Bubblegum Digitata Help

[Chipper1978]

Got a new bubblegum digitata 5 days ago. Have it on my frag rack in the back of the tank and it’s starting to lose polyp extension on one side. Guessing it’s at around 100 par under 3 KessilA360X’s. Max par in my tank is 260 right now (measured with PAR meter). Looking for suggestions on whether I should place it lower or higher in the tank.

Tank just reached one year old and parameters are stable as follows... dKh-7.7, calcium-410, mag-1360, NO3-15, PO4-0.09, salinity-1.025, temp-78

4 foot tank (Waterbox 130.4) with good flow (2 MP40’s and 2 Tunze 6095’s).

LPS, mushrooms, fish, deresa clams, and anemone are all doing great, but I am having no luck keeping any SPS frags. I test my alkalinity daily (consumes .1-.2 per day), dose 2-part as needed, test my other parameters at least weekly, and do 10% weekly water changes. This is becoming very frustrating. Any advice would be highly appreciated!

 

[Chipper1978]

I should add that I also just sent in an ICP test to make sure there is nothing I’m missing with my water quality.

 

[sfin52]

Looks to be in a low light area. The less polyp extension is prob due to light and flow

 

[Chipper1978]

I was wondering if that may be the case. Perhaps I’m too worried about bleaching due to having LED’s. Maybe I will just take a chance and put it up higher. Obviously doesn’t like where it’s at.

 

[sfin52]

I was wondering if that may be the case. Perhaps I’m too worried about bleaching due to having LED’s. Maybe I will just take a chance and put it up higher. Obviously doesn’t like where it’s at.

Mind are in 200+

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

My favorite coral. I have been on the hunt for a piece of it for my “fish only” tank

 

[minus9]

Mine is being pounded by my Kessil's, I wouldn't worry about bleaching, but not enough light and flow can do damage, so to speak.

 

[minus9]

Here's an old pic before I broke up the colony. It was sitting right between two lights, so some portion was receiving 400+ par.

 

[sfin52]

View attachment 2162373
Here's an old pic before I broke up the colony. It was sitting right between two lights, so some portion was receiving 400+ par.

That pic doesn't do it justice i can only imagine what it looked like in person . One of my favorites.

 

[minus9]

That pic doesn't do it justice i can only imagine what it looked like in person . One of my favorites.

That was a quick top down pic before I started chopping. Most of it went to a local store.

 

[homer1475]

100 par is way to low, and it will slowly wither away in that low of a light.

Mine sits in about 300 to 400 par. Hate the thing! as with most monti's, when it's happy, it grows like a weed.

 

[Chipper1978]

View attachment 2162373
Here's an old pic before I broke up the colony. It was sitting right between two lights, so some portion was receiving 400+ par.

Impressive!

 

[TexasTodd]

I think it colors best around 200 PAR. Too high and you don't get the green much on the tips.

 

[Chipper1978]

I think it colors best around 200 PAR. Too high and you don't get the green much on the tips.

Thanks Todd. At this point I just want it to survive.

 

[blasterman]

Its a bit stressed, but who knows where it came from. I see good PE if not a bit uneven and good color in polyps. Skin is pale, but thats a common stress/acclimation reaction in digipora. My guess is where it was had crappy water flow. OPs tank has great water params for this coral.

Flames and bubblegum are a bit fussier than blues or greens, but they have the same indicators. They like light.

 

[C. Eymann]

Flames and bubblegum are a bit fussier than blues or greens, but they have the same indicators. They like light.

^^this, its not just because they are different color morphs, its because they actually aren't even montipora digitata, bubblegum "digitata " for instance is actually montipora samarensis.

I see bubblegums show their best colors around 250-350 PAR.