Sarcophyton care on a budget

[guppyfin]

I've got a Sarcophyton in my 40-gallon tank, but it's not opening up like it used to. My budget's tight, so I can't splurge on fancy gear. What's the cheapest way to keep it happy? Running a basic LED light, weekly 10% water changes, and parameters are stable, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 5 nitrate.

[axonix]

Sarcophyton's pretty hardy, but lighting's key even on a budget. What's your PAR rating? If it's low, try moving it higher in the tank. Also, they like indirect flow, so adjust your powerhead if it's getting blasted. Cheap fix: use egg crate to diffuse light or flow.

[Luxury]

I've kept Sarcophyton for years with just a basic T5 setup. They don't need crazy light, but consistency matters. Stick to a 10-hour photoperiod. If your nitrates are at 5, that's fine, but watch phosphates. A $10 phosphate remover pouch lasts months.

[duskcolors]

I've got a Sarcophyton in my 40-gallon tank, but it's not opening up like it used to. My budget's tight, so I can't splurge on fancy gear. What's the cheapest way to keep it happy? Running a basic LED light, weekly 10% water changes, and parameters are stable, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 5 nitrate.

How old's your bulb? Even budget LEDs lose intensity after a year. Swapping it might cut it.

[fastbyte]

Mine did the same till I stopped messing with it. Sometimes they just vibe weird for a week. If params are good, chill and wait. Also, skip feeding it directly—saves cash. They grab enough from the water column.

[wingedpiper]

Is it near any aggressive corals? My zoas pissed off my Sarcophyton once. Had to move it to the sandbed till it perked up.

[axonix]

Is it near any aggressive corals? My zoas pissed off my Sarcophyton once. Had to move it to the sandbed till it perked up.

Good call. Check for allelopathy. Even softies can throw shade. A carbon filter pad's a cheap way to curb chemical warfare.

[guppyfin]

Thanks, all. I'll try the egg crate trick and check my bulb age. It's not near any other corals, so maybe it's just a phase.

[Luxury]

Yep, patience is free. If it's not shedding or turning brown, it'll likely bounce back. Keep us posted.

[duskcolors]

One last thing—temp swings can sketch them out. If your heater's old, a $20 inkbird controller's a solid upgrade.