Candy Cane Coral

[Mogwai]

I had 2 Candy cane corals about 2yrs back and they both died. Since then, I haven't bought another because I didn't want to lose a 3rd. Not sure if it was lighting or flow or maybe both that killed them but i like them. How do I keep them alive if I wanted to try a 3rd time?

 

[crazyfishmom]

What are your parameters like?

Can you tell us a little more about your tank, inhabitants, lighting, etc?

 

[TX_REEF]

Candy canes like low flow and lighting. Flow you want indirect but present, with lighting they do best under less than 200 PAR. Mine are on the sandbed at around 150 PAR for most of the day.

 

[Mogwai]

Calcium: 440-455 ppm, Alk: 9.5-10, Mag: 1390-1400, Nitrate: 8-12, Phos: .01ish.
Lights: Hydra 32 (7am-7pm), 2 Nero 3's.
2 clowns, Six line wrasse, 2 pajama Cardinals, Tiger Shrimp Goby, Fire red Shrimp, Halloween Crab, small blue legged hermit crab.

 

[Mogwai]

I can't add anymore fish. My wrasse kills them. I had a fire fish and a yellow watchman Goby and the wrasse killed them.

 

[TX_REEF]

Calcium: 440-455 ppm, Alk: 9.5-10, Mag: 1390-1400, Nitrate: 8-12, Phos: .01ish.
Lights: Hydra 32 (7am-7pm), 2 Nero 3's.
2 clowns, Six line wrasse, 2 pajama Cardinals, Tiger Shrimp Goby, Fire red Shrimp, Halloween Crab, small blue legged hermit crab.

Water chemistry looks fine to me.

 

[dr_vinnie_boombatz]

Your phosphate is too low IMO

 

[crazyfishmom]

Calcium: 440-455 ppm, Alk: 9.5-10, Mag: 1390-1400, Nitrate: 8-12, Phos: .01ish.
Lights: Hydra 32 (7am-7pm), 2 Nero 3's.
2 clowns, Six line wrasse, 2 pajama Cardinals, Tiger Shrimp Goby, Fire red Shrimp, Halloween Crab, small blue legged hermit crab.

I would consider increasing phosphate a bit.

My candy canes have been doing well at around 100 PAR and went from a 10 head colony to the picture below in 5 months. The heads are giant and super fluffy. I keep my nitrates at around 25 and phosphates are between 0.1-0.2.