Advice with Blue Monti Digitata?

[huseman808]

Hello there, I just got my first SPS coral frag. Like the thread says its a Blue Montipora Digitata. It is a frag approximately 3 inches tall. When i got it from a local reefer, most of the blue polyps on it where out. Now it is staying mostly retracted. I mean I can see the blue polyps on it, the just dont extend very far. I have had it in my tank for about a day and a half now.



Here is a picture, sorry its just from my iphone so it isnt the best.

Here is a junky full tank shot. (Again sorry about the glare, I just wanted to show placement in my tank)

Here is a little bit about my tank.

SETUP
-26 Gallon Bowfront, mostly softies
-14 gallon sump/refug with chaetomorpha
-ATO using Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime as Kalkwasser

LIGHTING
-150w 20k MH
-2x 14w Actinic T5 HO's

FLOW
-1 MP10 set on Random "Reef Crest" mode
-1 Hydor Korialla 550

I dont have a test kit to give any of my parameters. To be honest, I havent ever really checked any of my parameters besides Temp and SG.
Thanks for the help!

 

[Allmost]

is that a rock beauty angelfish ? [could be the reason, they nip on the polyps causing it to retract]

if you do not test for KH and calcium and dose to keep them stable, you should not try SPS.

from the pic, seems like some parts of the frag are already gone.

 

[huseman808]

Its a coral beauty. But ive had him for 2 years and hes never nipped anything.

 

[SneekaPeek]

too much light or too high of alk, it looks bleached heavily= small signs of pigmentation/ zooxanthelle. feed more and more water changes if your not testing your levels. I did it for 2 years, but I was doing monster water changes (28%) 3 times a week plus I was not stocked heavily with sps like you are.

 

[huseman808]

I thought maybe it was getting too much light as well. Or i didnt aclimate it to my light well enough. It was under some LEDs. And im pretty sure mine are brighter. I do a 20percent water change every other Saturday. Ill pick up a test kit soon too. For now should i try lowering it?

 

[SneekaPeek]

I thought maybe it was getting too much light as well. Or i didnt aclimate it to my light well enough. It was under some LEDs. And im pretty sure mine are brighter. I do a 20percent water change every other Saturday. Ill pick up a test kit soon too. For now should i try lowering it?

I would keep it where it is to not stress it more. It seems to be having an adjustment period. keep levels stable via top off and more water changes say once a week and you should be fine. How is your algae growth? do you feed a lot? What does your water smell like a week after a water change? was the tissue of the frag very dark in color before you got it and now that you have it, there is noticeable signs of it lightening in color?

 

[huseman808]

Ive never really noticed a smell when doing water changes. As far as my algae goes, i have a big ball of it in my fuge. I dont really trim it, i let it do its thing. The frag looked this way since the moment he grabbed it from his tank and the polyps closed up. It hasnt lightened at all. You can see the tips are a little whiter vut ive read that is a sign of growth?

 

[huseman808]

Oh and i only feed once every other day

 

[SneekaPeek]

ok I would just keep what your doing then. if its not getting worse, then you have the advantage. Polyp Extension, they'll come out eventually just time is the factor. pick up some test kits see what kind of ball park your in. if any bad signs, do water changes more frequently. There are so many factors you are working with so keep things simple and try not to freak out or over react and take it slow. Sometimes coral just need their adjustment period, but were human and cannot wait . Let us know how it does in a couple days!