In aquariums, torch corals look exquisite. They are becoming more common by the day. Still, people are facing a big issue regarding the torch coral.
Many people have claimed that their torch coral is splitting, and they’re really frustrated. If you’re facing something similar, you’re in luck! We will help you solve this issue.
So, what are the causes of torch coral splitting?
Torch coral splitting mainly refers to torch coral reproduction. The polyps split to create more polyps inside the aquarium. The splitting only happens when factors like temperature, light, space, pH level, etc are sufficient. Still, the splitting may indicate various diseases as well.
Don’t stop reading here. Please go through the entire article to get all the necessary information to get rid of this issue. You will need it.
Start reading here.
What Causes the Torch Coral to Split?
From the outside, torch coral splitting may seem like a negative issue. Many people seem to believe that torch coral splitting translates into something bad. However, that is not always the case.
When torch corals split, it is ideally a reproduction process for them. Torch corals split really slowly. Torch corals split every three to six months, depending on the coral type.
For example, if you have a hammer coral, you may inspect the splitting. This basically results in the hammer coral growing a new head.
Now you must be wondering what happens when torch coral splits. Well, we’ve mentioned it in the section below. Read it to find out more!
What Happens When Torch Coral Splits?
As the heads of the torch coral grow upwards, the splitting process is seen. The heads split and they grow apart from each other.
The heads of the coral are called polyps. Commonly, the flesh of the coral is still intact when the splitting happens. If you can see some skeletons, it may indicate something different.
Coral reproduction is done in a similar way to mitosis reproduction. They multiply by two, and at the end, you can find a lot of polyps!
The fun part is that the new polyp is similar to the polyp it is splitting from. The theory is also relatively easy to understand.
Since the same polyp is splitting, they have the same texture and color. However, the polyps don’t split if they aren’t taken care of.
You can only make the torch coral split by giving it the best growing space. It can ultimately produce some happy torch coral. Want to know more about this part? Keep reading.
How to Make Torch Corals Split?
You have to ensure many environmental and materialistic aspects to initiate the splitting of torch coral. I have elaborated on the aspects below; read thoroughly to get some free advice!
Temperature
Whether it is a creature or a plant, maintaining the temperature is always necessary. Since the torch coral is an animal, the heat affects them greatly.
The optimal temperature for torch coral is 72 – 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The most optimal results will be visible at 78 degrees.
That way, the torch coral will be on the higher end. Additionally, the output will be much greater!
Try to keep the water clean along with maintaining the temperature. To do this, you can use either a filter or an air pump.
pH Level
Whenever you are dealing with water, the pH level must be adjusted. High pH levels indicate acidic characteristics, while low pH levels indicate alkaline conditions.
The torch coral needs a pH ranging from 8.1 – 8.4. This means that the water will have alkaline characteristics. Your fish should also be okay with this pH level in order to survive properly.
Placement
Always try to keep the torch coral somewhere open. You should make sure that there aren’t any other corals or plants near them. Torch coral is venomous, so it may sting your other corals.
The center of the tank is a good spot for that. Try to keep enough space so that the tentacles can spread out.
You can place them in corners too. It is totally up to you. But don’t keep them too close to the heater. If the aquarium heater gets too hot, it won’t be good for them.
Light Level
The torch coral mainly feeds off the light. You need to have an adequate amount of lighting over the tank. The light should not be too little; they can’t do photosynthesis that way.
On the contrary, if the light level is too high, it may make the torch coral transparent. On top of that, the water temperature will increase.
Aside from the light, you can give the corals many nutrients. A famous and efficient nutrient for coral is moist yeast.
Feeding the torch coral with this yeast will greatly benefit them! They can grow way faster than normal.
Current
Make sure a decent amount of current is blowing over them. The torch coral needs the current to blow its tentacles around.
Try setting the current mode to medium or high. If the coral shrinks, reduce the intensity. Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it!
If you can ensure these settings create the best coral-splitting environment. The torch coral will look very vibrant and split more frequently this way!
But, do torches split only to reproduce?
The answer to that question is- no. They split to reproduce, for the most part. Still, in some cases, it is a sign of disease. One common disease that torch coral is prone to is Brown Jelly Disease. It can be really harmful to the torch coral. Visually, it is different from torch coral splitting.
Knowing about the Brown-jelly disease is pretty important. To help you, we have shed light on this disease in the next paragraph.
Now, what is Brown Jelly Disease? The brown-jelly disease is a disease that is very common in all coral types. The reason behind this disease is the excessive amount of protozoa in the water.
Brown jelly often kills coral instantly. For reference, an infected coral can die in a few days to a few weeks.
If you don’t cure the brown jelly illness in a timely manner, it may spread. The other corals in your tank might be affected by this disease as well.
Generally speaking, most healthy corals should be able to defend themselves from this disease. But if you have any damaged corals in your tank, they may be more vulnerable.
Since it is so dangerous, you must know how to prevent it. More on this in the next paragraph. Keep reading.
How to Prevent and Cure Brown Jelly Disease?
To prevent and cure Brown Jelly Disease, you may do the following-
Frag the Coral
Fragging the coral means cutting off the infected part. This is a post-treatment rather than a pre-treatment.
If you see any of the coral tentacles getting brown, cut them off as soon as possible. This way, the disease won’t spread.
Increase the Water Flow
The aquarium’s water flow should be increased when you see any symptoms of the brown jelly disease.
Increased water flow won’t let the disease spread so easily. The contaminated water will flush away sooner.
Place a UV light
Placing a UV light on top of the tank might eliminate the brown jelly disease risks. It won’t help the affected corals. Still, it will help prevent it in the future.
FAQs
Are torch corals hard to keep?
No, torch corals aren’t hard to keep. It is a popular misconception for a lot of people. Torch corals don’t require a lot of time or intensive attention either. Ideally, you need to only provide these corals in a safe space. This safe space consists of a big tank, freshwater, and sufficient lighting.
Why is my torch coral retracted?
The retraction of torch coral can occur for many different reasons. For instance, when the torch coral is near the heater, it may happen. Any contact with the warm surface of the heater can cause retraction. This mainly happens to the largest tentacles of the torch coral. The heat causes them to retract.
How quickly do torch corals grow?
In general, torch corals grow very slowly. It can take months or years to grow a fully developed torch coral. For reference, it takes 90 – 180 days to grow 1 – 2 heads of torch coral. You need to ensure the best growing environment for them for fast growth. Consider using Reef Roids for this.
The Final Words
You have reached the final paragraph of this article. By now, we hope you know the reasons and solutions behind torch coral splitting.
Don’t forget to let us know about your queries. Simply comment down below and we’ll reach you!
Have a great day.
