Why are my Birdsnest corals happier in rubbermaids?

[GroktheCube]

I introduced ich to my DT, either via an un-QTed coral, or an un-QTed invert. I broke the tank down to catch all the fish and give it a good cleaning, and my rocks, corals, and inverts have been hanging out in rubbermaids.

My Seriatopora had all been looking a bit off lately. Now that they're in the rubbermaid bins, they've all make a comeback. Dramatically better colors, better PE, and even more growth tips.

WTH is going on? The only light the rubbermaids get is ambient light, and the each have a tiny 250 gph Koralia powerhead.

Might they have been getting too much flow in the DT? That's pretty much all I can think of. I use 4 6095s, set up to alternate with two on at any given time to generate a gyre.

I always thought of them as being quite flow tolerant. Might I be overdoing it?

 

[tripdad]

I'm with you. These "easy" corals can be very frustrating. I have had them do great for a year or two and then rapidly decline while everything seems good. They do seem to like a lot of flow in my tank to where the polyps are getting pushed on firmly side to side. I have had them from 4" from lights(T5) to 10" down, never found a pattern except in color intensity.