Duncan extension

[KirbyBTF]

I have a Duncan coal, just one head. It's happy and eating every other day but i can't get the skirt to extend as far as I've seen in pictures. In my last tank i had the same problem, it grew like a weed and ate like a champ but never fully extended. Any tips from the pros?

First pic is of my Duncan now, second is of my old colony.

I'm looking for this kind of extension.

 

[KirbyBTF]

Forgot to add the parameters:
Temp 79.1
Salinity 1.024
Calcium 420
Phosphate almost undetectable

I've heard alkalinity can make it so corals don't extend polyps fully, hoping to get a test for that soon.

 

[Art13]

i keep mine in a low gentle flow, i get the full extension out of him. I didn't see where you noted the flow to him so something to keep in mind. Also, what are the lights on your tank?

 

[MKReefTank]

I have two Duncan coral, both have five or more heads. They are essentially right next to each other. One opens all the way and the other does the same thing yours does, doesn't quite expand all the way.

 

[KirbyBTF]

i keep mine in a low gentle flow, i get the full extension out of him. I didn't see where you noted the flow to him so something to keep in mind. Also, what are the lights on your tank?

I keep mine in medium to low flow. And i have reef breeders value fixture above a 7.5g, probably 3ft above the tank.

I have two Duncan coral, both have five or more heads. They are essentially right next to each other. One opens all the way and the other does the same thing yours does, doesn't quite expand all the way.

Hmm.. Maybe when i get a new head I'll frag it off and move it around. I wanna keep this one where it's at, i heard they take a while to acclimate to a new spot.

 

[Art13]

do you target feed at all?

 

[KirbyBTF]

I target feed daphnia 3 times a week, and broadcast feed reef chili 3 times a week.

 

[johnk183]

They like medium flow, bright lights and to be target fed

 

[Napoleon I]

Mine is in a medium to low flow corner of my cube tank. I have a reefbreeders Nova A4 LED light and my Duncan is sitting in approx 150-200 PAR. My light is programmed with a natural sun cycle and my Duncan is largest in the late afternoon after the peak light has passed and it is on its way down. It get much smaller after the lights have dropped significantly but a little past peak is when its the largest. Maybe 125 PAR or so.

Jeff

 

[Art13]

have you tried mysis or brine shrimp? i do that directly to them and they usually perk up quite a bit after feeding.

 

[KirbyBTF]

I think I'm gonna try ramping my whites up a bit more. I was afraid of frying my coral so it's at about 10%.

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

I'd try upping the flow. I bet that fixes the problem. I've got mine in medium flow and guests mistake him for an anemone all the time. Medium flow!

 

[Art13]

i have a reefbreeder photon 48, i'm at about 50% blue and 30% white at peak, hung about 12 inches above the water, he's another 12-14 inches below the water line.

 

[KirbyBTF]

My blue is at 100%, does that even matter? I just prefer a blue tank. I know corals use some blue light but I can't imagine it's enough to make a difference. Nothing has bleached yet from the blue light. But based on your whites at 50% on a photon 48, I think I can up mine quite a bit.

I'll try moving him I guess, I think I have a good spot for him.

 

[Art13]

my whites are at 30%, if you didn't acclimate him to the 100% blue that could possibly be your issue.

 

[charliet21]

Whats ur alk at? Mine didnt like it over ten

 

[KirbyBTF]

I wish i had an alk test, doesn't alk correlate with calcium in a way though?

 

[charliet21]

Corals use alk too. And ive had my alk spike before with everything stayin the same

 

[Art13]

My alk has been as high as 11.5 and it never seemed to bother my duncan.

 

[Bpawl]

Medium flow, good lighting and target fed = a happy duncan