When feeding torch corals, you need to make sure they are getting the proper nutrients. Besides feeding them, you also need to check the nitrate and phosphate levels of the water. Also, you need to make sure that the tank is of appropriate size. These tips will help you keep a healthy torch coral in your aquarium.
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Tips for feeding torch corals
If you are unsure how to feed torch corals, here are some tips that will help you keep them healthy. To start, torches need a lot more flow than other euphyllia corals. They should also be dipped before placement, since they are often prey to large flat worms.
A bandsaw is handy for propagation, but a bone cutter will do too. This tool cuts off branches without damaging the flesh, so you won’t risk infection. Then, use glue to glue the pieces to frag plugs or rocks. After a day or two, the frags will grow back as if nothing had happened.
Another important tip is to give the corals the proper lighting. A well-lit tank with plenty of current is a good place for torch corals. Also, make sure they get plenty of food and do not let them go without it. You should feed them once a week.
Minimum tank size for torch corals
To maintain healthy numbers of torch corals, you should choose a tank with a minimum size of 30 gallons. These large polyp stony corals are hermaphrodites, meaning they can produce both eggs and sperms at the same time. Their larvae form small polyps that excrete calcium carbonate and eventually grow into a mature coral.
These corals can be finicky, so make sure to keep a tank with sufficient space for them. Torch corals are aggressive and should not be housed in a small tank. They will actively engage in warfare to secure real estate on your reef, and they are very mobile.
Torch corals require moderate lighting and water flow. To keep them healthy, you should keep your tank at a salinity of 1,023 to 1,026 ppm. However, you should remember that your corals do not thrive in very high salinity or in the presence of clownfish.
Proper nitrate and phosphate levels for torch corals
To keep your torch coral healthy, you should maintain proper nitrate and phosphate levels. The coral is highly dependent on the water column for nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. It cannot thrive in water with too high or too low of these nutrients. A steady water pH level is also important for this species.
In addition to the right water pH level, you must maintain moderate water flow. Make sure that the tank has adequate room for growth and avoid overcrowding it. A minimum of 50 gallons is the best size for a torch coral. The lighting should not be too bright, as it may cause polyp retractions or tissue damage. Calcium and magnesium levels should be around 400 ppm and nitrate levels must be less than 20 ppm.
Proper lighting and circulation are necessary to keep torch corals happy. You should also check the nitrate and phosphate levels regularly. Besides providing adequate light and current, torch corals also need a stable water temperature. You can use protein skimmers or canisters for this purpose. The parameters of your tank have a much higher influence on its health than those of your other fish. If you can keep your tank’s water conditions stable, your coral will stay longer.
Tentacles of torch corals
The tentacles of torch corals can sting if you have open cuts on your body. To avoid injury, place them at the bottom of your aquarium. Also, try to keep other reef animals away from them. Torch corals can be friendly with Hammer, Hammerfish, and Frogspawn Corals, but they can get aggressive with smaller corals if they are not properly separated. If you want to introduce these fascinating creatures into your reef aquarium, make sure you place them in open light at the bottom of the tank. Also, place a wavemaker with a medium strength waterflow so that the tentacles gently sway.
While torch corals do not have wall formation, you can try to propagate them by dividing healthy ones. The key is to be careful not to damage the flesh of the coral, as the severing of the tentacles can lead to infection. Once you have successfully separated the tentacles, you can glue them to a rock or frag plug.
