favites polyps not out, problem?

[Dudester]

I got a favites coral just over a week ago. No pics yet (sorry) but the coralites are green and the walls are purple. During the first several days in my tank, immediately after lights out, I would see all of the polyps extended. This hasn't occurred over the past 4 days and I'm a little concerned. The colors are still vibrant and there's no tissue loss. It's located under decent light and moderate flow. I feed the tank daily a mixture of blended seafood (shrimp, clams, squid, mussels, fish) along with cyclopeeze, garlic, and vitamins. I also started adding H2O Life Coral Food which I add 2x/week. Any insight? Thanks in advance.

 

[IslandCrow]

By polyps, do you mean the translucent feeders that come out? If that's what you're talking about, they generally come out to play on my favites when I feed the tank, and not necessarily at night. If you can get your hands on some cyclopeeze, that really whets the appetites of all of my corals.

 

[Dudester]

Yes, I'm referring to the translcent little tentacles. Feeding the tank doesn't seem to affect their extension, and cyclopeeze is one of the ingredients of my food mix. I noticed the initial extension immediately after lights out, and they were still extended (or again extended) in the early morning while it was still dark. Again, I'm not sure if this is a problem, since the coral looks healthy overall. This is just a change from the first couple nights in my tank.

Do you spot feed yours?

 

[Dudester]

Hate to do the "bump" thing, but I've not seen this coral expand for over a week, during feedings or otherwise, and I'm somewhat anxious to know if this indicates a problem. If the coral won't thrive in my tank I'd be happier to get it back to where I bought it so that it has a better chance of surviving in another tank. It still looks good but I'd hate for this coral to perish. Anyone have the answer?

 

[BLockamon]

Can't say for sure, but my green favites rarely sends out feeders. I assume that he's getting enough from the lights. My pink favites on the other hand looks like he's growing a head of clear hair pretty often.

You could try DT oyster eggs if you want. Not sure whether it would encourage the favites to eat (or whether he is even hungry), but the rest of the tank would probably benefit.

 

[Dudester]

BLockamon - Thanks for your reply. The only reason I was concerned is because when I first put this coral in my tank, I also saw the "head of clear hair" as you so appropriately described. I haven't seen this in a while and it got me worried. By the way, here are some pics of the coral that I took on 5/10. It looks the same now, no tissue loss, so I guess I shouldn't be so concerned. I'll try to spot feed it and I'll get some oyster eggs - I've heard nothing but good things about them.

 

[Dudester]

This coral looks much worse today. The walls between the mouths are showing signs of tissue retraction, and the green portions are becoming much more pale. I'm worried that this is the beginning of something bad. Is there anything I should do, like move it perhaps? Everything else in the tank looks great.
temp 79-81
pH 8.25
Ca 415
alk 8 dKH
nitrate 0
phos 0