Corals partially closed periodically?

[Tinnerito]

I have this reef tank to which I have a few lps corals, and leather corals, and since day 1 of purchase until now(a few months), they've been partially closed, and although there are periods where they open up more and look more plump, that period lasts for only a couple of hours before closing up again. I'm feeding them reef roids every week as it is a high nutrient demanding tank, and they consume it just fine. Their colors are bright, and there is no sign of melting, bleaching, or any form of degradation. They're all simply...under the weather most of the time. Any advice/questions? If you'd like an attachment, please ask and I can take some photos of the corals under white light. Happy reefing!

 

[FUNGI]

How much light and water movement?

 

[Tinnerito]

How much light and water movement?

I put leathers, and euphilias under relatively high light, and blastos in a shadier area by the rockwork. I'm not too sure about the flow. I mostly depend on my filter motor, and an additional powerhead. When the corals are open, I see the polyps move kind of gently. Same goes for all corals as I use the surrounding macroalgae to depict the flow power. I'm not sure how to calculate the gph though.

 

[edsbeaker]

What about critters nipping at them?

 

[FUNGI]

filter motor? HOB or canister?
Powerhead rated for?
I think its an issue of too much light and not enough flow....depends on what leathers you are keeping....and the temperature on you light

 

[Tinnerito]

What about critters nipping at them?

I've never really considered that, but I observe my tank for atleast an hour per day, and none of my inhabitants seem to stress out any of the corals. The hermit crabs do crawl around the corals' skeletons sometimes, but they're only eating the debris and algae.

 

[Tinnerito]

filter motor? HOB or canister?
Powerhead rated for?
I think its an issue of too much light and not enough flow....depends on what leathers you are keeping....and the temperature on you light

In this tank I have the mentioned blastomussa's, toadstool leathers, and a hammer coral. I use an EHEIM canister filter, and I am unsure of the powerhead's rating, but it is significantly for powerful than the filter and is mostly what I rely on for flow if that helps put it into perspective. The temperature of the water is 80-81 degrees F

 

[Reefering1]

Pics of corals and a video of flow please

 

[Tinnerito]

Pics of corals and a video of flow please

I'm not home right now, but I will get them to you as soon as possible!

 

[FUNGI]

Move leather down to sandbed...might be too much light....and temp (unpopular opinion) is too hot for the leather....

 

[Tinnerito]

Move leather down to sandbed...might be too much light....and temp (unpopular opinion) is too hot for the leather....

I'm not sure how to lower water temp. I use a hygger digital heater/thermometer, and the light is green, but temp shows at 81. Its odd though how when I first set this tank up it was 77 degrees, and over the course of about a year its just been going up. I will see what I can do though. I appreciate the advice!

 

[FUNGI]

I'm not sure how to lower water temp. I use a hygger digital heater/thermometer, and the light is green, but temp shows at 81. Its odd though how when I first set this tank up it was 77 degrees, and over the course of about a year its just been going up. I will see what I can do though. I appreciate the advice!

Most likely your powerhead motor has increased the temp.....

 

[Tinnerito]

Most likely your powerhead motor has increased the temp.....

Good point. The amount of hardware in the tank has increased...

 

[Tinnerito]

Pics of corals and a video of flow please

Sorry. I am having trouble attatching the video file. It takes over an hour to upload, and once it finishes it's not included in the thread.