Riddle me this - poor polyp extension

[MTsquared]

Trying to figure out why most not all of my SPS is showing poor polyp extension. This tank has been running roughly 1.5yrs and is a mixed reef. Have a decent mix of SPS in the tank which was all recently thriving and showing great polyp extension. For the last month or so the extension has been minimal however the corals still seem to be doing well and showing new signs of growth. I consider the several millepora I have as canaries in the coal mine - these were all exhibiting exceptional polyp extension as recent as Thanksgiving. I would say there are no material/ significant changes to the system or setup/ parameters - everything one day just stopped the polyp extension. I am using Tropic Marin All for Reef for doing and I am very pleased with the results thus far. I was recently getting high Alk readings (~12) after trying to combat extremely low levels of Alk as I was introducing more and more SPS.

Here are some recent tank parameters:
Salinity 1.021-1.022 (working to slowly get this closer to 1.02 as my previous measurement device was not as accurate as the current - that shift said the salinity has been consistently in the above range

Ph 8.2-8.45 (apex)
Temp 78.-78.5 (apex/ inkbird)
Alk 10 - as I mentioned I’ve been slowly lowering the amount I am dosing to lower this level as I would like to be closer to 8. It’s a slower process as I don’t want to have a big swing (Hanna checker)
Cal 450 (salifert)
Mag 1260 (salifert)
Nitrate 0.5 (salifert)
Phosphate 0.04 (Hanna checker)

Other than the Alk being high(~10) and salinity being low (1.021) anything else that could be causing this? Please let me know if there are any questions.

Picture for reference - all taken on 11/23




Here are same colonies with pics taken on 12/14:

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

Trying to figure out why most not all of my SPS is showing poor polyp extension. This tank has been running roughly 1.5yrs and is a mixed reef. Have a decent mix of SPS in the tank which was all recently thriving and showing great polyp extension. For the last month or so the extension has been minimal however the corals still seem to be doing well and showing new signs of growth. I consider the several millepora I have as canaries in the coal mine - these were all exhibiting exceptional polyp extension as recent as Thanksgiving. I would say there are no material/ significant changes to the system or setup/ parameters - everything one day just stopped the polyp extension. I am using Tropic Marin All for Reef for doing and I am very pleased with the results thus far. I was recently getting high Alk readings (~12) after trying to combat extremely low levels of Alk as I was introducing more and more SPS.

Here are some recent tank parameters:
Salinity 1.021-1.022 (working to slowly get this closer to 1.02 as my previous measurement device was not as accurate as the current - that shift said the salinity has been consistently in the above range

Ph 8.2-8.45 (apex)
Temp 78.-78.5 (apex/ inkbird)
Alk 10 - as I mentioned I’ve been slowly lowering the amount I am dosing to lower this level as I would like to be closer to 8. It’s a slower process as I don’t want to have a big swing (Hanna checker)
Cal 450 (salifert)
Mag 1260 (salifert)
Nitrate 0.5 (salifert)
Phosphate 0.04 (Hanna checker)

Other than the Alk being high(~10) and salinity being low (1.021) anything else that could be causing this? Please let me know if there are any questions.

Picture for reference - all taken on 11/23




Here are same colonies with pics taken on 12/14:

My guess is you've already diagnosed it. Salinity is too low and the ALK is too high for your nutrient levels. I would shoot for an ALK of around 7 if you plan to keep NO3 and PO4 where you currently have it. Also do you have any angels in the tank or other know nippers? That can eliminate PE too.

 

[MTsquared]

My guess is you've already diagnosed it. Salinity is too low and the ALK is too high for your nutrient levels. I would shoot for an ALK of around 7 if you plan to keep NO3 and PO4 where you currently have it. Also do you have any angels in the tank or other know nippers? That can eliminate PE too.

I did add a flame angel around the same time this started happening and didn’t even think about that as an issue. Is there any way to tell for sure if the flame is the culprit? The impacted corals are all still growing and doing well minus the polyp extension. Seems like I need to do a big WC as I have really cut back on the TM All for Reef and not really sure how else to get it down.

