What to Feed a Duncan Coral
- Brine Shrimp
- Shellfish
- Nauplii Larvae
- Mysid Shrimp
- Cyclops
- Tigropius copepods
What do Duncan corals eat?
Duncan corals feed almost exclusively through photosynthesis courtesy of zooxanthellae algae and supplement their diet through hunting if need be, but regular target feedings of frozen or live coral foods are recommended to keep them looking their best. Mysis; Brine Shrimp; Nauplii Larvae; Shellfish; Copepods; Cyclops
Are Duncan corals good for saltwater reef tanks?
Water Conditions, Feeding & Placement Duncan corals are one of the most popular corals for saltwater reef tanks, and many experienced hobbyists recommend them to beginners and those inexperienced when it comes to coral care. It is a vibrant and exciting coral originating from Australia, which is now found in saltwater tanks all around the world.
What supplements do Duncan corals need?
Though known as one of the more low maintenance corals, Duncan corals still require certain parameters to thrive, propagate, and reveal their striking colors. Common supplements include calcium, strontium, and other trace elements, and nutrients are recommended for prime appearance and health.
Does feeding increase growth rate in Duncan corals?
However, the Duncan coral will have a faster growth rate if additional feeding is added. What do I mean by that? Duncan corals are photosynthetic, but they are also hunters.
Do you need to feed Duncan corals?
4:406:28Duncan Coral Care Tips - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if you are having a nitrate issue you might want to get that dealt with before trying someMoreSo if you are having a nitrate issue you might want to get that dealt with before trying some Duncans. As far as feeding goes Duncans are very easy to feed. You might have seen in my affiliate. Videos
How do you care for Duncan coral?
When in doubt, only keep "reef safe" fish in coral tanks. Due to their delicate nature, Duncan corals prefer areas of low to moderate water movement. This may be an area in the middle to lower part of your tank, away from outcroppings and peaks with higher water flow, better suited to sturdier corals.
How do you feed Duncan?
0:182:20HOW TO FEED A DUCAN CORAL? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo just put the turkey baster in the water. And i always try to point the end of it right in theMoreSo just put the turkey baster in the water. And i always try to point the end of it right in the center of the head of one of the duncans. And you just give it a squeeze.
How do you make Duncan coral grow faster?
They prefer lower light levels and being placed lower in the tank.. Feeding them small meaty foods can really speed up growth.
Do Duncan corals need calcium?
Like all LPS corals, Duncans have a calcified stony skeleton and therefore require relatively high concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and hardness, measured as dKH, to stay healthy.
Do Duncan corals need high flow?
Duncans do best in moderate to high flow. Not enough flow can cause algae to grow and irritate the coral while overly high flow can start to cause tissue damage. You want to find a happy medium between these two extremes; a good placement would bring soft movement to all tentacles of the colony.
Do you dip Duncan coral?
4:188:22Duncan Coral Tips & Tricks - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAll the heads will kind of go in.MoreAll the heads will kind of go in.
Are Duncan Coral easy to keep?
Green Duncan Corals are easy to keep and grow well in most reef aquariums. They are a great choice for adding a splash of color to lower flow, lower light areas of your reef aquarium.
Are Duncans hard to keep?
Duncans are very easy to keep and great corals for beginners. Healthy Duncans have fleshy heads and are usually open. They require medium light and medium flow but can tolerate higher flow. We recommend placing them on low lying rocks or middle shelf rock work.
How quickly do Duncan corals grow?
about 8 months. Duncans are a really fast growing coral. This was it when I first got it. It can't rain all the time.
Do Duncan corals multiply?
They can be a beautiful addition if you wish to adorn your saltwater tank with the Duncan Corals. They are the community players and add green and purple colors to your tank system. You need not worry about the propagation of the Duncan Corals because they readily propagate themselves.
How often should I feed my Goniopora?
It prefers moderate to high water flow, with moderate to high lighting conditions. I feed this species DT's oyster eggs, Cyclop-eeze juice and phytoplankton three to five times per week. In my opinion, this coral does not need direct feeding to thrive, although such feedings do seem to enhance its growth.
How do Duncan corals feed?
Duncan corals feed almost exclusively through photosynthesis courtesy of zooxanthellae algae and supplement their diet through hunting if need be, but regular target feedings of frozen or live coral foods are recommended to keep them looking their best.
What supplements do Duncan corals need?
Common supplements include calcium, strontium, and other trace elements, and nutrients are recommended for prime appearance and health.
What color are coral tentacles?
