Button polyps never fully open, advice

[woodycb]

I have moved them numerous times, more flow less flow, higher, lower. Nothing seems to work. They are always about half open, the only time I have ever seen them fully open with tenecles waving is when I first brought


home.http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/151320mini-100_1347.jpg

 

[edwing206]

How long do you wait to see if they open before you move them?

 

[woodycb]

about 2 months or so.

 

[Tranquility]

try feed them, these type of Zonthids is Protopalythoa, i guess, if it is in the environment laking of food they will shrink.

Normally they will grab the food from environment such as fish faeces or other detritus.

 

[stevemc]

I use a turkey baster and mush up a shrimp or fish meat real fine, and mix with tank water. Then I put the turkey baster in the mouth, and they close on it like a baby birds mouth. I give each one a little squirt. They grow real fast that way. Maybe check your water parameters. Alkalinity might be low. Mine like a lot of light. But they are Florida Protopalythoa, the bright green ones.

 

[woodycb]

I feed my fish with frozen brine shrimp, I will try that with the polyps. My alk is reading 2

 

[stevemc]

If that is DKH it should be 6 or higher. And yes they will eat frozen brine shrimp. DKH could be 10 or so, but for zoas, try at least 6. Watch for you calcium level, as if you bring up the DKH too fast(dont!) the calcium will go down, causing a see saw unbalanced problem. Just bring it up over a weeks time.

 

[woodycb]

My dkh is about 5 to 6 range. I have been dosing with kent marine pro dkh buffer for awhile now, im suprised it is not a little higher. My calcium is reading about 350ppm. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 0 nitrates. Do not test phosphates.

 

[LoudProudNPunk]

i think i have the same type of paly as you woody and ive had no problems and they are spreading and growing like wild fire. i feed my tank phyto plankton from time to time but never direct feed.
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thats them a while ago when i had a black thing on them. Is that the same type? they are less green during normal times this is when the light just comes on. Since then they have covered that rock.

 

[woodycb]

Those look pretty good loudproud. Hopefully mine get that way eventually.

 

[kingfisher62]

Here are mine!
I noticed they did not open much when my salinity and alk was off . Microbubbles affected them too!

 

[LoudProudNPunk]

thanks, i put mine halfway down the tank under 400wat halides and medium flow. goodluck with yours!