Do Some SPS Not Have Polyps

[FSOL]

Hey guys,

I have a few SPS corals (not sure of their type) that are healthy and show growth, but I have never seen their polyps extended. Two of them are wild SPS, and one's tank raised.

They all have white tips showing growth. There's no algae build up on them, and their color is fantastic, except I'm yet to see any sign of polyps.

So are there SPS that just don't have polyps?

The strange thing is that I also have one SPS that shows insane polyp extension, but no sign of growth or white tips.

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

They all have polyps. Some just do not extend them in the daylight. Pics would help determine the species, and will make it easyier to recomend if they are doing well.

 

[FSOL]

I have looked at it day/night and no PE whatsoever. It's a wild colony

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

How long have you had it? It does look healthy.

Just noticed the bleachd peices on the left, are these part of the same colony?

 

[bskiba]

usually plyps wxtend at night on wild colonies. it could be getting everything it needs photosythitically

 

[mntl]

it could be getting everything it needs photosythitically

Coral do not eat light. They eat a nutrient source and use the light to convert this nutrient source to something usable, much like all other photosythetic life on earth. They cannot live solely on light.


Can you see polyps at all or holes where the polps should be? I have had acros grow for months with just "holes" only to watch them decline. Have you tried to stimulate polyp extension at night (oyster eggs work sometimes for this) just to see if they will make them self visable? If you can see that a polyp is still there then I would not worry. If it is a hole and it looks like skeleton (ribbed around the inner edge of the hole), and no polyp then I would try to stimulate a response. For my tank an hour or so after the lights go out is when PE it at it's max, might be different in yours but this is a good time to try and view/stimulate a response.

Any macro shots possible?

-John-

 

[FSOL]

There are spots where the polyps should come out from, but they are not holes. They are just tiny bumps at the end of every mini branch (for lack of better word).

I have fed oyster eggs during different lighting hours, no response. I think one night I will shine a light and check on it, but as far as I can recall, I have never seen its polyps out, even at 2am.

By the way the pic is a few weeks old and that white branch was exposed to too high of a flow. I had to break it off. The whole coral is 2 months old

 

[damienkee]

i can c thats the short polyps!

 

[mntl]

Nice pic. There is definately polyps there. Be patient with it, some acros are never very "hairy" but some minor extension either in the day or more commonly at night can be expected evetually. Sometimes being over-lit (was it acclimated on the bottom of the tank?) can cause polyps not to extend, moving it down slightly and giving it time might be an option. Either way, it is a very nice coral and I hope it grows well for you. Keep us posted.

-John-

 

[FSOL]

It's midway in the tank and was always in that location after I brought it home from LFS. I belive at the LFS it was sitting under 3x400W 20K's, whereas in my tank it's under 3x250W 14K's and 330W of VHO actinics.
As long as it's not going brown or RTN, I'm happy