This stunning coral features a bright green oral disc and vibrant tentacles that will gently wave day and night, retracting only when disturbed. Though shorter, these tentacles will come in a variety of stunning colors such as green, purple, pink, and cream.
How many gallons of water do Duncan corals need?
Combined with the Duncan coral’s preference for ample breeding room, it is recommended to keep these corals in tanks that are 30 gallons or more. They should be placed at the bottom or middle of the tank, in an area ...
What type of lighting is needed for a Duncan coral?
Lighting: Moderate to high lighting is required for this coral; halide, compact fluorescent, UV, and T5 fluorescent lighting are all good options. This equipment is easy to obtain and includes affordable options. As a result, the Duncan coral is not only one of the easiest corals to take care of, but also one of the most cost-effective, too!
What is the Sg level of Duncan coral?
sg Levels – 1.023 – 1.025. Common supplements include calcium, strontium, and other trace elements, and nutrients are recommended for prime appearance and health. Despite the relatively limited ranges listed above, the Duncan coral remains one of the comparatively hardiest and most beloved of its species.
Where are Duncan corals from?
Duncan Coral 101: Beginner’s Care Guide. Duncan corals ( Duncanopsammia axifuga) were originally rare specimens outside of Australia and China, but have since spread to the rest of the world’s aquatic scene and have quickly become one of the most popular corals.
Origins And Habitat
The Duncan coral is the only species within the Duncanopsammia genus and originates from the waters surrounding Australia. More specifically, these corals can be found off the western and northern coasts of Australia and as far away as the South China Sea.
What Do Duncan Corals Look Like?
Though duncan corals might look fleshy from above, they are actually a type of large polyp stony coral (LPS). This means that each polyp is supported and sheltered by a hard calcium carbonate skeleton.
Duncan Coral Placement And Temperament In The Aquarium
Duncan corals are extremely adaptable and can live in most conditions if acclimated properly. Hobbyists have kept Duncans at the bottoms of their reef aquariums in the shadows, or right next to Acropora small polyp stony coral (SPS) at the highest PAR values.
Duncan Coral Care And Maintenance
Duncan corals are very low maintenance and are able to sustain themselves with good lighting, flow, and available nutrients. They can tolerate relatively large swings in water parameters but do best in optimal water conditions.
What Are Good Tankmates For Duncan Corals?
Duncan corals are not able to defend themselves like most other corals. The only thing they can do is retract if something starts to walk over them or attack them.
Duncan Coral Problems
For as easy as Duncans can be for some hobbyists, they can sometimes be as temperamental as zoas! For the most part, though, solving Duncan coral problems is straightforward and usually a matter of adjusting lighting, flow, or pests.
How To Frag Duncans
Duncans are one of the easiest and most forgiving species of coral to propagate. As a branching species of large polyp stony coral, simply use a bone cutter or electric saw to cut the skeleton below the flesh.
What is the best alkalinity for Duncan coral?
Alkalinity. Duncan corals prefer medium alkalinity of 450 to 550 ppm with 500ppm being the desired value . Alkalinity is crucial for marine species, so keep it as average as you can. No corals will be damaged if you stick to the average alkalinity. Start from 500 and adjust step by step.
Where to place Duncan coral?
Duncan corals inhabit the warm waters of the pacific ocean and the coastal part of Australia. Those waters boast low to moderate turbidity with an average temperature of about 76 degrees Fahrenheit and medium to high illumination. Summing the above up, I would suggest placing your Duncan coral either in the lower part of the tank or straight in the middle. The sweetest spot is the place out of high water flow with moderate distance from T5, metal halides, or LEDs. Leave yourself no chances to place Duncan coral in the outcropping and peak turbulence areas.
Is it safe to water corals?
High-quality water almost 100% guarantees your corals to be safe and sound. Well, maybe that’s a little bit over-enthusiastic but you get the idea. Keeping the water healthy positively affects all the tank. From the smallest animals to the enormous colonies. Poor water, on the other hand, is an evil twin, which can cause bleaching, retracting, and diseases.
Can Duncan corals eat passive coral?
To keep the headache as far as it could be, keep only reef-safe fish. As even perfectly fed unsafe fish can nibble passive corals such as Duncan. Here is a scientific source.
What is a Duncan coral?
Originating from Australia, Duncan coral is a community player and a vibrant green and purple addition to any saltwater tank. This species has done well in aquaculture conditions ...
What are the characteristics of a Duncan coral?
Characteristics. Duncan corals are characterized by their disc-shaped body, and short purple/green tentacles that can quickly retract into their calciferous tube home. Members of the family Dendrophyllidae, they are related to other stony corals such as Astroides spp. and Turbinaria spp. They can be classified as a large-polyp stony coral (LPS) ...
