tmb22
New member
I moved my reef from Grand Rapids, MI to Chicago in early March (about 3 months ago) from a 55 gallon tank to a 90 gallon tank.
This is obviously a huge change and would explain why colors aren't as vibrant as they were in Grand Rapids. But the strange thing is that the polyp extension has improved greatly. They have extended so much that I've been thinking the light is being somewhat blocked from reaching the tissue of the coral, causing a decrease in color. Is this a possibility, or am I way off base?
Some details from the tank:
Light: 6 bulb ATI Sunpower
Flow: 2 MP10's and 1 MP40
Skimmer: Reef Octopus XS160
Alk: 7
Calcium: 420
Magnesium: 1400
Phosphate: 0.03
Salinity: 1.025
Here are a few things that have changed from the previous tank:
New sand bed
Lost two fish in transit (Diamond Goby & Flame Angel... I never saw the flame angel nip at anything, ever)
Chicago water source as opposed to Grand Rapids water source (Still using BRS 5 stage RO/DI unit with booster pump)
Alk changed from 10 to 7 over the course of 3 months
My own experience tells me that moving a tank is a tremendously stressful experience for the corals, and that colors will bounce back with time. I'm seeing an alk change from 10 to 7 over time as a prime indicator.
BUT, I'm still curious about massive polyp extension blocking light from reaching SPS tissue. Why would polyp extension suddenly increase while colors get less vibrant?
This is obviously a huge change and would explain why colors aren't as vibrant as they were in Grand Rapids. But the strange thing is that the polyp extension has improved greatly. They have extended so much that I've been thinking the light is being somewhat blocked from reaching the tissue of the coral, causing a decrease in color. Is this a possibility, or am I way off base?
Some details from the tank:
Light: 6 bulb ATI Sunpower
Flow: 2 MP10's and 1 MP40
Skimmer: Reef Octopus XS160
Alk: 7
Calcium: 420
Magnesium: 1400
Phosphate: 0.03
Salinity: 1.025
Here are a few things that have changed from the previous tank:
New sand bed
Lost two fish in transit (Diamond Goby & Flame Angel... I never saw the flame angel nip at anything, ever)
Chicago water source as opposed to Grand Rapids water source (Still using BRS 5 stage RO/DI unit with booster pump)
Alk changed from 10 to 7 over the course of 3 months
My own experience tells me that moving a tank is a tremendously stressful experience for the corals, and that colors will bounce back with time. I'm seeing an alk change from 10 to 7 over time as a prime indicator.
BUT, I'm still curious about massive polyp extension blocking light from reaching SPS tissue. Why would polyp extension suddenly increase while colors get less vibrant?