Birds Nest Polyps Suddenly Don't Extend

[windyridge]

What has happened to my birds nest? A few days ago it started to lose polyp extension except for at the top. The two BN's near it, left and right are doing fine. The only changes to the tank were an addition of a fresh batch of carbon replacing the old batch. All parameters are normal. No inverts or fish are bothering it.

 

[Reefer1225]

Likely the carbon. Stripped the water too clean too fast maybe. My birsnest (ponape, green, and purple polyp) do that as well when I change by Carbon/GFO. I started using less of each and polyps came back. Yours looks like a pocillipora, but I could be wrong.

 

[windyridge]

Ok thought that might be it. Oddly the other ones didn't take it as hard. I will use less next time. I am confused tho'. Isn't the pocillopora a type of birds nest?

 

[Reefer1225]

I am no expert, but when I think of birdsnest, I think of the Seriatapora species. These typically have the pointed tips. Pocillopora has the rounded tips. These are generalizations, but google images of both to see differences. I get confused with Seriatapora, Pocillipora, and the Stylopora species too. I have frags of each now, so I could tell the difference.

 

[windyridge]

Ok here's what i found Family: pocilloporidae contains the genus pocillopora, seriatopora and stylophora. Pocillopora and seriatopera can have the nickname bird's nest among others. Stylophora is nicknamed finger coral, brush coral, club finger coral or cluster coral. I think most people are referring to seriatopera when they refer to bird's nests. But both are right it looks like.

 

[danil]

agree with Reefer - new carbon stripped nutrients from the water too fast. Feed more and take carbon offline and then add slowly back.

 

[29reef]

Every coral is different, you can't lump them together because they are the same type. I agree with the other comments on how it's likely an issue with your water.

 

[windyridge]

29Reef I was talking nomenclature not behavior in that instance.

Carbon is out. Thanks folks.

 

[windyridge]

Oh one more question...any idea why the other two pocillopora's did not react to the carbon the way the big one did? Just curious. Size have anything to do with it?

 

[Felixc395]

Probably no real explanation as to why one did and the others didn't. I changed my carbon and gfo out last week and my birdsnest's bottom branches bleached out! Be careful with how much carbon and GFO you use, especially something like rox, yikes! Let us know how things go and if they get worse I would definitely check your nutrients. Good luck!

 

[TucanSam007]

same thing happened to me changing out too much carbon too fast, live and learn I guess

 

[ange062]

I've had some happen with carbon and GFO changes. Got to keep those regular enough to prevent drastic changes in the tank. Corals will recover though, most of the time...

 

[windyridge]

Good to know because I am about to change over to a different GFO. I try and avoid changing both carbon and GFO at the same time but now I am going to be even more careful about quantities.