What affects torch Coral polyps extention?

[Saisori]

I've had a few torches for 2 years and I would say they are fairly acclimated to my tank. Mine curious why they have short polyp verse the long polyp I saw they had in the store. What parameter would affect them? Would lowering/raising par help?

I'm also running a waterbox 135. Have 2 mp40 placed on each side panel at 50 speed on lagoon.

 

[lpsouth1978]

I have found that the more flow, the shorter the tentacles tend to be. I have mine in pretty low flow and they extend their tentacles about 5-6".

 

[Saisori]

I have found that the more flow, the shorter the tentacles tend to be. I have mine in pretty low flow and they extend their tentacles about 5-6".

I'm going to try this.I think two mp40 might be overkill for a non sps tank that 48in long

 

[lpsouth1978]

I have just 1 MP40 on my 75g, 48" tank and had to turn it to its lowest intensity or my Euphellia and nems got po'd. I do have a good amount of flow coming from my return though.

 

[Silent]

Also if they have too much light they can shorten their tentacles. If they want more they will reach for more light.

 

[ADAM]

+1 Flow
Aslo simiar looking variations have longer/shorter tentacles naturally. The area where they are found in the wild seems to be a major factor also.
Some of my Indo gold torches have the exact same coloration however one strain has 11-12 inch tentacles where the others are only 3-6 inches max. A Taiwan Torch I acquired recently has noticeably shorter tube-like tentacles versus their Indo and Aussie cousins.

The “long tentacle Indo” is to the left of the pic.

Taiwan Gold and Green I got 2-3 weeks ago.

 

[Saisori]

+1 Flow

Are you are agreeing with the less flow comment or you saying more flow?

 

[Saisori]

Also if they have too much light they can shorten their tentacles. If they want more they will reach for more light.

Right now their getting hit with about 80-120 par. 4 xt5 and radion g4pro

 

[Silent]

That is just a general statement. Definitely depends on specific torch and flow also. 80-120 par seems right on.

 

[lpsouth1978]

I have mine under about 180-220 PAR and they still have long tentacles. I have the 48" AL hybrid with 2 x AI Hydra 26HD and 4 x 54W T5's. I have found that they can handle a WIDE range of PAR and will adjust to most lighting.

 

[Glott3133]

My torch definitely likes to be hit with flow. When I remove the flow, the tentacles retract completely. It does have days when the tentacles get about 4-5 inches long and then days when they are about 2-3 inches. Haven't found out what causes the change.

 

[Sarlindescent]

Flow can effect them in both directions. I have had a few that were in too little flow and also shrunk. Some that had a bit too much and shrunk. There is a sweet spot for them.

 

[ADAM]

Are you are agreeing with the less flow comment or you saying more flow?

It’s a balance issue rather than more or less, but “more”. One direction “low” flow will aggravate the coral from the constant pull on the same part of the tissue and likewise with “high” random flow pulling the tissue in a hundred different ways per minute. I try to place or adjust flow in their area to replicate a softer wave action, just enough to churn the tentacles but not enough to where I can see the head/base tissue near the skeleton moving much. Hope that makes sense. What I’m trying to say is a hard to put into a worded description.

 

[Pau Hana Reefer]

deleted... wrong thread. lol