 

[jphilip813]

Trying to figure out why most not all of my SPS is showing poor polyp extension. This tank has been running roughly 1.5yrs and is a mixed reef. Have a decent mix of SPS in the tank which was all recently thriving and showing great polyp extension. For the last month or so the extension has been minimal however the corals still seem to be doing well and showing new signs of growth. I consider the several millepora I have as canaries in the coal mine - these were all exhibiting exceptional polyp extension as recent as Thanksgiving. I would say there are no material/ significant changes to the system or setup/ parameters - everything one day just stopped the polyp extension. I am using Tropic Marin All for Reef for doing and I am very pleased with the results thus far. I was recently getting high Alk readings (~12) after trying to combat extremely low levels of Alk as I was introducing more and more SPS.

Here are some recent tank parameters:
Salinity 1.021-1.022 (working to slowly get this closer to 1.02 as my previous measurement device was not as accurate as the current - that shift said the salinity has been consistently in the above range

Ph 8.2-8.45 (apex)
Temp 78.-78.5 (apex/ inkbird)
Alk 10 - as I mentioned I’ve been slowly lowering the amount I am dosing to lower this level as I would like to be closer to 8. It’s a slower process as I don’t want to have a big swing (Hanna checker)
Cal 450 (salifert)
Mag 1260 (salifert)
Nitrate 0.5 (salifert)
Phosphate 0.04 (Hanna checker)

Other than the Alk being high(~10) and salinity being low (1.021) anything else that could be causing this? Please let me know if there are any questions.

Picture for reference - all taken on 11/23




Here are same colonies with pics taken on 12/14:

I don't know why, but one thing I can say is you have some AWESOME photos. Are you using their (TM) salt as well? That is what I am using (TM Reef) along with their (All for Reef) total of 7mL daily dosing in a 20GAL AIO

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

I did add a flame angel around the same time this started happening and didn’t even think about that as an issue. Is there any way to tell for sure if the flame is the culprit? The impacted corals are all still growing and doing well minus the polyp extension. Seems like I need to do a big WC as I have really cut back on the TM All for Reef and not really sure how else to get it down.

I would suspect the Flame Angel as being at least a part of the problem. Make sure to get the salinity up and the the ALK down, but you may either have to remove the angel if you want good PE, or just live with minimal PE. As long as they are growing it shouldn't be a problem...

 

[jcdeng]

corals healthy and encrusting but no PE, most of the time is something bothering it, like if you accidentally touch a branch while doing WC. I suspect is the angel nipping.

 

[MTsquared]

I don't know why, but one thing I can say is you have some AWESOME photos. Are you using their (TM) salt as well? That is what I am using (TM Reef) along with their (All for Reef) total of 7mL daily dosing in a 20GAL AIO

Thanks the photos are taken with an iohone13 non pro and an orange lens. I just recently did my first WC with the salt and will do another big one soon to help get the Alk down and the salinity up. I’ve been very pleased with the All for Reef product.

 

[MTsquared]

Ok so it is definitely the flame angel watched him for a little tonight and he was picking at them for sure. Think it’s time for him to be rehomed even though I love the colors he brings to the tank.
Does anyone know if there is a calculator out there to figure what I should mix my salt to for a WC to help raise my salinity back to 1.025? Or should I do it gradually?

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

Ok so it is definitely the flame angel watched him for a little tonight and he was picking at them for sure. Think it’s time for him to be rehomed even though I love the colors he brings to the tank.
Does anyone know if there is a calculator out there to figure what I should mix my salt to for a WC to help raise my salinity back to 1.025? Or should I do it gradually?

Good to know the culprit. Raise your salinity slowly over a few days.

 

[underwaterworld]

Don't know if you ever got your answer to the calculator question. If not then here you are.
https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/DirectSaltCalculator.php

 

[biecacka]

I used to have a few dwarf angel fish in my tank before i moved. No PE ever, when I moved I re homed them and now I have better PE. But, I think some people forget not all sps have the same level of PE


corey