SPS Help Can't Get Polyp Extension

AgeDynasty

New member
Hello Everyone, frist off I would like to start off by saying that I have been keeping SPS for the last three years with great growth. However I do not get good polyp extension like I see in so many of my friends aquariums.Here is a link to a video of my tank, please excuse the picture quality. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWknbjgpnsc&feature=youtu.be

Tank Information Below
75 Gallon with Central Overflow
20 Gallon Sureflow Sump
Mag 9 Return Pump
CR140 Calcium Reactor
1xMp 40 Set on short pulse for wave mod (located on Right Side about 3/4 way up)
2xHydro Korellia 1400 Evolution on a 15sec Pulse with Hyrdo Wave Maker (both located on Left Side about half way up on seprate ends of the glass pointed towards the surface)
8 bulb Current USA T5 fixture, Bulb Combination all ATI (4xBlue Plus,2xCoral Plus, 1xTrue Actinic 03, and 1xPurple Plus) all bulbs are about 2weeks old
100lbs of Live Rock 8 Years old
3"sb 8 Years Old
Tank Parameters
Salinity 35
Ph 8.3
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0 at least according to Red Sea Test Kit
Phosphate 0 at least according to Red Sea Test Kit
Calcium 500
Alk 9dkh
Ammonia 0
Magnesium 1350

Tank Inhabitans
1x BiColor Blenny
1x Madarine Dragonet
1x small clown fish
1x sabea anemone
1x giant coral banded shrimp
1x wheelers pawn goby
 
Try feeding oyster feast or coral frenzy, reef roids, etc. Helped with a couple if my sps to extended more during the day
 
If your parameters are good, then check the fish. If you really want good PE, switch to a wavebox - I have gotten better growth too.
 
I would be checking your parameters with a fellow reefer or lfs.
There is something up in your tank. The coraline algae even looks a funny colour.
Most of the sps look browned out, even the birdsnest isn't to pink.
Maybe you have higher phosphates and nitrates than you realise.

If my tank lifts phos above 0.05 and nitrate 4ppm then there is significant polyp retraction.
 
Try different placement in the tank to see where you get the best polyp extension... I say that because I had a couple of frag that I accidentally broken off my mother colony... I decided to distribute it in different locations in the tank and I noticed that they all grew but with varying polyp extensions.... Good luck and keep us posted
 
I would be checking your parameters with a fellow reefer or lfs.
There is something up in your tank. The coraline algae even looks a funny colour.
Most of the sps look browned out, even the birdsnest isn't to pink.
Maybe you have higher phosphates and nitrates than you realise.

If my tank lifts phos above 0.05 and nitrate 4ppm then there is significant polyp retraction.

The Birdnest is great color I would being a Ponape Birdnest like I said crappy video, the coralline all died after a alk swing I ha a couple of weeks ok but causing the Sps to brown out but polyps still wouldn't extend good before that
 
The Birdnest is great color I would being a Ponape Birdnest like I said crappy video, the coralline all died after a alk swing I ha a couple of weeks ok but causing the Sps to brown out but polyps still wouldn't extend good before that

Alk swing a couple of weeks ago, can take sps months to get back. I would wait it out if you are confident your parameters, flow and lighting are suitable. Try not to change anything for a while and see if that gets the polyps out
 
Back
Top