Capnella imbricata (Kenya Tree Coral)

Source: liveaquaria.com

QUICK STATS

• Care Level: Easy
  
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive
  
• Lighting: Moderate to High
  
• Waterflow: Medium to Strong
  
• Placement: All
  
• Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
  
• Color Form: Black, Green, Tan
  
• Origin: Indo-Pacific
  
• Family: Nephtheidae
  
• Insert Date: 18 September 2010

The Kenya Tree Coral, also referred to as a Cauliflower Soft Coral, Nephthea, or Nephthya, is similar to the members of both the Litophytonand Nephthea genera. It lives in a wide range of the Indo-Pacific. It has a thick trunk, like a tree, and many branches giving it an arboreal appearance.
It is not normally considered a threat to hard corals, but may itself be disturbed by their presence. The Kenya Tree Coral relies less on the symbiotic algae within it, and depends more on obtaining outside food. Microplankton, marine snow, and dissolved materials should make up the bulk of its diet.

Through a forum I found someone selling his whole aquarium. We wanted to take a look and see if he had anything that we liked. His aquarium looked really nice, it was a big tank that wasn’t very high but mainly very deep. The rocks where all low, not really build up and almost every rock was covered in Xenia.
For the moment we left with 3 rocks filled with corals, maybe we are going back to get some more (fish maybe even, he had some nice ones). The easiest choice which I liked a lot was a rock with Ricordea mushrooms. My wife still likes Xenia and since ours is not much anymore we also took a rock with Xenia and some purple mushrooms. And last we also wanted a new Cabbage leather coral, so he torn one loose with a Kenya tree also on it.

Unfortunately there where no pictures of his aquarium.

18 September we bought this new Kenya tree, he had 3 of them in his aquarium, but we liked this one a lot because of the Cabbage leather coral next to it. Of course we didn't really need another Kenya tree, but they just looked nice together
The Kenya is still recovering, hopefully it will look better next week or so.

After we expect he already gave one that is now growing underneath a rock I removed two fragments (fully inflated pieces) yesterday. I put both of them in a small glass with some rocks underneath. But they will probably move to the fragment tank when it is finished.

One of the 2 fragments already attached to a small piece of rock. The other attached to the glass. Seems to be another part blowing up and getting ready to leave.

Here is the fragment, more can be found here:

Found out that it's not just some Capnella species but it is actually the Capnella Imbricata.

I noticed two more parts inflating. I was too late for one, it was already detached from the mother and attached to a piece of life rock, but the other part I removed myself and put in the fragment glass until the fragment tank is ready.

Yesterday I noticed another piece ready for departure. I removed the piece and it is now the first inhabitant for our new fragment tank.

It finally stopped giving fragments, after he dumped about 6 fragments. It looks very good now, a nice filler on the middle.

Yesterday he gave another fragment. I have put it in the fragbin so it can attach to rock.

Yesterday I have sold some fragments again. A member from the Zeewater Forum voor Nederland en België, called Bikerdick, wanted to buy the last Red Mushroom fragment and some Kenya Tree fragments.
He bought 4 Kenya Tree fragments, many coming from this tree. Hopefully no new ones will come for a while, since I still have 7 left.

At first I wanted to cut some branches and make it smaller that way, but yesterday I talked it over again with my wife and we decided it would be a shame, since it looks so great now. We are going to sell it in whole for that reason. We already have a great Kenya Tree and I also have a great Cabbage leather in the Fragtank if we still want that.

Tuesday we sold both of them for 25 euro's