Torch question

[Danno]

Hey all,

I'm a fan of the softies....I like to see some motion in my tank. I find it therapeutic. I've bought some torches that I really like, but it seems like once I get them home, after a few days they seem to retract and don't flow like they did at the fish store. I'm trying to figure out why this happens.
My water tests are fine....without going into detail. It was suggested to me that it may be my lighting? If the corals at the store had low lighting, would they 'reach' for the lights and extend their limbs (or whatever you call them?)
I have a 90G tank with 2 14K M.H. lights (250 watts). Could it be that my lights are too strong?

Any input is greatly appreciated!

 

[Takara]

I feel like everyone has a certain type of coral they just can't keep in their tanks. Some people can't even keep xenia.

 

[DoctaQ]

light acclimation is key as well, torches dont need a ton of light and if you had it right in the middle under the halide and high up it could have gotten too much light too quickly.

not many corals will reach up for light, zoas and palys and mushrooms are the only ones i can think of now

 

[frank180reef]

shut a few of your pumps off and see if they extend, my extend a lot more when I reduce the flow

 

[Gina McReeferson]

shut a few of your pumps off and see if they extend, my extend a lot more when I reduce the flow

That was my thinking as well.

 

[Bob P.]

Sounds like it just needs time to adjust to the lighting. Torches are somewhat pretty hardy. Just keep them down low with MH's. I've had mine for a long time, and its been through 3 or 4 different types of lighting. From vho's to MH's, back to T5's.

 

[frank180reef]

mine are very close to my halides, about 3-10 inches from the top of the water

 

[snowmaker]

after a few days they seem to retract

IME, this is very normal. While it is true, some corals just do not seem to like some tanks conditions, when moving a coral from one tank to another, it could be over a week or two for them to get adjusted properly to the new conditions. For sps this could be MUCH longer.