Long Tentacle Plate Coral (Heliofungia) care

[Kerbash]

Hey,

Looking to get a long tentacle plate coral. Whats their general care like? I kept seeing people say they are a bit touchy, but couldnt find out why. Does anyone have experience keeping them? Especially long term? What should I watch out for?

Thanks!

 

[Bridgerdean]

Man, I have had two that were so cool, but I could not keep them alive. Following along with you.

 

[mdb_talon]

I do low light and low/moderate flow. I spotfeed them and seems to help. Here are couple of mine.

 

[Kerbash]

Man, I have had two that were so cool, but I could not keep them alive. Following along with you.

what happened? did they flesh receded away? brown jelly?

 

[Bridgerdean]

what happened? did they flesh receded away? brown jelly?

The flesh just slowly receded away.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I believe fine sand that could blow up into them is not good.

 

[CayeCaulker]

I am following too. They are so cool

 

[Sarlindescent]

I kept one for around 3 years. It was in a bare bottom. Par around 115 or so. Always moving tentacles. I spot fed every week or few. Ended up selling, since I was out of room and it was a killer, but yeah. Awesome coral. Note from the videos, my LT plate was HIGHLY adaptive in tentacle length and would normally shrink up around ramp down. Hence why it isn't extended far under the blue light vids. Mid-day when the tank was around 10k-14k, it was wide open. I would assume this was a product of par not spectrum.

Day video

Night video with torches for reference

 

[vtecintegra]

I had one for a couple of years until I moved an sold it. No idea what the par was or NO3 PO4. I feed it pieces of squid once or twice a week and it seemed to thrive.

 

[Kerbash]

Anything I should watch out for in particular? Are they sensitive to anything?

 

[mdb_talon]

Anything I should watch out for in particular? Are they sensitive to anything?

The main thing to look for is if they start receding at the edge. They can look completely healthy otherwise but recede from the edge and it can be hard to see unless you occassionally tick them off to make them close up or actually grab it and turn it sideways to see.

If they are not open most of the time that is another warning sign they are unhappy(flow/light/sickness). I dont find them to be especially sensitive to anything other than possibly very low nutrients. At times my nutrients bottom out at zeroes and if i dont spotfeed them they will quickly start to recede

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Reviving this thread. I'm looking to pick up one of these. Can they live near other plate corals, or do they need to be isolated?

 

[rizkisofani]

Reviving this thread. I'm looking to pick up one of these. Can they live near other plate corals, or do they need to be isolated?

Better isolated, i got 1 and it receed only because single mushroom touching it

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Better isolated, i got 1 and it receed only because single mushroom touching it

Mushrooms will damage most other coral.
I have had plates close to each other and they did fine as far as coral warfare. I do agree that fine sand will often irritate them and this can lead to recession.