What are the parameters of a coral?
This includes your usual water parameters (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, kH, gH, temperature and salinity), coral specific parameters (calcium, strontium and other trace elements), and sunlight. Yes, how much sunlight your coral gets directly affects its symbiotic zooxanthellae. Duncan corals are on the low to moderate spectrum for coral lighting, so you may have to adjust up or down, depending on your setup.
What happens if coral doesn't like where they are placed in your tank?
If your coral doesn't like where they are placed in your tank, they may decide to make a change themselves! Within their tubular homes, you may see additional tubes forming away from the main body. Take the hint your coral is telling you and be sure to keep them in a more suitable environment.
How long do you quarantine corals?
Before adding any new corals to an established tank, be sure to quarantine them in a separate system, using separate equipment, for a minimum of four weeks.
How to get algae off coral?
Most of the time, this will require a few extra water changes to bring your levels down. Using a small suction device made out of rigid and flexible airline tubing will allow you to carefully clean the algae off of your corals.
Can you keep Duncan coral in a coral tank?
When in doubt, only keep "reef safe" fish in coral tanks. Due to their delicate nature, Duncan corals prefer areas of low to moderate water movement. This may be an area in the middle to lower part of your tank, away from outcroppings and peaks with higher water flow, better suited to sturdier corals. With proper care, Duncan corals can easily ...
About Duncan Corals
The Duncan coral is a coral with a calcified skeleton that tends to be lightly colored, and their short tentacles allow you to clearly see it as the coral sits there in your tank. The coral itself is usually pink, white, cream-colored, or another bright and eye-catching color.
The Natural Habitat of the Duncan Coral
In the wild, Duncan Corals can be found in the deep sea of China and in Australia, mostly, and they are known for enjoying warm waters. These photosynthetic corals form colonies in the wild, and you can find them at the bottom of reefs and low current seas.
Conditioning Your Tank – Water Parameters and Placement
Duncan corals thrive in tanks that hold at least 30 gallons and tend to show a preference for stable water perimeters (which are commonly found in larger tanks).
Where Is the Duncan Coral Available?
An interesting fact is that the Duncan coral wasn’t always as easy to obtain as it is today. It is native to Australia, and for a time there was a bad that stopped people from exporting it from the country, but this ban has since been lifted. Duncan corals are now available worldwide.
Feeding Guide
When you have a Duncan coral, it is your responsibility to make sure it is fed right, as the coral can’t acquire its own food the way it would in the wild. What you want to achieve is a thriving coral that grows strong and healthy.
Why is My Duncan Coral Not Opening?
One of the most common questions found in reef tank forums is this: Why is my Duncan coral not opening? It is perfectly normal for one of these corals to remain closed for a couple of days after you introduce it to the tank, as it needs to adapt to its new surroundings.
Conclusion
If you are only just getting started with your saltwater tank, or if you have never had corals before, then the Duncan coral is a good place to start. It won’t cause you much of a headache, and it will brighten your whole tank with its vivid colors.
Physical Description & Lifespan
Behavior
Natural Habitat
- Duncan corals are native to Australian and the South China Sea, especially where the waters run deep and warm. In such areas, they’re known to readily propagate and form expansive colonies whose brilliant corallites often disguise the colony’s true size. Though they’re photosynthetic like most other corals and benefit from symbiotic algae, they can also be avid hunters when necessa…
Basic Tank Setup
- The more water a saltwater tank holds, the more stable its water parameters tend to be. Combined with the Duncan coral’s preference for ample breeding room, it is recommended to keep these corals in tanks that are 30 gallons or more. They should be placed at the bottom or middle of the tank, in an area that receives moderate to high lighting and low to moderate curren…
Food and Diet
- Duncan corals feed almost exclusively through photosynthesis courtesy of zooxanthellae algae and supplement their diet through hunting if need be, but regular target feedings of frozen or live coral foodsare recommended to keep them looking their best. 1. Mysis 2. Brine Shrimp 3. Nauplii Larvae 4. Shellfish 5. Copepods 6. Cyclops These foods are ea...
Bringing The Duncan Coral to Your Aquarium
- Aquarists would be hard-pressed to name a coral better suited for beginners or community coral tanks. Duncan corals are easy to care for, grow quickly, and display beautiful colorswhen kept correctly. Their minimal care requirements mean that owners can focus their attention on other areas of the tank. With this coral, you can cultivate a stunning saltwater garden that will provide …