PE during lights off?

[Vannpytt]

Most of my corals grown and coloring out ok, but my Pocilopora and Seriatopora, and a few of my Montipora digitatats show significantly less PE when the light period is over. During day they have great extension, and mostly good coloration. My Acropora species are indifferent and have better PE during lights out.

I can only think of one or two "major" changes when the lights go off:

• pH drop? - I run limewater drip during night
• Flow changes on a photo period - Tried running them normal 24/7, but not much changed.

What is the coral using polyps for? I read several things, including "breathing", feeding and pooping. What could I try to reverse this trend or is it actually something to worry about?

 

[psteeleb]

that's pretty common for the spicies you describe

In general Acroporas will extend polyps more at night then durring the day. They do this for many reasons - from UV protection, fish nipping, resperation versus rest, capturing food at night so not to compete with others, regulation of sugar generation, etc.

Many other coral species will retract polyps at night and go in to rest mode like the ones you mention. Same thing can be said about LPS many pull in at night and others extend more to feed at night.

 

[Vannpytt]

Sweet, no need to worry about it then?

 

[psteeleb]

Sweet, no need to worry about it then?

yep, I'd worry more if they looked the same.

 

[ange062]

that's pretty common for the spicies you describe

In general Acroporas will extend polyps more at night then durring the day. They do this for many reasons - from UV protection, fish nipping, resperation versus rest, capturing food at night so not to compete with others, regulation of sugar generation, etc.

Many other coral species will retract polyps at night and go in to rest mode like the ones you mention. Same thing can be said about LPS many pull in at night and others extend more to feed at night.

+1, doens't sound like anything to worry about.

 

[Felixc395]

No need to worry! My SPS have PE during the day, but almost never at night... Kind or odd

 

[squirt22]

Yes don't worry. That's exactly how mine are. Digis extract and acros extend when lights out.