No polyps?

Goby-won · Nov 8, 2016

How do I get polyp extension?

This is the pondering question that has plagued my entry into SPS - I have zero polyp extension! I mean none, but I do have encrusting of my SPS onto glue and rock. It makes me feel good that my coral is "growing", but I desperately want/love to see the polyp extension on milli's and other SPS.

Please give me some help...

Clayalaleona · Nov 8, 2016

Usually flow fixes this issue for me

Coastie Reefer · Nov 8, 2016

I've often wondered myself. I have some extension, but nothing like some of the examples I've from others and I have about 60 times turnover in my tank.

Acro maniac · Nov 8, 2016

Posting your levels/ setup / types of coral your concerned with ,( other then millie) would be good for someone to help assess the issue

Salty1962 · Nov 8, 2016

What are your corals doing at night?

Diesel · Nov 8, 2016

I never had PE during the day but night............. oh my.
Feeding happens during the night anyways.

Saltine · Nov 8, 2016

Have any dwarf angels?

swnoob · Nov 9, 2016

I've had the same issue with a few frags. They put down a very nice base but no longer extend their polyps. One example would be my WWC grizzly adams. Looked great when first introduced to the tank but zero polyps for the last six months. Tried reducing flow and light with no change.

I say let it be and see if it comes around on its own. Thats the only thing that has worked for me. I've tried moving other frags and they end up getting stressed out and eventually stn

brad65ford · Nov 9, 2016

Good bit of everything include lighting has a lot to do with it as well. Lets see your setup or details including how old is your system etc.

Acro maniac · Nov 10, 2016

Do you test for anything?
Alk
Mag
Phosphate
Specific gravity
All effect pe
I have not seen any indicators that cal effect pe but it is also a very good level to verify.

Goby-won · Nov 13, 2016

Sorry all, life got busy the last couple of days. Thanks to all who have taken an interest in helping me out.

I have a 120 g tank with LED's and a two bulb retro T5. Both bulbs are coral +. I have been slowly adding for time over the last month or so. I am up to about 3.5 hours a day. I have a 40 gallon sump with a refugium growing chaeto.

So here is what I did, I recalibrated my pH probe - it was off 0.3. The pH was slightly over 8.5.

I also did a 25 gallon water change on the tank, and low and behold the SPS are much happier. I am getting poly extension on some SPS, and others are looking like they want to open soon. I feel much better.

I have been adding Reef fusion part 1 and 2. Can I add too much of these two?

Wilsoni · Nov 17, 2016

Your PH being a little high shouldn't effect your PE. SPS will typically look it's best following a WC, that's usually when I get my best PE.

As far as Reef Fusion goes, (yes) you certainly can add too much of the two. Too much alk can cause a world of problems, especially if you're raising it too quickly. My best recommendation for you would be to test your parameters ASAP. If you don't currently have a test kit, I would at bare minimum invest in a solid KH kit such as the Salifert kit.

If you plan on dosing 2-part, you should always test, test, test.

Goby-won · Nov 17, 2016

Thanks for the help. I am definitely heading down that path. I think I may have overdosed, because I didn't test.

bif24701 · Nov 18, 2016

When I had AEFW I started noticing my PE would diminish. AEFW are almost impossible to spot, the look just like the coral flesh they are eating. Dip some of your corals and blast them with a turkey baster in or right after the dip. They will come off and float around in the water. I believe many have AEFW and don't know it because they are so hard to see. Once I got rid of the AEFW my PE was back and my acros did great!