Polyp extension in plumbed together tanks

[cilyjr]

I have a 320 gallon display tank that is plumbed together with a 30 gallon frag tank through a common sump.

Coral in the frag tank which are cuttings from colonies in the display always have much better PE.

I have some theories on why, but I would love some input from all of you first.

What would be your reasoning behind this?

 

[larreef]

Flow?

 

[Troylee]

Better flow and lighting in a shallow tank would be my conclusion… and of course no angel fish if you have those.?

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Lighting, or flow differences.

 

[Cell]

Same water chemistry, all that's left is light and flow.

 

[cilyjr]

Flow?

Maybe but both are pretty heavy flow. The 48 inch has 2 gyres on either side running maxed out .

The 320 has 4x MP40s running at 70% and 2 large gyres running at 80%

 

[Troylee]

Maybe but both are pretty heavy flow. The 48 inch has 2 gyres on either side running maxed out .

The 320 has 4x MP40s running at 70% and 2 large gyres running at 80%

Flow around a frag is much higher than a colony.. in my larger colonies I’ll see one half with crazy pe and the other half normal and it alternates throughout the day haha..

 

[cilyjr]

Lighting, or flow differences.

I guess that could be a thing.

Lights are 3x hydra 32s at about 25% over the frag tank. It's 12 inches deep.

There 8 hydra32s and 4 t5 over the dt. its 30 inches deep. The lack of polyp extension is pretty uniform between lower and upper areas.

 

[cilyjr]

Flow around a frag is much higher than a colony.. in my larger colonies I’ll see one half with crazy pe and the other half normal and it alternates throughout the day haha..

That's true. That said, there are some pretty large colonies in this frag tank as well. That all also seem to be experiencing the same.

I don't have any great photographic examples on my phone right now. I will try to take a few this evening

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

I guess that could be a thing.

Lights are 3x hydra 32s at about 25% over the frag tank. It's 12 inches deep.

There 8 hydra32s and 4 t5 over the dt. its 30 inches deep. The lack of polyp extension is pretty uniform between lower and upper areas.

I am not to good with stuff like that haha, so hopefully someone else can help you. Sorry.

 

[cilyjr]

I am not to good with stuff like that haha, so hopefully someone else can help you. Sorry.

It's ok.. I'm really just trying to get a discussion going to see what we can all figure out.
Maybe it will lead to something, but even if it doesn't it might get me thinking in a different direction!

 

[Cell]

I'd rent a par meter. Flow is easier to match. Lighting, not so much.

 

[cilyjr]

I should state I'm not really trying to change anything. Everything in the display tank is growing happily. I'm just curious as to what people think the culprit might be.

My personal theory is that I have a flame, angel and a few other fish that could be considered potentially predatory towards some corals.

 

[Cell]

Unmentioned coral eaters would definitely be a candidate.

 

[cilyjr]

Unmentioned coral eaters would definitely be a candidate.

Sure, that being said, I've seen no actual predation.

 

[cilyjr]

Here is the list.

Powder blue tang

Orange shoulder tang

Desjardini tang

Tomini tang

Scopas tang

Blue eye tang

Foxface rabbitfish

6 line wrasse

Pajama cardinal

Flame angel

Molly Miller blenny

Sailfin blenny

Yellow canary wrasse

Midas blenny

Pink skunk clown
True perc clown
True perc clown
Oceleris clown

Male lyretail anthias
Female lyretail anthias
Female lyretail anthias
Female lyretail anthias
Female lyretail anthias

Green Chromis
Green Chromis
Green Chromis


Zebra bar goby
Hi fin red stripe goby

 

[Cell]

Now I want to see a pic!

 

[cilyjr]

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

That's really amazing. Awesome tank. This could be the next reef of the month.

 

[vcollins9850]

Here is the list.

Powder blue tang

Orange shoulder tang

Desjardini tang

Tomini tang

Scopas tang

Blue eye tang

Foxface rabbitfish

6 line wrasse

Pajama cardinal

Flame angel

Molly Miller blenny

Sailfin blenny

Yellow canary wrasse

Midas blenny

Pink skunk clown
True perc clown
True perc clown
Oceleris clown

Male lyretail anthias
Female lyretail anthias
Female lyretail anthias
Female lyretail anthias
Female lyretail anthias

Green Chromis
Green Chromis
Green Chromis


Zebra bar goby
Hi fin red stripe goby

I have a flame in with some sps and montis. Never really see it nip but I know it does. Have had monti frags recede and as soon as I move them to a diff tank polyps return. Have a tricolor valida in that tank and grows fine but polyps never come out and it had great PE before he moved in. Have also had blennies that didn’t mind mowing on monti polyps so wouldn’t put it past them either.