Not getting great polyp extension, any tips?

[DesertOasis]

So I've never been able to get amazing polyp extension out of my SPS. It grows slowly but never seems super happy.

My parameters are:
SG: 1.025
Alk: 9.25
Phos: .13
NO3: 25
Cal: 410
Mag: 1500+ (never been able to get it lower and I don't dose)

Tank is an 80 Gallon and has two Hydra 26HD's about 10" off the water and the acros are at the top of the tank.

I do weekly/bimonthly 15-20% water changes with Tropic Marin Pro.

I feed fairly heavily and am moderately to highly stocked. I dose acropower and fuel every now and again but not excessively. I feed mostly frozen and do broadcast some reefroids now and again. I consider the flow moderate to high in the area where the acros are. Anyone have any other tips or tricks?

 

[spspirate]

Do any of them get normal PE? Excessive PE is not a good measurement of the health of a coral. But they all should have some sort of PE during the PM. How is the over all PE at night?

 

[Ultra Aquatics]

First thing I would check for is red bugs, they can be easy to miss if your not specifically looking for them and can definitely cause bad PE.

 

[DesertOasis]

Do any of them get normal PE? Excessive PE is not a good measurement of the health of a coral. But they all should have some sort of PE during the PM. How is the over all PE at night?

I'll try to pay better attention tonight and see how it all looks. Maybe I'm just expecting too much.

First thing I would check for is red bugs, they can be easy to miss if your not specifically looking for them and can definitely cause bad PE.

You're the second person to mention that, what's the best way to look for them?

 

[gatorbait01]

I'll try to pay better attention tonight and see how it all looks. Maybe I'm just expecting too much.



You're the second person to mention that, what's the best way to look for them?

You have to look really closely, hut they look like tiny reddish orange mites. You can definitely see them w/ the naked eye.

 

[Softhammer]

You may need more flow. one persons definition of high flow is anothers definition of stagnant water.

 

[aqua_code]

what is the TDS reading on your RODI? Phosphate seems high but that wouldn't cause unhappy SPS. nitrate maybe a little low but not bad at 25.

What is causing the high phosphate?

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

So I've never been able to get amazing polyp extension out of my SPS. It grows slowly but never seems super happy.

My parameters are:
SG: 1.025
Alk: 9.25
Phos: .13
NO3: 25
Cal: 410
Mag: 1500+ (never been able to get it lower and I don't dose)

Tank is an 80 Gallon and has two Hydra 26HD's about 10" off the water and the acros are at the top of the tank.

I do weekly/bimonthly 15-20% water changes with Tropic Marin Pro.

I feed fairly heavily and am moderately to highly stocked. I dose acropower and fuel every now and again but not excessively. I feed mostly frozen and do broadcast some reefroids now and again. I consider the flow moderate to high in the area where the acros are. Anyone have any other tips or tricks?

What’s your hydra schedule?

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Your phosphate isn’t high. It’s actually lower than mine and I get crazy PE

 

[ScottB]

Your phosphate isn’t high. It’s actually lower than mine and I get crazy PE

True, but @DesertOasis probably didn't plumb his commode to his sump like you did (and I am about to).

 

[ScottB]

Some of my smooth skin stuff does not show great PE.

It is best to take a look with a flashlight a few hours after lights out. A couple nights a week I will dump in some reefroids after lights out, then grab a flashlight an hour later to give myself that fuzzy warm feeling.

 

[aqua_code]

Your phosphate isn’t high. It’s actually lower than mine and I get crazy PE

My thought process on this was the N : P ratio seemed off. @Chaswood79 Are your nitrates at 25 as well with crazy PE?


Also is 9.25 too high dkh for SPS? Usually hear 8.6 is the best.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

My no3 fluctuates between 5 and +25
Alk 7.8-8.5

 

[ScottB]

My thought process on this was the N : P ratio seemed off. @Chaswood79 Are your nitrates at 25 as well with crazy PE?


Also is 9.25 too high dkh for SPS? Usually hear 8.6 is the best.

I keep about 8.5 dkh because that is the general level run by the vendors that sell me tiny little stick frags for hundreds of dollars.