Lack of some PE is driving me crazy!!

[spankey]

I think I agree, my coral beauty runs the tank rampid. He is in and out of the corals as you stated. It could be just that. Even though you don't see him nip at your's it could just be sudden aggitation to the ends of the corals. I know if I touch a coral at night while its polyps are extended, it instantly pulls them in. So maybee that is the cause.

Check at night with a flashlight to see if you are getting PE. Some of my acros look hairy at night so I don't sweat it.

Good luck!
Spankey

 

[ObscurityKnocks]

It is perfectly normal for polyps to be retracted during the day. From what I have read that is the norm in the wild.

Just because there is no polyp extension during the day doesn't mean there is a problem/cause that needs to be solved.

Some of my corals have PE all the time, others have some PE and massive PE at night and some only have PE at night.

Yes I have 2 angels but this was the behavior of the corals before the angels were added and I have never seen either of the angels even look at an Acrol funny let alone pick at one.

 

[blide]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8057697#post8057697 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ScallopKing
Now that's an idea. I'll give that a try as well. Do you target or just put it in the water column?

This is an interesting idea, but I "bushy" frags for the LFS and within a day or so in my tank they have minimal polyp extension for the rest of their days.

 

[blide]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8057697#post8057697 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ScallopKing
Now that's an idea. I'll give that a try as well. Do you target or just put it in the water column?

This is an interesting idea, but I have had "bushy" frags for the LFS and within a day or so in my tank they have minimal polyp extension for the rest of their days.

 

[spankey]

Are there fish in the tanks at the LFS where you are seeing full PE? Maybe that is why they are in the LFS? No fish in the tank with the corals. Just a thought? I know for a fact at one of my LFS they have NO fish in thier SPS frag tank. Although its connnected to all the other tanks as one main system, they have NO need to have fish in the frag tank. THus I think this is why it gets PE.

ON another contradicting note, I have seen more than one tank in person of other reefers that do have PE at daytime with a packed full tank of fish. I think its just the tank in question. Some get it some do not.

As long as your corals are healthy and showing signs of growth, it will be just fine!

 

[ScotchMaster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8057697#post8057697 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ScallopKing
Now that's an idea. I'll give that a try as well. Do you target or just put it in the water column?

I turn off my return pump but keep the seios going and then drop some oyster eggs in....I really do think its working as my shawn bennet torts' polyps are coming out more and more each day

 

[Dom_P]

Dom_P - I started my own little experiments too. Right now I'm on to feeding them at night when polyped. Two days into it right now. I've removed carbon, phosphate, higher and lowered alk/ca and nothing changes it. I am getting a little tiniest bit more nothing else. Me too, soon after the lights are out the polyps are opening up and with my VHOs too, they come on for a while befor the halides. Hmmm? My theory now is that once they stop polyping for some reason it just doesn't come back. Have you taken your non-polyped stony and given it to a friend and see what happens in their tank?

Scallop,

Seems that experimentation is the only way here. I'm gonna take the frag that was orginally bushy back to the LFS and see what happens (I'm sure the owner will love to help me out with this experiment). If it gets hairy again, then there is definatlly something about my tank.

I'm almost convinced it's not the fish, as I isolated the frags where fish could not get them. I cant believe the frag would have "learned" the closing behavior within days as it wasnt getting picked at by any fish.

I dont feed very much either... so far that's the only thing we seem to have in common

Dom

 

[Covey]

Not to discount all other theories, just to back up those who have said it. I had a coral beauty for over a year. Before I had any acro. Got acro and thought the no daytime PE was normal. CB started nipping at nearly everything and traded it. Night a day difference with in the next few days.

And as far a locking up a new frag in eggcrate and see if it is effected. We know coral mucus up when there ticked. There is probably some chemical signal the coral give off that warns the others a picker is at work.

 

[Dom_P]

Covey iteresting theory about the chemical signal....

I wonder if isolating the fish in the tank would help. Might be a tough trick though. I suppose the fish themselves give off chemical signals as well (slime coats, waste, etc.) though.