Monti polyps wont extend

[ReeferWarrant]

I have a couple frags of monti and now some birds nest just added. I recently noticed my bicolor blenny likes to nip at the plugs occasionally. Should this be a concern? Would this cause the polyps not to extend? Mind you the new additions are completely extended and seem happy now.

Salinity: 1.026
Temp: 78
Ca: 490 (bringing that down currently)
Alk: 8.3
Mag: 1245
Nitrate: 10
Phos: .10

(Edit: At night, if I use a blue flashlight, I can see polyp extension)

 

[Redfoxtang]

I would just keep monitoring. If he keeps picking try feed a bit more. If he’s taking chucks little fella has to go!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Try reducing white light intensity a little and increase blue light intensity and moderate flow id favorable. Drop salinity a tad to 1.025

 

[ReeferWarrant]

I moved one of the frags he was picking at to the rock work and so far so good. I think he correlates them being on the side of the glass to the feeding clip I have in there for him... We'll see. Or he just likes the glass clean, he's always knocking snails and hermits off of his perch.

I also made some mistakes with the first batch of monti's, they are my first attempts at SPS. I think my lighting was too bright and they didn't appreciate it.

One is a mystic sunset monti, I have a feeling that thing is invincible. Still super bright red just not much for polyp extension. It's one that he always knocks off because they are on junk plugs.... Debating building a small island of rubble and epoxy for it to grow over.

The other is a blue plating variety with green polyps. This one started receding and only has healthy flesh in the center of the plate. I can see the polyps extended at night and when the blues are on. This one is on a junk plug as well, and he nips at this one a lot. The area the flesh has disappeared now has coraline algae growing over it. Mildy concerned about that one, and not sure what my choices to deal with it are.

 

[ReeferWarrant]

3 hours later and no nipping so far. Hoping my assumption on the feeding clip is right.

 

[najer]

The bi colour I had a few years back was removed for chewing my montis.

 

[ReeferWarrant]

@najer, I'm hoping I can keep this one. He's my first fish in the tank and has such a great personality. It would be an absolute bummer to get rid of him.

 

[najer]

@najer, I'm hoping I can keep this one. He's my first fish in the tank and has such a great personality. It would be an absolute bummer to get rid of him.

All fish are different, I hope it works for you.

 

[ReeferWarrant]

So the question now, what to do with the plating coral that has coraline algae growing on the edges? Will it eventually overtake the algae again?