encouraging polyp extension

[Delta_zeta]

I have several SPS frags in my tank, all smaller and for the life of me I can't get them to fully extend their polyps...or extend at all. I've got a 45gal hex w/ a 250W MH pendant over it. For flow I've got my return pump from my sump (mag5) and 2 powerheads (rio 600 and something else I have no idea what it is b/c it's not marked). Nothing's dying but it sure as heck doesn't seem to be thriving. My brown monti and pavona are the only things that seem to be happy. I've tried moving flow, raising and lowering the lighting, I dose, I change water regularly...the ONLY thing that brings their polyps out is this fishfood I feed every couple days called Sweetwater Zooplankton. If that's in the tank then their polyps are out and searching but otherwise nothing. If anyone has any suggestions I'd love to hear them (I'm not by any means an expert w/ SPS so I can use any information I can get)

 

[northbay-reefer]

more water movement

 

[Delta_zeta]

I'm afraid at this point if I put anymore water movement in the tank I might knock the corals right off their plugs

 

[Deuce67]

You might want to consider a pump that will give a lot but gentle flow such as Seios or Tunze.

 

[rigleautomotive]

random flow.stop feeding.sometimes its too much nutrients

 

[Delta_zeta]

Aren't Tunze's expensive? In the next couple months we're going to be moving everything over into a bigger tank I'm sure (150gal range) so for now if there's a cheaper alternative...ie. powerhead that alternates current I'd love suggestions

 

[speedstar]

just use a 5g bucket and make a simple surge device here is a link to the videos of mine on my frag system. Things polyp out real nice.


http://home.comcast.net/~murphyjjr/2.3gp

http://home.comcast.net/~murphyjjr/3.3gp

they are from my phone you will need quicktime to view em. Cost about $15 to build a simple surge device

 

[rleechb]

I think we're a little bit too quick to jump to the conclusion that the lack of polyp extension is due to insufficient flow. Have you checked you water parameters? Even if you don't have the world's greatest flow, you should see some polyp extension. I've seen plenty of tanks with a maxijet or two with healthy corals and good polyp extension.

 

[dirtyreefer]

Do you get PE at night? tc.

 

[northbay-reefer]

Delta ... view your tank at night after the light have been off for several hours to see if the polups extend, if they do then you probably need more flow, but if they don't then the corals are stress because of your water parameter.(usually the healthy SPS corals extend their polups at night)

 

[Delta_zeta]

I'm actually afraid there's too much flow. If I put my hand in the tank it gets blasted...or it did anyhow...then I repositioned the powerheads so they weren't blowing directly on the SPS (i've actually moved the powerheads and the returns a few times to try different things. Polyp extension stays the same at night w/, again, the acception of my pavona which is always out. The monti only is out during the day and the other SPS only extend when I feed this zooplankton. I've been feeding DT's and a different zooplankton by Kent Marine, at night, alternating the two, but really not difference. I'll test and get back to you w/ the tests.

 

[speedstar]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8285117#post8285117 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Delta_zeta
I'm actually afraid there's too much flow. If I put my hand in the tank it gets blasted...or it did anyhow...then I repositioned the powerheads so they weren't blowing directly on the SPS (i've actually moved the powerheads and the returns a few times to try different things. Polyp extension stays the same at night w/, again, the acception of my pavona which is always out. The monti only is out during the day and the other SPS only extend when I feed this zooplankton. I've been feeding DT's and a different zooplankton by Kent Marine, at night, alternating the two, but really not difference. I'll test and get back to you w/ the tests.

try quit feeding. What were your water parameters? Also never point a power head directly at an sps/

 

[dirtyreefer]

I would stop feeding your SPS period. That isn't going to help with the kind of polyp extension that you are looking for.

 

[Delta_zeta]

My salinity is at 1.025
Temp: 76-78
Ammonia, Nitrates, Nitrites: 0
pH 8.4

I can't find the brand new flippin calc and alk tests I just bought *frowns* so I'll have to go dig in the garage in the morning. For now I'll turn all the powerheads off the SPS and no more feeding at night.

 

[CeeGee]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8286564#post8286564 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Delta_zeta
My salinity is at 1.025
Temp: 76-78
Ammonia, Nitrates, Nitrites: 0
pH 8.4

I can't find the brand new flippin calc and alk tests I just bought *frowns* so I'll have to go dig in the garage in the morning. For now I'll turn all the powerheads off the SPS and no more feeding at night.

if you don't know your alk and calcium levels you are playing with fire when it comes to SPS.

 

[itdepends]

I had a similar problem in my tank- but I only asked about it when I found that the frag of a colony (in a frag cage inside the main tank) polyped out much more than the mother colony in the same tank.

Turned out it was a dwarf angel (coral beauty) that was nipping polyps on most of my corals (including SPS).

Removed the coral beauty and all came good- only problem now is my purple montipora is brown because all the polyps are out and cover up the lovely purple skeleton.

Daniel

 

[Testhead1313]

You don't specify what genus the SPS are. If they're acroporas, it could be very likely that you have red bugs.

 

[jjackson]

do you have any angels... dwarf or non?

 

[Lobster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8285339#post8285339 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dirtyreefer
I would stop feeding your SPS period. That isn't going to help with the kind of polyp extension that you are looking for.

Lack of food leads to polyp extension? Corals extend their polyps to feed and rely on food for nutrients. Photosythesis is "coral junkfood" (sugars for respiration) according to Borneman. I would not stop feeding.

You don't list your phosphate or alkalinity, two very important parameters. I would check those, and make sure the corals are getting good (but not violent direct) flow. If you keep all that in check, give them time.

I would use growth as a measure of success and not polyp extension.

 

[dirtyreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8295188#post8295188 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lobster
Lack of food leads to polyp extension? Corals extend their polyps to feed and rely on food for nutrients. Photosythesis is "coral junkfood" (sugars for respiration) according to Borneman. I would not stop feeding.

No, I'm not saying that lack of food encourages PE, but high nutrients in the water column caused by food and other organics surely doesn't help. I find that when there is too much nutrients in the water, polys don't extend because the corals are "full". They also brown out.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8295188#post8295188 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lobster

I would use growth as a measure of success and not polyp extension.

I would use color and growth as a measure of success. You can have excellent growth on all brown corals, and I wouldn't necessarily call that a successful tank.