Please Help me

AgeDynasty · Apr 4, 2013

Hello Everyone, frist off I would like to start off by saying that I have been keeping SPS for the last three years with great growth. However I do not get good polyp extension like I see in so many of my friends aquariums.

Tank Information Below
75 Gallon with Central Overflow
20 Gallon Sureflow Sump
Mag 9 Return Pump
CR140 Calcium Reactor
1xMp 40 Set on short pulse for wave mod (located on Right Side about 3/4 way up)
2xHydro Korellia 1400 Evolution on a 15sec Pulse with Hyrdo Wave Maker (both located on Left Side about half way up on seprate ends of the glass pointed towards the surface)
8 bulb Current USA T5 fixture, Bulb Combination all ATI (4xBlue Plus,2xCoral Plus, 1xTrue Actinic 03, and 1xPurple Plus) all bulbs are about 2weeks old
100lbs of Live Rock 8 Years old
3"sb 8 Years Old
Tank Parameters
Salinity 35
Ph 8.3
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0 at least according to Red Sea Test Kit
Phosphate 0 at least according to Red Sea Test Kit
Calcium 500
Alk 9dkh
Ammonia 0
Magnesium 1350

revhtree · Apr 4, 2013

I think it could be a multitude of things including the inhabitants you have, flow, lighting, placement, to water parameters. I know that helps little but how does his tank differ from yours? I assume you guys may have the same corals that are reacting differently?

Mrfresh · Apr 4, 2013

Hows the color of ur sps. When u get something new does it brown out or does it stay the same color?
Has it always been like that or is it recent that the poylps dont extend out?
How oftern are you feeding you tank?
Is ur cal right at 500 or past it?
How long it ur light period?
How is the flow on ur corals?
Do they just have over all tank water movement or is there water flow pointed right at them?

Also a pix of the tank and ur whole set up might help.

REEFKEEPER10 · Apr 4, 2013

Do you supplement any trace elements. Iodine, amino acids

AgeDynasty · Apr 4, 2013

Mrfresh said:
Hows the color of ur sps. When u get something new does it brown out or does it stay the same color?
Has it always been like that or is it recent that the poylps dont extend out?
How oftern are you feeding you tank?
Is ur cal right at 500 or past it?
How long it ur light period?
How is the flow on ur corals?
Do they just have over all tank water movement or is there water flow pointed right at them?

Also a pix of the tank and ur whole set up might help.

I feed the tank every other day with Formula one pellet, the calcium i just check right at 500, lights are one 8 hours, I would say flow appears to me to be good, I have flow in all general directions. I have made a video maybe you can get a idea check youtube link below sorry for poor quality.

AgeDynasty · Apr 4, 2013

REEFKEEPER10 said:
Do you supplement any trace elements. Iodine, amino acids

I supplement with Lugals and thats it.

ritter6788 · Apr 4, 2013

What fish do you have? Any angels?

AgeDynasty · Apr 4, 2013

Sorry here is a crappy video of my tank. Please any help is greatly appreciated 016 - YouTube

Mrfresh · Apr 4, 2013

I read an article (this is news to me too) but you do want some very SMALL amounts of phos in ur tank. U want to be in the range of about .03ppm. So you might want to try and feed you tank more to help create that.

Also I have a few corals that LOVE strong direst flow on them.if they dont have heavy flow they wont open...
Do u think u might have red bugs or a fuzzy crab...

AgeDynasty · Apr 4, 2013

No, I do not have any critters that I am aware of, the fish in the tank are one clown, one maderian dragonet, one bicolor blenny and wheleers goby

ritter6788 · Apr 4, 2013

AgeDynasty said:
one bicolor blenny

Could be your culprit right there.

AgeDynasty · Apr 4, 2013

Bi color blenny are bad

Mrfresh · Apr 4, 2013

Benny's are a problem... I had a huge encrusting cap and one day it was all closed up. Never see it like that before...after watching the tank for a while I noticed my tribal blend was nipping at it... I don't know if he thought it was algae on rocks or was really eatting the coral but he had to go...