Sps polyps very small? Montipora digitata

solpete

New member
Hi!

Is it normal for the polyps on this Montipora digitata to be so small?

Is it a digitata?

IMAG0653.jpg


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Looks like it is bleaching a bit, and is being blasted with light! Try moving it down lower and see how it responds. Might take a few days to see a difference. Are you running a low nutrient system? This could make the coral pale looking as well.

What kind of lights, and how big of a tank?
 
110 gallon semicircle, water height 95 cm / 38"
Skimmer: fauna marine ultraskim 2
Light: 130 watt 8-band LED
Ca 450 ppm
Mg 1350 ppm
Alk. 11 dKH
NO2 and NO3 : low and 2 ppm

Reverse osmosis
I'm feeding a lot ... At least a small cube of frozen food per day

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IMO your alk is too high and that might be causing it. That, &/or LED lighting. I find my montis like mid/low with my AI Sols. I've burned several trying to put them to high on the rocks.
 
Try moving that piece down further and out of the direct light. How far away from the light is that coral? SPS need a lot of random flow.

Also, I would shoot for 8.5-9 Dkh. When I started feeding more and I dropped my Alk down to 8.5 I noticed better color and polyp extension. How many fish do you have? Your other params look fine.
 
Definitely not normal. It is a digitata though. How long have you had it? Where is it located in the tank? Do you know the water params and lighting from the tank it came from?

I also agree on bringing the Alk down slowly. I keep mine at 8.5 and feel my SPS do best at the level.

This is what the polyps should look like, minus the blue lol...
Screenshot_2013-02-20-20-15-50_zpsad628f47.png
 
Definitely not normal. It is a digitata though. How long have you had it? Where is it located in the tank? Do you know the water params and lighting from the tank it came from?

I also agree on bringing the Alk down slowly. I keep mine at 8.5 and feel my SPS do best at the level.

This is what the polyps should look like, minus the blue lol...
Screenshot_2013-02-20-20-15-50_zpsad628f47.png

Thanks all... But I think it's not the light... It's placed under 60 cm water column under the leds, which is more's than most ppl

Perhaps alk...
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I agree with the other posters your alk is kind of high. I wouldnt rule out the too much light idea just yet. Most sps do require intense lighting but it seems monti digi do not. At least mine doesnt. I have mine 14" below my fixture and its a nova extreme t5 ho 4x 54 watt fixture. While its a good fixture and allows me to keep just about anything i want, i dont think its nearly as powerful in terms of par as your leds. When i first had my monti i kept it higher up and had similar results in that it was a pale pink and little polyp extension. I moved it lower about four months ago and it has turned a very deep vibrant pink and its grown many new branches ranging from 3/4"-1 1/2 ". The polyps also extend so far it almost looks like a cotton ball when the daylights are on! Flow is key too mine like ALOT of random flow. Thats a good piece you got good luck with it!
 
I'm having problems with another monti. I'm pretty sure it's too high lighting. The montis that were placed further down are much better looking... Instead of moving them I have turned down lighting by 60% or so

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It's definitely sulking big time mate so turning down the lights won't do it any harm if that has indeed contributed to it's condition. I agree with the others and your alk/cal balance is way out. Looking at that other coral with base recession i think slowly lowering your alk as suggested would be a very wise move as well.

This is what the polyps should look like, minus the blue lol...
Screenshot_2013-02-20-20-15-50_zpsaeb62b6d.jpg

Very cool corals AquaReeferMan :thumbsup:
 
Time to start cutting that coral into frags to save what is left, if not its going to be all dead in a matter of days.
 
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