Garf Purple Bonsai not opening polyps after 20 days

[Dexters Reef]

Good news regarding the Alk swings...I don't know if it's because I raised my Magnesium and Calcium, but the daily drop is definitely decreasing.

8/17: Alk 14.5 Calc 370 Mag 1155
8/19: Alk 13.3 Calc 330 Mag 1200
8/21: Alk 11.5 Calc 335 Mag 1140
8/22: Alk 11.0 Calc 340 Mag 1335
8/23: Alk 11.2 Calc 410 Mag 1340

over the course of 3 nights, my Alk is only .3 lower, and I haven't added any Alk supplements! I boosted the Mag on the morning of 8/22, and tested at night. And today I added Calcium which raised it by a total of 70ppm (two dosing's, 8 AM and 4PM) which brings me to 410. Looks like I'm starting to get stable! A few water changes over the course of a few days should bring down my Alk. Now I just need to get my Alk lowered, and keep these values consistent :dance:

 

[Dexters Reef]

I have been working hard every day, testing everything in the morning, evening, performing water changes, calculating dosing amounts, testing dosing amounts, etc.

Since 8/25, I have been stable and figured out my daily dosing amounts. Alk went down to 9.8 dkh on 8/25, and on 8/28 I got it down to 9.5, and since then it has not left the 8.9-9.5 range. My daily dkh loss has consistantly been less than .5 (normally .2 a day), and I offset that by dosing small amounts of BRS Alkalinity solution every other day.

Calcium has not varied outside of 400-410 range since 8/23.
Magnesium has not varied outside of 1320 - 1335 since 8/23

After validating my dosing maintained stable paramaters for 7 days, I bought a 3" pocillopora. Polyps have been out and happy since the day I got it (8/31) and coloration is great.

Birdsnset is regaining color, and polyps are out all day and night.

My Garf Bonsai still has not extended polyps since I got it, I havn't moved it since my earlier post. In the sandbed, center of tank, medium-high random flow. Color is a medium purple, with bright green spots but no polyps coming out. If color is good, and other sps are doing well, should I be concerned? Is it time to move this to another spot, or just leave it and play the waiting game?

pocillopora pic attached =)

 

[kevantheman35]

I just got a nice colony of gnarf bonsai and I am trying hard like you to keep things stable. I have done 3 15% water changes to get my numbers up this week and now am starting 2 part

 

[Dexters Reef]

Thats a nice sized piece! Do your polyps come out? Do you have a closer pic? I'd love to see that thing after its opened. Mine is frustrating me so much! If it would decide to open I would be so happy! Its definately not dieing, but without seeing polyps I have to think something is wrong...I've only had my paramaters correct and stable for just over 10 days, and this guy went through a lot of alkalinity problems before that. I'm hoping it just needs time.

 

[kevantheman35]

I just got it a few days ago and its definitely still a little stressed so not much polyp extention. The tips are the only thing thats really very colored up as it was partially in the shade in the tank it came from. I have it about 10'' deep under a 250w mh so we will see how it goes. I will take a pic tonight and post it

 

[Dexters Reef]

Heres mine, had it for about a month with no polyp extension. There a a few that are VERY partially out, like barely noticable unless you are upclose and comparing to another polyp.

 

[REEF SMAC]

Interesting color for a Garf Bonsai. Never gotten mine to have darker coralites like that. Mine is usually just one solid color all the way through. Whether it's light purple under high light or dark purple under lower light. (And when it's unhappy its all brown.)
Either way it's never been one to have anything huge as far as polyp extension. Especially if it's getting a lot of flow.
I think now that you've got your params in a much better place you'll begin to see an improvement. It will just take a little longer than a birdsnest or pocillapora.
Acros just seem to be the last ones to come around after an unhappy parameter.
Keep your params stable from now on and IME it will come around.

The good thing is, that it has a well encrusted base that still looks happy and has not receded. I think that is a good sign for you as well.

 

[Reef Bass]

I agree those coralites are unusually colored.

Here's my bud's Garf bonsai looking super sweet. It's a real beauty. Par on it when this was shot: 800.

 

[Mxreef887]

My GARF took a little over a month after shipping to lighten up to my tank and begin extending polyps. Hopefully it will do the same with yours soon!