier to keep. The Gonipora at Seaworld looks awful and they admit it doesn't last.

I'm bummed that's one of my favorite corals in my reef.

 

[JustDavidP]

My alveopora was looking GREAT until I bought a new skimmer (Euroreef ES 5-3) and then it just started to slowly retract. I ended up giving it away to Mike? LittleP? Don't remember.

In any case, in talking with Eric B. on a post one day, I found that they actually do better in higher nutrient, turbid kind of conditions. I'm guessing that I actually began overpolishing my water, to meet the needs of my SPS, and therefore actually starved the LPS or at least the alveopora.

Dave

 

[Reef55]

Alveopora are one of the impossible to keep corals IMO / IME. Whatever it is the need for food, we don't have it in our systems. They basically slowly starve to death.. they'll live maybe 6 months or so, but will eventually die unfortunetly.

People without skimmers and high nutrients levels do seem to be able to keep them alive longer (I've also read of people stirring the sand around them to kick up nutrients actually helping them too).

 

[JustDavidP]

6 Months

My alveopora was the FIRST coral I ever had. I put it in a 20 gallon system with PC lights. It was in there for more than a year.

I then moved it to my 75G under MH and VHO and it was in there for a year, doing fine.

When I started having nusiance algae problems (had just a CPR BakPak 2R skimming 75+ gallons) I switched to the Euroreef ES 5-3. It was okay for a few months...but slowly stopped fully extending its polyps. After about 4 months, you could tell it was hurtin. That's when I gave it to LittleP. I really do think that it may have survived and thrived if left in the 20G with lower lighting and such.

Dave

 

[RayD]

My alveopora was looking GREAT until I bought a new skimmer (Euroreef ES 5-3) and then it just started to slowly retract. I ended up giving it away to Mike? LittleP? Don't remember.

In any case, in talking with Eric B. on a post one day, I found that they actually do better in higher nutrient, turbid kind of conditions. I'm guessing that I actually began overpolishing my water, to meet the needs of my SPS, and therefore actually starved the LPS or at least the alveopora.

Dave

The only thing that has changed on the system is I recently turned my UV sterilizer back on. Could that have killed off some needed nutrients in the water?

 

[Reef55]

JustDavidP... that is awesome!! Yours is the first success story I have heard. Gives hope

 

[RayD]

The only thing that has changed on the system is I recently turned my UV sterilizer back on. Could that have killed off some needed nutrients in the water?

Funny you should say that. I was thinking of moving it to a lower light/flow area of the reef. Hopefully it's not too late.

Funny because Live Aquaria claims it to be the easy alternative to Gonipora.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=390&N=2

 

[rharlow]

I have a fairly new Alveopora (2 months) and it actually did exactly what yours did. It retracted almost entirely and was that way for two days. Prior to retracting it was always out in full bloom, and after the two days of retraction it came back out to full bloom again. This happened about 3 weeks ago, and its been fully out (during day) ever since. Haven't got a clue as to why. Hopefully yours will extend out shortly.

Chip

 

[RayD]

I have a fairly new Alveopora (2 months) and it actually did exactly what yours did. It retracted almost entirely and was that way for two days. Prior to retracting it was always out in full bloom, and after the two days of retraction it came back out to full bloom again. This happened about 3 weeks ago, and its been fully out (during day) ever since. Haven't got a clue as to why. Hopefully yours will extend out shortly.

Chip

Thanks Chip for the reply! That's encouraging.

It just retracted yesterday so hopefully I will have the same good fortune you did. I really love that piece.

In the meantime I have switched the UV to 10 hour nightly shifts.

 

[JustDavidP]

I would imagine, from what I've read about UV Sterilizers, that the use of UV would also wipe out the micro foods suspended in the water. That may be it. Personally, I have NO experience with UV, or its pros and cons.

Dave

 

[RayD]

I would imagine, from what I've read about UV Sterilizers, that the use of UV would also wipe out the micro foods suspended in the water. That may be it. Personally, I have NO experience with UV, or its pros and cons.

Dave

Yea the use of UV's is controverstial but when I started in this hobby and my entire tank crashed from ich, it was the UV that cleaned it up and it never came back at that magnitude.

Last weekend I saw some white spots on my Hippo Tang(not uncommon) and my Clown Goby so I hooked it back up. No more white spot.

 

[Greg Hiller]

I've had an Alveopora for about 5 years or so. Mine has not grown very much, but I believe there are others (Bec) who have kept them and had them grow long term. You are likely correct about the coral prefering a higher nutrient system. I don't think they are an impossible coral to keep, but I would not recommend them as a beginner coral.

 

[agent6473]

I have a gonipora from bec. It is super hardy and comes out everyday. It has doubled in size in my tank in under 6 months.

 

[RayD]

I have a fairly new Alveopora (2 months) and it actually did exactly what yours did. It retracted almost entirely and was that way for two days. Prior to retracting it was always out in full bloom, and after the two days of retraction it came back out to full bloom again. This happened about 3 weeks ago, and its been fully out (during day) ever since. Haven't got a clue as to why. Hopefully yours will extend out shortly.

Chip

Well Chip hit it on the head!! After two days of being completely retracted the Alvepora is back and prettier then ever!

I'm very happy about that. I'll post a photo or two later on.