polyp extension

hurley12 · Jan 30, 2013

Ok so I have been having some issues with polyp extension on my SPS corals, parameters are in check and they are all actually doing great and growing. However, polyp extension is not great and non-existent on some. All my digi's are fine no issues, pink bird nest and green bird nest doing fine, milli little to no polyp extension, tort little to no polyp extension, and a pokerstar monti and sunset monti little to no polyp extension. Any ideas?

thejoshdavis · Jan 30, 2013

is it just your SPS acting up?

dwilliams87 · Jan 30, 2013

Are you dosing Ca and Alk? Have you checked to see how much those two parameters fluctuate?

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rizon25 · Jan 30, 2013

Check for pests like red bugs. Hard to see but can be causing the lack of pe. Do you dip your frags?

pelagic · Jan 30, 2013

might be a few reasons

1. Light
2. Flow
3. Dissolved organic matter
4. Fish
5. bug
6. CA/ALK

did they just lose PE lately? do they have PE during the night time?

angrycubano · Jan 30, 2013

^+1 Light and flow are the most important for PE.

hurley12 · Jan 30, 2013

Ok well some other info on the tank:

I do not dose anything just weekly water changes with salinty, Ca and Alk are pretty steady though with no fluctation at about 460 Ca and 8 Dkh

flow an MP10 at about 50% reefcrest mode

Light reefbreeders controllable fixture, whites are at about 40% and blues 80% at the highest points during the day, but it gradual gets to the that point and gradually decreases at night.

I have dipped my corals so I don't think that is it, and all had good polyp extentsion when purchased.

Fish
Bi-color angel
four line wrasse
watchman goby
clown goby

I have never seen any of them nip at corals, except the bi-color will occasionally mess with the zoas.

i do get some polyp extension at night, specifically from the pokerstar monti which has full polyp extension at night typically.

Peterock · Jan 30, 2013

One option is to try out Elos amino acids and Pro-skimmer. They helped me get good PE on my SPS. No I have shaggy corals

bknapp · Jan 30, 2013

Have you seen your Angel nip at the corals? The SPS will retract their coralites when nipped by a fish. Angels are notorious nippers.

What are your phosphate and nitrate numbers?

pickupman66 · Jan 30, 2013

hurley12 said:
I have dipped my corals so I don't think that is it, and all had good polyp extentsion when purchased.

So did I friend... so did I....:tsk::tsk: in Coral RX Pro.

Then I saw that I had flatworms. Never gain will I use any other dip but Bayer Advanced. Its been a few months of hell.

hurley12 · Jan 30, 2013

Angel has never nipped at any corals that I have seen, occasionally some zoas but thats it. I am running Tunze 9002 skimmer on it already forgot to mention that. Nitrates and phosphates are both 0. Could too much light or too much flow cause it, or am I good with my current set-up?

hurley12 · Jan 30, 2013

Ok to answer the questions asked:

Peterock I am actually running the Tunze 9002 skimmer forgot to mention that.

bknapp - Angel has never nipped any corals since being in the tank that i have seen and I watch it a lot, Nitrates and Phosphates are 0

Pickupman66 I will check for pests, don't think thats it, but I know its always a possibility.

Is it possible there is too much light/flow that would be effecting it, or given my set up is that probably not the case?

hurley12 · Jan 30, 2013

Oops double post didnt think the first one went through

Peterock · Jan 31, 2013

I was talking about this additive sold by Elos, I use along with the Omega amino acid one.

Pro Skimmer > Elos Coral Foods | Elos USA

hurley12 · Jan 31, 2013

Ah gotcha, anywhere locally I can pick that up or do I need to order?

gmoney243 · Jan 31, 2013

Have you checked for voltage? Check it when the polyps arnt extended maybe something is clicking on certan times and causng voltage

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hurley12 · Jan 31, 2013

How do I check voltage? Also would that not effect my other corals?

bct15 · Jan 31, 2013

Have you checked for PE late at night when lights are off? They will usually extend their polyps more at night, if the coral is still growing and healthy I wouldn't worry about it to much.

hurley12 · Jan 31, 2013

Yea I do actually get better polyp extension at night, although not great. They are all healthy and growing though so I guess I won't worry about it =)

bct15 · Jan 31, 2013

If they are not extending during day but at nigh they are ok, but it may be signs of something nipping or bothering them in the day. Most coral actually feed at night, that is why you are seeing that...but no polyp extension during day might mean either full no need to catch food or something bothering them. I have had a couple sticks though that would only have PE at night with nothing bothering them. I'm speaking from my own observations.