Polip Extension

[AQUA DAVE]

I have many acro colonies and frags that arent' extending their polips and I cannot figure out why. I have a 90Bow with two Tunze's pumping about 3000 gallons per hour. All peramiters are perfect, and I have a hamilton hood with 500W of 10k MH and duel 96W actinics. Dose with B-Ionic two part calcium system. I have two monti's that have full polip extension and are growing at about a half inch per month. All my LPS are doing better than ever. I also feed Phyto every 3 days.

 

[AQUA DAVE]

I also have a maze brain that I took in to save that is growing back to its full size at about an inch all around a month.

 

[AQUA DAVE]

here are some pics http://photobucket.com/albums/a296/Dave_05/?action=view&current=DSC00256.jpg

 

[AQUA DAVE]

basically I just want to know what causes this or what im not doing right... Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks,
David

 

[DJ88©]

[moved]

 

[drake66]

do the polyps extend at night?

 

[AQUA DAVE]

yeah some do

 

[AQUA DAVE]

How long does it take for sps to get adjusted to new light peramiters? the montis are fully extended and looking amazing but the rest are hardly viewable

 

[drake66]

with peoples luck these days, probably flatworms or redbugs you might want to check into that.

 

[AQUA DAVE]

I kinda expected more feedback than this............

 

[AQUA DAVE]

thanks for your feedback drake
I wasn't reefering to your feedback

 

[clownaround]

All right lets figure this out. Can you list your parameters? What I am intrested in is the following:

age of tank
CA
PO4
ALK
NO3

Are you dosing Kalk? What salt are you using? What brand and size is your skimmer?

What I am getting at is please provide aditional information more than just the parameters are fine. There is a reason and we will get to the bottom of it.

 

[corndogg]

could be a number of things...pest like redbugs/flatwords, water quality, fish nipping or even a hermit or emerald crab.

 

[corndogg]

First thing to do is check the tank about an hour or so after the lights go out and this will tell you whether your corals are being bothered by something. If you have polyp extension then you know its probably a fish. If no PE then most likely a chemistry problem or the dreaded redbugs.

 

[jpfelix]

or even fish swimming too close too often, they don't have to nip to be a pest.

 

[Mariner]

Lots of things can inhibit polyp extension, some of which are natural and normal. In nature, many SPS do not extend polyps much during the day. And as was mentioned, changes in light and pests (like red bugs and flatworms) can also prevent polyps from extending. Normally, SPS begin adjusting to lighting changes in just a few days, but it may take weeks/months to fully adjust. Excessive flow directly on a coral might also cause polyps to retract, and that would be something to consider with the amount of flow you have. Also, you mentioned dosing b-ionic, but what are your calc/alk levels? I think that low alk can effect polyp extension.
FWIW,
Mariner

 

[AQUA DAVE]

PO4 - 0
NO3 - 0
CA - 450
Im not sure on alkalinity but my test strip says ideal.
I had my water tested at the local pet store and they said alkalinity was good.

 

[drake66]

strips = no good. Most of us and i'm sure i can speak for everyone, we use the liquid tests with the liquid indicator, i.e. salifert tests. What kind of test kits are you using for the alk?

 

[AQUA DAVE]

6 months old tank
I have the flow blowing over the top of the tank not directly over the corals
i feed fish about 3 times a week
I do have hermits but they don't get on the sps too much
also have clown gobies....... don't know if they might be the problem


Thanks for the feedback, I didn't mean to ruffle any feathers just trying to get any feedback possible and all of it was great.

let me know what else you think....

I am adding a CA reactor next week so maybe things will start looking up for them

 

[AQUA DAVE]

the lfs used the liquid test