featherduster not out so much...

[cilyjr]

i have had a hawaiian feather duster for a couple weeks now and at first he seemed to be extended allthe time. the last 2 days he seems to be retracted more often. when he is out he looks good. good color and all. all the hitchiker featherdusters on my LR are all out. just wondering what might cause that. oh the tube is bout 3-4 inches and the radius of the fan is like 2 inches or so

 

[Sk8r]

Post your parameters. The answer may lie there.

Also, feed phytoplankton. dusters love it.

 

[cilyjr]

amm 0
trites 0
trates .5 to 10

ph 8.1

i do feed phyto every other day. the kent stuff bout 1/2 the recomended dose.

 

[Sk8r]

Any angels, tangs, or other duster-pickers?

 

[cilyjr]

nope, 2 maroon clowns, 2 jawfish, a rainfords goby. blue legs, margarita snails, thats it

 

[Sk8r]

The maroons might be a suspect if you caught them at it, but the other guys are placid. Crabs shouldn't bother them. I think now we're down to micronutrients, like, maybe iodine---which you have to be very careful with. Rather than dose and maybe overdose, I'd recommend trying a mini-dose: Kent's Coral Vite can be gotten from Foster/Smith in tiny doses about right for your tank, and it's sort of like a vitamin pill for a human---hits everything in a small way.

On the other hand, before suggesting that, which I don't like as a cure on principle, because it puts more things in than you can test for, what about water changes. Are you doing 10% change per week? That will make sure micronutrients don't get depleted.

And what sort of salt do you use?

 

[cilyjr]

i am changing 5 gal a week
instant ocean usually i will buy something else if it is on sale from time to time (but it's been IO for the last month or so)

the maroons leave it alone. actually the came in together and were together all the time. but they had a breakup and the bigger has harassed the other to the opposite of the tank (might remove the more aggressive but still waiting on that).

like i said the duster still looks really healthy when he is out. when first added he was out i would say in an hours time out 45 min or so now out 20 min or so. this is spread out over the hour. i did add new lighting the other day but i don't believe the tube worms to have photorecieptors.

also i wasn't docing the phyto his first week in the tank. started 3-4 days later

 

[Sk8r]

You might try a single dose of Kent Coral Vite and see if that makes a difference. It contains various trace elements.

 

[cilyjr]

i'll look for it