Keeping kryptonite candy cane corals: challenges and tips

[Tallwave]

I had some kryptonites way back when and they'd do alright for a bit, then I'd move them to make room for other things and they'd start to struggle - closing up and receding. I'm wondering if this type of candy cane is particularly finicky to keep going.

[ravelo]

I've personally had the opposite experience with kryptonites - they've been one of the more low-maintenance corals for me. As long as I avoid relocating them to a spot with higher light levels without giving them time to adjust, they seem to do just fine. But I've noticed that even slight changes in alk levels or a curious fish nipping at them can cause them to close up and recede.

[jolt9]

I've had a pretty smooth experience with these corals, they're quite hardy considering. They seem to thrive in high flow and relatively high light conditions. My urchin's been a bit of a handful, picking them up and carrying them around a few times this past week - despite being epoxied down to the live rock, no less. Each time, they're visibly stressed, but within a couple hours of being returned to their rock, they're back to normal. They always seem to be one of the happiest corals in my tank, which is great to see.

I'm using reefbreeders, peaking at about 20 percent, in my 90-gallon setup. Weekly water changes are a must, and I've got them placed in a medium flow area with two rw-8's on either side of the tank in pulse mode.

[rileyon]

I agree with the consensus that these corals are relatively low maintenance, as long as you provide them with the right environment. Lower light and moderate flow seem to be the sweet spot. They're a great introduction to stony corals for beginners.

My experience with them has been mostly positive, but I did encounter some issues when I placed them in a spot with too much light. The polyps would shrink, and algae would start growing on the exposed stalks, which not only looked bad but also irritated the polyps. To avoid this, it's crucial to keep Ca, Alk, and Mg levels stable and within reef parameters.

[Tallwave]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, really appreciate the input. I've had these corals before and loved them, but was hesitant to get them again due to the issues I had when relocating them - they'd close up and recede, and I wasn't sure what was going on.

[fizzlebee]

Hands down, one of the easiest corals I've ever kept. Started with just two heads about 7 years ago and now I've got hundreds, been through all sorts of tough times and they're still thriving.

[violetta3]

My experience with them has been mixed, had some that were a breeze and others that were more finicky.
Most of the aquacultured ones I've had have been super resilient.
I've also tried a few wild ones - some did great, while others just didn't thrive.
Those that didn't do well just kind of stagnated, didn't grow, and the heads were smaller and less puffy.

[craftyx]

I've personally had the opposite experience with kryptonites - they've been one of the more low-maintenance corals for me. As long as I avoid relocating them to a spot with higher light levels without giving them time to adjust, they seem to do just fine. But I've noticed that even slight changes in alk levels or a curious fish nipping at them can cause them to close up and recede.

Key to their success is maintaining stable alkalinity levels, and once they're settled, they likely require light acclimation if relocated. My own have been thriving for around 4-5 years now.

[FlynnB]

I've personally had the opposite experience with kryptonites - they've been one of the more low-maintenance corals for me. As long as I avoid relocating them to a spot with higher light levels without giving them time to adjust, they seem to do just fine. But I've noticed that even slight changes in alk levels or a curious fish nipping at them can cause them to close up and recede.

Key to their success is maintaining stable alkalinity levels, and once they're settled, they likely require light acclimation if relocated. My own have been thriving for around 4-5 years now.

How about your colony - is it one of those awesome, rounded softball-sized ones steve?

[Tallwave]

Thanks for the input, really appreciated it. Still a bit hesitant about getting them again due to the receding issue I experienced in the past - never could figure out how to stop it once it started.