encouraging polyp extension

[Delta_zeta]

ok so I'm pretty sure I figured out my problem... my calcium was about 620...so I did a 50% water change to help w/ that...my alk is normal though just about 200ppm (a bit on the high side but that's how our water is straight out of the tap). I also moved the powerheads around a bit more tonight and I have a few corals that are extending their polyps more now...I think the flow was just TOO much for them...I am worried though because one in particular, a brown acro, is basically *peeling* away from the tips down. Nothing is RTN'ing from the base up but the brown acro and 2 other SPS are missing flesh in spots. I don't think redbugs are a problem in my tank...all my SPS were thuroughly looked over and it's a matter of finding the right flow now and making sure my calcium never gets that high again...

 

[Lobster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8296667#post8296667 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dirtyreefer
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.

Some would argue a brown coral can be quite happy! Brown tissue is usually just an excess of zoox in the tissue due to high light/nutrients. Color is something we strive for, but lack of color does not mean the coral is "unhealthy". If a coral is not growing it is never a good sign.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8297095#post8297095 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Delta_zeta
ok so I'm pretty sure I figured out my problem... my calcium was about 620...so I did a 50% water change to help w/ that...my alk is normal though just about 200ppm (a bit on the high side but that's how our water is straight out of the tap). I also moved the powerheads around a bit more tonight and I have a few corals that are extending their polyps more now...I think the flow was just TOO much for them...I am worried though because one in particular, a brown acro, is basically *peeling* away from the tips down. Nothing is RTN'ing from the base up but the brown acro and 2 other SPS are missing flesh in spots. I don't think redbugs are a problem in my tank...all my SPS were thuroughly looked over and it's a matter of finding the right flow now and making sure my calcium never gets that high again...

It sounds like your flow might have been blasting the tissue off some of them. Still, if you have RTN happening there might be more at work than just high calcium. Tips down huh? That's usually alk or lighting.

Also, a 50% water change can be a pretty abrupt shock to your system... did the RTN start after you did that? Also, are you using RO/DI water or straight tap? You want to monitor everything and adjust slowly. Once you get things where you want them, its just a matter of learning how to maintain those levels with regular maintenance and things will shape up great over time.

 

[Delta_zeta]

Oh I didn't do the 50% all at once. I did a 25% and then another 25% later on. Right now I'm just using tap because we're working on setting up or RO/DI at the moment but it sits for a couple days circulating also before I use it.
I was under the impression that 200ppm on alk was ok? I can adjust the lighting upwards because it's just a pendant hanging down on a chain so I'll start there..I guess it would make sense because the one that's "peeling" from the tips down happens to be the one DIRECTLY under the light. I think i mentioned above it's a 250W MH.

As for RTN...I thought it was from the base up that was considered RTN? (please excuse me, I don't remember as much as I should about SPS...it's been a while since I've kept them) Everything overall seems to be MUCH happier w/ the water change and the flow change now. Even my LPS are open more accept my lobo brain. Otherwise, lights are out at the moment and w/ the exception of the brown acro that's sorta peeling away, everything else has polyps out.

 

[Avast Marine]

^PO4

 

[dirtyreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8297244#post8297244 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lobster
Some would argue a brown coral can be quite happy! Brown tissue is usually just an excess of zoox in the tissue due to high light/nutrients. Color is something we strive for, but lack of color does not mean the coral is "unhealthy".

I have to agree with you on the "happy" brown coral, however I just wouldn't call it a success

If that were the case, everybody would just have a tank full of brown corals since it isn't too hard to accomplish that

 

[818]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8297095#post8297095 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Delta_zeta
my alk is normal though just about 200ppm (a bit on the high side but that's how our water is straight out of the tap)B]

Where are you getting your water from? If you are using tap water you may have high levels of phophates and silicates in your tank.

Never good to have. Especially with SPS in the mix. Say no to TAP!