No polyp extension after water change

[aggie13reef]

Anyone got any ideas, I'm at a loss. Performed my usual water change a couple days ago, and ever since my LPS have not had much PE. They will open up but considerably less than normal. Alk, Ca, and pH levels are normal (11.8, 450, 8.2).Just curious what would cause this after a 20% water change. Only thing I can think is Alk, I keep it around 10.4 ish and it swung to 11.8 post change. Ca came up to 450 from 430 (not a big swing). pH stayed same.

My acans, and soft corals look normal.

 

[Mark9]

Have you checked your salinity?
And verified it?

 

[sepulvd]

I agree with mark check salinty

 

[aggie13reef]

Alright,

Salinity is 1.0235 which it was 1.024 prior to the change. I keep it between 1.023-1.024 at all times. Hard to keep it exactly constant at all times, my setup is pretty basic and lacking in normal reef equipment. No sump, no ato, no skimmer, no filter actually. I have never really had issues with LPS opening. The tank is 8 months old and I added my first frogspawn about a month and a half in.

 

[aggie13reef]

Also, as of this evening my 2 headed hammer is fully open, torch probably half, my 6 head frogspawn maybe half, and my large E. divisa is barely opening up. Also my duncan is closed completely (I blame aptasia which I removed this afternoon.)

 

[Mark9]

How do you check salinity? Swing arm?
I had one that was off .008
My corals took a nose dive when my sg was off.
Now use a refractometer and calibrate it every couple weeks.

 

[aggie13reef]

How do you check salinity? Swing arm?

Yeah one of those cheap hydrometers. I need to buy a refractometer but just haven't yet. I guess I'll just have to keep an eye on the salinity over the next couple days.

 

[Tweaked]

If you know a store nearby, test your swing arm against their refractometer. This will give you a baseline to where you are. Also, rinse thoroughly with rodi each time after use and leave upside down to dry. Finally, until you have a better idea of salinity among other parameters, I would suggest smaller frequent WC's. JMO

 

[aggie13reef]

If you know a store nearby, test your swing arm against their refractometer. This will give you a baseline to where you are. Also, rinse thoroughly with rodi each time after use and leave upside down to dry. Finally, until you have a better idea of salinity among other parameters, I would suggest smaller frequent WC's. JMO

Yeah I need to take in a sample its been quite a while since I have had a LFS verify or prove my tests wrong. I do clean my swing arm before and after every use, I should have picked up a refractometer from BRS while they had their black Friday sale. I do about 4-5 gallons every 2 weeks, you think I should ramp it up?

 

[tuawcxs]

Your dog is cute

 

[Fudz Cwerner]

Did you check your Mg? I always seem to find it the lowest of the "posted" parameters on all the salts that I have tried. Even when I mix a perfect 1.025 batch (checked by refractometer) the Alk and Ca are in spec, but the Mg is low.

Just my experience, not trying to turn the thread into a salt discussion.

 

[aggie13reef]

Did you check your Mg? I always seem to find it the lowest of the "posted" parameters on all the salts that I have tried. Even when I mix a perfect 1.025 batch (checked by refractometer) the Alk and Ca are in spec, but the Mg is low.

Just my experience, not trying to turn the thread into a salt discussion.

It's all good! I need to check my mg tonight. Still no polyp extension on my large frogspawn, and duncan is closed up. Starting to get a bit worried.

Maybe a stupid question, but I have a growing colony of xenia that is about 6 inches from the frogspawn, 3 from the duncan. Could the Xenia be releasing chemicals when my flame hawk perches on it? And could the chemicals be affecting the LPS?

Like I said may be stupid just curious if that could happen.

 

[chinchalice]

+1 on the salinity check as well as ALK salt lvls fluctuating also fluctuate alk