Need some help with expensive acro frags

johnjernigan65 · Jul 29, 2016

I got the frags from cornbred a few weeks ago and they have been dping good up until 3 or 4 days ago. They still have good color but there polyps have not been extended at all and I can't seem to find the source. My mag is a little low at 1100. I've been working on raising it slowly.

Calc- 440
Alk-9
Phosphate- below .3
Hydra 52 hd over 65 gallon

Pics are of acros when I first got them and then today

zoomonster · Jul 29, 2016

As long as they are not bleaching/rtn/stn/dying I wouldn't worry about it. I often get new corals that are polyps out in tank at first and then act like that. Eventually you will get PE when they are acclimated and happy with the tank. They may yet go green or brown and eventually recolor. I have some with great color growing and hardly ever notice PE. Plus a lot of corals only have PE at night (why night is time to feed) and some are hairier than others. Products like pohls coral vitalizer claim to encourage PE all the time but never seen that to be the case. If your phosphate is .3 that's a bit much and general recommendation is <.03. Mine usually stays .06-.07 and many push lower than that. I have a crowded mixed tank though and don't pretend to run ultra low nutrient. If your phosphate is really that high I have to believe nitrates are probably high too. Or maybe that was a typo and you meant to say <.03.

johnjernigan65 · Jul 29, 2016

I did mean .03 and that is really good info

Salty1962 · Jul 30, 2016

No PE on your corals doesn't mean their not well. As long as everything in your tank is in line you shouldn't have to worry about it. I had a tank where I could not get any PE on my corals but they grew like weeds. Check your frags out at night with a flashlight and see if you have PE then, if so your ok.

CJBuckeyes · Jul 30, 2016

What are your nitrates at? Any fish that might be picking at them?

johnjernigan65 · Jul 30, 2016

I have 2 clowns a blonde naso and a yellow tang. And nitrates are at .05.

Sabellafella · Jul 30, 2016

If i makes you feel any better, every acro ive seen diving during the daytime had 0 polyp extension. Guess they get nipped during the day, and are full blown out at night. Check in the night hours, a handful of acros i own, only polyp the tips out at night.