no sps polyp extension

ati70cutlass

ati70cutlass

New member
I have two systems the first is a 40b strictly sps and the second a mixed reef. the 40b consists of a DIY 144w led system ran about 15-20% for 7hrs daily. the larger system is a 6bulb t5. in my larger system I have ok polyp extension and ok color. nothing to write home about. the 40b has extremely insane color and NO polyp extension at all. I have been doing the RedSea Coral Care Program since day one on he 40B and for the last month on the second system. my levels are as follows.
40b is as follows salinity-1.025, mag. 1450, calcium 440, alk -8, k-410, I-.06, Fe-.015, amm-0, nitritie-0, nitrate-2-3avg, phosphate -.01,,, I get insane color but no polyp extension, feed 4ml of reef enegy a&b daily with 4ml of nopox

Frankentank runs 1.024, mag 1400, cal 420, alk 9, k 400m I-.07, Fe .010, amm-0, nitrite -0, nitrate 10-12, and phosphate .03, also do 10ml of reef energy A&b, and 10ml of nopox. ok color and ok polyp extension..

any ideas on why I have awesome color and no extension.
 
So the issue is with the mixed SPS tank with softies? Never kept softies myself but have read the stories of them unleashing chemical warfare on their neighbors. I imagine that could supress polyp extension. In that case separation & carbon are often recommended. Just a guess...
 
Check the salinity with another kit
Check for parasites
Check the pe at night too
Possibly your getting things too clean maybe feed more filter less
 
so with the mixed SPS tank with softies? Never kept softies myself but have read the stories of them unleashing chemical warfare on their neighbors. I imagine that could supress polyp extension. In that case separation & carbon are often recommended. Just a guess...
Click to expand...
actually the tank with softies has better extension than the sps only tank lol.

Check the salinity with another kit
Check for parasites
Check the pe at night too
Possibly your getting things too clean maybe feed more filter less
Click to expand...
I run a saltwater store and have checked it on 3 refractors all came up the same. use to have bug problems but finally got a clean bill of health. however I have been using the redsea nopox. im wondering if maybe that is making my tank way toooooo clean. their system claims low nutrients... just don't understand how you can see super nice tanks with lots of polyp extension and nitrate and phosphate but I cant.
 
Can you post a picture of your corals? Also 10 nitrate is high do you have large amounts of algae growth? What is the PH at? Do you have good flow? Also what fish?
 
I run an ULNS and have no problems with PE on every coral in the tank so i don't believe adding more nutrients will accomplish anything. Why are you only running the LED's at 15-20% for 7 hours. I have a 120W blue/white LED unit - 100% blue and 80% white for 10 hours a day over a 20x20 frag tank - sorry if i have misunderstood but your lighting scheme seems way off. Hope you sort this out and get both tanks humming. :)
 
If you have healthy corals with good color but no polyp extension I would take a look at your flow. What type of flow do you have? Do the corals nearest the sorce if the flow have polyp extension? You will also see less polyp extension when phosphates start to rise. Last question do u have a fuge? If so what type of macro is in there? My money is on ur flow!
 
Seems like a lot of nopox to add in.. I have a 45 gal and never added more than 5 ml at a time. Even when I started and nitrates were at 20.. Tank is over 12 years old and the 5 ml got me down to 5 and I cut the dose as per the instructions. I'm now hovering around 3 on the nitrates and run GFO along with the nopox to keep the p04 in check from my old rocks and sand leaching out phosphate..

Not saying that's your issues and maybe I misread the instructions but that seems like a lot of nopox to me. Also do you have a good skimmer to export the nopox. I noticed a drastic change in coral/tank health when I switched to a better skimmer while dosing no-pox.
 
Do you have sand or is it BB? I had this problem for a little while, used Elos Omega and Pro Skimmer and in a week I noticed a huge difference. Also what is PE like at night when the lights are off?
 
ive had times where PE wasnt great, make sure parameters are where they need to be and be patient. flow and lights and patience.
 
Do the polyps extend at night? If so dont worry about it, especially if growth and color are good. . Many of my corals have little or no PE during the day but turn into bush at night.
 
So to try and answer all the questions ill start out giving more detail. The tank does have a 1" sandbed. there are only 3 chromis, 1 flame angel, and a lawnmower blenny. I only run my light at 20-30% because if i go any higher they start looking bad. I have notice the last couple of day there has been some extension but very little. for flow i have 2 hydor 1150s on wave mode . so i just checked on polyp extension. my new maricultured acros have some. most do not have any at all.
 
Good thread even with out pictures since I to am having similar issues with my Tort's. Only think I can a test to would be lower p04 levels. I used to run .03 p04 but as i've gone closer to .02-.01 the colors are coming out but some colors don't seem to like it mostly Acans and chalices also torts. I picked up some reef energy a and b and started to dose 1ml a day for the heck of it.
 
I have flame angel too and don't have much PE. I don't think that's the issue though cause I don't see him pick at corals. He just picks at the rocks
 
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