No polyp extension on digi frag

[lcs]

I have an orange monti digi frag that has been in my tank for just over three weeks. So far I haven't seen any polyp extension at all. Other than that it seems to be OK, color is still good and I think there is even some growth. It is about 10" from 96w of T5 lighting, in moderate flow area of the tank. Over the last few days I have had to raise my alk from 7dKH to where it is now at 10dKH. I received the frag unmounted and it had been off the mother colony for a while. I used super glue gel to mount it.

Parameters:
NH3 0
NO2 0
NO3 0
PO4 undetectable
Ca 500 (Seachem Reef salt)
Mg 1320
Alk 10dKH

Any ideas why the polyps aren't out and what can I do to make it happy?

Pic from today:

 

[Surf&turf]

what does it do with the lights out?

here is mine when i first got it.

 

[lcs]

what does it do with the lights out?

I've looked at it with only actinics and also when it's dark . . . nothin' How long can it go on like this?

 

[mike_cmu04]

I think give it some time and you will see better extension.

 

[bigal20874]

problem is the "bi-color blenny".

 

[Surf&turf]

problem is the "bi-color blenny".

+1
Good catch on the Blenny.
I have heard of blennys reaking havoc on some SPS.

 

[lcs]

Wow, you think? He hasn't bothered the birdsnest frag I have - it's fully extended and growing. He does perch on the rock near the digi. I'll watch and see it he's picking at it. I hope not!

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[bigal20874]

I had a bicolor before and he only nip the digi and monti not bn or acro.

 

[sahin]

Keep an eye out to see if the bi-colour is causing a problem. Sometimes certain coral specimens can be downright fussy. I had an encrusting monti take more than 4 weeks in my tank before the polyps came out. I even went back to the LFS and found their other frags of the same coral in the same state. All my other corals and doing very well.

I got an orange monti frag for free from my LFS a few days ago because it was dying, had hair algae growing on it and what all white except for a handful of orange polyps.
The healthy part was only 1cm x1cm, but I still decided to cut off the bad parts and glue this tiny frag onto a rock. Two days later and the polyps appear much better and it looks like it will grow into a beautil coral in my tank.

So it just goes to show that other than creatures in the tank causing problems, sometimes corals just dont suit one persons tank.

Please update and let us know how it does.