LPS Sweepers

[lewisrhoades]

Hey guys I have fixed my Hammer coral problem thanks to everyone here and have a general question about LPS. I've read about how most LPS have sweepers they extend at night when the lights are blue or off completely. I have some frogspawn, Hammers, Acans, and a chalice and I have not observed sweepers from any of them. Is sweeper extension dependent on flow, as in they cannot extend due to excess turbulence?

 

[taricha]

"Also note that sweeper tentacles are most often produced when specimens are exposed to strong currents. Not when it's strong enough to hurt them, rather when flow is tolerable but fast. Thus, you should try to reduce water flow over a specimen if any sweeper tentacles appear."

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/10/corals

 

[Tweaked]

Of all of those, for me the chalices have been the most aggressive. Those and acan echinatas which are some of the meanest animals around, trust me. Chalices can and will fight with nearby corals, and if it detects another animal nearby, it will digest itsself onto the encroaching piece killing it in short order.

 

[lewisrhoades]

So I should actually be content that my corals aren't sending out sweepers? Everything is doing great I just haven't been able to feed my chalice or acan due to lack of sweepers. My euphyllia will still "grab" the food with their polyps and eat it, but my others not so much.

 

[Tweaked]

When comfortable and happy they will grow, eat, and battle. It's something for sure.

 

[frankyrivera]

Your corals are sending out sweepers you just haven't seen them. Check out your tank at 2:00 am and you'll be surprised to find a mass of tentacles coming out of everybody lol

 

[MillerR.]

I've found that sometimes it takes a while. I've some corals for months before i noticed any sweepers. Ant I get up and all random times of night and early morning to look into my tank, I need a hobby! Oh wait! SMH

 

[lewisrhoades]

I haven't checked it early morning before, I might have to and see if they are sending any out.

 

[Tweaked]

I haven't checked it early morning before, I might have to and see if they are sending any out.

It's another world. Search and buy an Orpeck Blue Led Flashlight. Very cool and crazy bright

 

[taricha]

Saw this awesome clip on tv the other night. LPS coral colonies from Great Barrier Reef having sweeper fights.
http://youtu.be/AK1sfx3iGbA
Starts around 48:00

 

[Frontier]

Saw this awesome clip on tv the other night. LPS coral colonies from Great Barrier Reef having sweeper fights.
http://youtu.be/AK1sfx3iGbA
Starts around 48:00

Wow, excellent. I ended up watching the whole thing!

 

[lewisrhoades]

Well after stalking the tank for a few nights I can now say all my lps do in fact have sweepers. They are definitely not on the level of the coral in that video but they are there lol.

 

[Tweaked]

They will do exactly what is on the video if close enough. Especially acans, chalice, and favias.

 

[jrkonzelman]

If you want to see sweepers, check out a galaxea coral, 6-9" long sweepers..beautiful coral but MUST have tons of space or they will attack anything and everything

 

[Tweaked]

Yup I have four color variations of the galaxea and they can sweep. Also my Goni sweeps pretty far each night. I love observing all the animals at different times.

 

[lewisrhoades]

Unfortunately since my tank is 20x20 I can't get any large LPS since they would zap everything around it. The galaxea are an awesome coral though, I just heard they aren't for beginners.

 

[Tweaked]

Unfortunately since my tank is 20x20 I can't get any large LPS since they would zap everything around it. The galaxea are an awesome coral though, I just heard they aren't for beginners.

Any? Plenty of LPS that does not sweep. Goniastrea, Trachs, scolymia, fungia, duncan, etc

 

[jrkonzelman]

wow nice pieces..do they bother the blasto in the bottom of the picture?

 

[frankyrivera]

Space invaders got some mean sweepers

 

[lewisrhoades]

Good God is that some kind of scoly or a plate coral? That thing is awesome looking.