Green Millipora Polyps Retracted

[Ted_C]

Hi All.

I noticed today (from yesterday) that my Nathan's green millipora has retracted it's polyps. Its been running fine for 4 months now - one of my purchases from Jeff Berg.

Here's the before shot:

And the shot from Today:

Water Parameters today:
Salinity 35 PPT (refract)
Hardness: 9.8 dkh (3.5 meq/l) Red Sea Pro
Ca: 430 PPM Red Sea Pro
Mg: 1240 PPM Red Sea Pro
NO3: N/D Red Sea
PO4: 27 PPB (Hanna ULR)

Water Parameters in the past:
Salinity always 35 PPT
Alkalinity has been adjusted over the past two weeks from a low of 5.6 on 5/19 to a high of 10.4 on 6/4. Its dropped slightly from then
Ca was 430 on 5/19 to a high of 490 on 5/25 - otherwise its been pretty stable at 450 PPM
Mg has also been adjusted from a low of 1160 on 4/18 to a high of 1400 on 5/25 with the value stablizing around 1300 until today's reading
NO3 has always been N/D (Not detectible) in my system.
PO4 was 5 PPB on 6/5 and has always been low in my system.

A few things changed between full polyp extension and today's current state of retraction:

• Added 1 Bellus Angel and 4 Neon Goby on 6/7. I have observed the Bellus and seen no interaction with any of the SPS in my system - including the Millipora. The same with the Neon Gobies.
• Performed 15 gallon water change on Saturday (6/8) with Red Sea Coral Pro - I've been using Instant Ocean Reef Crystals since tank inception on 12/5 of last year.
• I performed my normal monthly maintenance yesterday with my water change
  
  Siphoned out as much detritus/mulm as I could
  Stirred up the rock rubble in the sump and siphoned out the detritus/mulm
  Cleaned out the skimmer (it gets a coating of algae on the inside that needs cleaned once a month
  Cleaned the sump powerheads
  ​

I'm leaning towards one of two things:

• The county water recently switched to Chlorine from Chloramine disinfectant. Its possible that during my cleaning when I replaced the parts in the tank they weren't completely dry.
• The switch to Red Sea Coral Pro salts from IO reef crystals.

All of my other SPS appear to be thriving and doing fine. Polyps extended, good encrusting occurring.
Thoughts?

 

[mess7777]

5.6 - 10.4 is a pretty big swing, might be that. Salt change is a possibility as well, although effects should not be long term. Do they still come out at night?

 

[Ted_C]

Agreed - but over the course of at least a full month? And Like I said - the milli has had it's polyps out forever.

I noticed this morning - as soon as my lights came on - the bellus did swing by and take a peck at it. It could be she's been pecking at it while I'm not specifically observing the tank (or at night with lights out).

The bellus will not touch the nori on the feeding clip but she does seem to like Mysis, Brine Shrimp and the auto-feedings of pellets that occur twice per day.

 

[Dexters Reef]

Angel or Alk swing....most likely the angel, I read other threads where people swore it wasnt the angel but then one day saw them bite a sps.

 

[jda]

Just let it be for a few days. It is very unlikely that the Bellus picked at anything - Genicanthus are platonic feeders and don't nip at much.

 

[Ted_C]

Agreed - I was surprised to see the bellus nipping at it as I have read the same about the whole genicanthus species and why a bellus was my only choice for an angel.

There are still some a few polyps out on the back side of the coral but the front is still closed up.

I will be patient and report back what happens next week.

 

[CichlidMan@<3]

Ted, millepora can be touchy and are usually one of the first acros to be attacked by aefw. As long as you are keeping everything stable and giving it moderate random flow, I'd rule out water params. It may seem weird but I have some acros in my tank that are polyped out like crazy and the exact same acro in my buddy's tank show little to know polyp extension just because of the presense of an angel. Like others have said, watch that angel, even though it is one of the few reef safe angels, and check for aefw

 

[Andyf30]

I agree with Cichlidman. I have a green milli, and mine just loses some polyp extension sometimes on some polyps. Within an hour or two the polyps are back to normal. They are very sensitive, and It may have just been brushed by something in the tank

 

[Reef Bass]

PO4: 27 PPB (Hanna ULR)

PO4 was 5 PPB on 6/5 and has always been low in my system.

Thoughts?

Are you sure about your units? I've always seen phosphates measured in ppm, not ppb. And if they are 27 ppm, that's a substantial reading.

I'd still lean towards the angel as the issue. I'd also turkey baster the frag and see if aefw come flying off.

 

[Ted_C]

a hanna ULR (ultra low range) measures in PPB so yes - absoletly sure of the units.

What's weird is the entire front of the milli has the polyps pulled back but there's still some out on the back side and in the crocks of the arms.

 

[Reef Bass]

a hanna ULR (ultra low range) measures in PPB so yes - absoletly sure of the units.

Thanks for the info. Then I think it's safe to assume it's not a phosphates issue. ;-)

Any way to move the angel to another tank, or cage off the milli to see if p.e. doesn't improve?