Never out feeder tentacles???

[ultimatemj]

I've got a couple of chalices and Acans that I've had for a few months that *never* have their feeders out and I'm beginning to see signs of staving on 3 chalices that were growing ;(

I've checked late at night with a flashlight and their not out then either.

Water parameters seem fine
1.026
78 to79deg
PH 7.9 at night 8.1 daytime
Alk 157ppm
Cal 425
Mg ~1400
N03 less than 5
P04 .07

When I first got them my N03 was ~20 and my P04 was .15

I'm running GFO and carbon in a reactor and have a bag of purigen in the sump.

Water changes 10% weekly, but did 20% this week.

Lighting is AI hydras on 56% power

Feeding; I've been using a 50/50 mix of reef roids and reef chilli once a week. I've upped that that to 2times, spot feeding, to try and get a reaction...with no reaction.

All other corals are feeding/growing just fine.

Here's SI pectina feeding at night

Happy torch& RBTAs

And my prized possession (wwc mango mania) potentially starving

Thoughts???

 

[myownlife]

Do you have reef roids? I spot feed my chalice while pumps are off and the eyes suck it in. Several of my chalice never put out feeders but if they eat the food I know they are happy.

 

[ultimatemj]

I have tried spot feeding reef roids, but unfortunately I'm not seeing any reaction to it

 

[Rpujol85]

I recently watched a video by Tidal Gardens which sowed a time-lapse of chalice eating.

They all just sucked up their mucous with food particles in it.

The author noted he could not notice this by simply observing the tank (too slow to notice with the naked eye). So the might be eating it after all. He said depending on the type of chalice they may never extend feeding tentacles, and just use this method of feeding.

 

[Tab28]

My chalices eat in several ways. It depends on food. If food lands on an eye they slowly take the piece in like any other lps. No tentacles used. If feeding from water column. They just open their mouths and filter feed. Tentacles are usually out for this type of feeding incase a particle of food can be caught. Some chalice types have longer more visible tentacles, other very short and hard to see. At night it is feeding tentacles. When they are feeding they always appear puffy. No matter which manner they are eating.

 

[ultimatemj]

Hmm, so any other thoughts (beyond staving) on why I am seeing 3 of them receed a little?

Seeing a little edge of skelton in a couple of places has me spooked it's going to continue!

 

[Tab28]

If they are receding and not happy they will not eat. Nitrates are a bit low for lps. Generally like around 10-20. I keep mine at 10. This seems to be a conformable for my sps and lps. I try keeping my salinity at 1.025. But if u are feeding and they are not eating there is something they are not liking. Your water perimeter may have great looking numbers but not all corals like this condition. Pectinia is a chalice and i find the three i have more forgiving than the standard chalices. If mine are not eating i know something in water chemistry has changed. Usually alk and salinity. Either too high or low for what they like.

 

[ultimatemj]

Tonight with a flashlight...

Cyn feeding

Dendro out in full force

I'm beginning to wonder if this is a 'wound' from an attacker...

 

[Tab28]

It could be. But it should heal. Monitor to see if it increases. It looks like your chalice is inflated and mouths are expanded, not open. So it appears to be absorbing from water. A liquid or powder food at night with low current and main pump off for awhile may entice its mouths to open.

 

[MrsDragon]

I'm just a newbie but wanted to ask about the nitrate levels. I've always been told that I have to have pretty much all the standard (amm, nitrite, nitrate) levels at zero. Why do they need higher nitrates? Thanks