Bonzai.....aargh!

[ReeferRob]

So Im on my third GARF Bonzai frag..........first two started with the tips turning white and slowly RTNing away. Now I am on my third frag, actually a mini colony on purpose hoping it would help. And yet again same deal.
No matter the flow or light, or acclimation process. This is the only type of SPS I can't keep so far???

Those of you out there with it thriving, what are your secrets or recommendations.

[John]

Even better question, what are other people not doing that you may be doing... perhaps they dose a chemical you don't, do you dose anything? hmm... some people can't keep certain softies since they don't dose iodine. :D

[XSiVE]

have you gotten them from different sources?

[ReeferRob]

Even better question, what are other people not doing that you may be doing... perhaps they dose a chemical you don't, do you dose anything? hmm... some people can't keep certain softies since they don't dose iodine. :D

Dosing....argh don't get me started. But yea, I do the Drew on BRS. Had been dosing Prodibio for months now on MB7 Vodka, but about to kick that for some Warner EcoBaks!

Iodine..... something I've never actually dosed before. Heard good things, heard bad things.


And yes all three frags have come from the same source. I have also watched these same three frags for weeks to see them happy and healthy. This is also where a majority of my SPS have come from with no issues.

[Sir Patrick]

I would try a different source. The differences between your system and the original one might just be too different for it to acclimate well.

Mines about bulletproof. has very little color, but bulletproof for 2 years now.

[XSiVE]

I would try a different source. The differences between your system and the original one might just be too different for it to acclimate well.

Mines about bulletproof. has very little color, but bulletproof for 2 years now.

My thoughts exactly, and why I asked about the sources. If mine was big enough to offer a frag I would.

[iyachtuxivm]

I have tried two frags of this as well and both times it has turned brown, died and grew algae. The first one I acclimated to water params then was acclimating to light and it started browning. I posted and the majority said to move it up and fast or it would die, well it still died. The second one I put right at the same level of light (as far as the naked eye can tell) that it came from two weeks later it turned brown and died. So I am thinking a chemical is needed or not needed, depending. What that chemical is or additive is I am not sure. I use a kalk stirrer on my ato but otherwise I dont dose anything.

[XSiVE]

I dose vodka & 2-part, weekly to bi-weekly water changes of about 15% water volume..

my GARF bonsai was not showing good polyp extension, it was getting almost 400 PAR, I dimmed the LEDs down by about 15-25% or so and it's showing great extension now... could it just be something my individual frag likes? I dont know but any info to help you keep this beautiful coral is something.

[Manoj's Reef]

I have had a different experience with the GARF bonsai that I had .

It was much more resilient than the other SPS I had. I got mine from Wayne when he left the hobby. I lost it due to high alk and stn.

Make sure there are no pests on it. Sometimes It can be hard to detect visually.

[ReeferRob]

Thanks for all the thoughtful feedback guys. I am perplexed by this. It is a very beautiful coral and I wish I could keep it.

The same source issue I would generally agree, but I have bought many Red Planet and ORA frags from them and never once an issue? So... not sure there.

It is a higher light species from what I gather, with lower to mid flow requirements from what I gather??