Do Corals "Deflate" at Night (Normally?)

gimincorp · 07-07-2008, 03:54 AM

Hi,
This evening I had reported that my two Kenya Trees are "happy, fully expaned etc."
Here is the "Evening or PM" picture (After about 12 hours of light (50/50):

This morning I woke up at @ 2:27 AM and looked at my corals. This is how I saw my Kenya Trees:

In the above picture, all the branches are sort of retracted and tucked together.
Other observations: My mushroom that was about 1" in the evening (under 50/50 light) was @ 2:27 AM about half its evening size.
QUESTION: Is it normal for the corals to behave this way? - change their size so drastically?
P.S. I carried out 1 bucket PWC immidiately (it was long overdue anyway).

**marrone** · 07-07-2008, 08:10 AM

Some coral deflate at night while other get a lot larger, as they put out feeder tentacles. Tree coral and leathers usually shrink at night and expand once the lights come on.

tunicata · 07-07-2008, 08:13 AM

Hm, in my experience my soft corals do this every day. When the lights have been off for a bit they tuck in for the night. The head of my toadstool would be 4-5 inches in diameter then shrink down to maybe 2-3. Green Sinularia would stretch its arms out all over the tank, then bring them up and in like holding an umbrella upright.

My long tip toadstool brings in its tentacles at night, so it looks like a bald headed coral though its tentacles are really about 3 inches.

So, yes for me this is normal. my tanks been up since last Nov with the majority of my softies.

sweetsop · 07-07-2008, 10:09 AM

yes, this is normal, they even get smaller than that.

gimincorp · 07-07-2008, 10:48 AM

Hi again!
THANK YOU EVERYONE for your responses!
I'll take "Normal" as an answer and will consider my question answered.

P.S. I'm waiting on my light timer replacement to put the poor things back on regulated lighting schedule. I'm also working on getting my new wet/dry filter ready - this hopefully will be up and running tonight.

inkblue · 07-07-2008, 10:53 AM

as lonG as they dont remain "defLated"

then we call that 'dEad'...

07-07-2008, 03:54 AM	#1
gimincorp Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New Rochelle, NY Posts: 58 Reefer Ratings: (0) Friends: (0)	Do Corals "Deflate" at Night (Normally?) Hi, This evening I had reported that my two Kenya Trees are "happy, fully expaned etc." Here is the "Evening or PM" picture (After about 12 hours of light (50/50): This morning I woke up at @ 2:27 AM and looked at my corals. This is how I saw my Kenya Trees: In the above picture, all the branches are sort of retracted and tucked together. Other observations: My mushroom that was about 1" in the evening (under 50/50 light) was @ 2:27 AM about half its evening size. QUESTION: Is it normal for the corals to behave this way? - change their size so drastically? P.S. I carried out 1 bucket PWC immidiately (it was long overdue anyway). __________________ G M My 10 G Tank Last edited by gimincorp; 07-07-2008 at 03:57 AM. Reason: Added details, corrected errors.

07-07-2008, 10:48 AM	#5
gimincorp Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New Rochelle, NY Posts: 58 Reefer Ratings: (0) Friends: (0)	Hi again! THANK YOU EVERYONE for your responses! I'll take "Normal" as an answer and will consider my question answered. P.S. I'm waiting on my light timer replacement to put the poor things back on regulated lighting schedule. I'm also working on getting my new wet/dry filter ready - this hopefully will be up and running tonight. __________________ G M My 10 G Tank

07-07-2008, 10:53 AM	#6
inkblue Muro Ami Captain Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Williamsburgh, Brooklyn Posts: 7,812 Reefer Ratings: (86) Friends: (22)	as lonG as they dont remain "defLated" then we call that 'dEad'... __________________

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07-07-2008, 08:10 AM	#2
marrone In the Forest Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The BIG City Posts: 5,554 Reefer Ratings: (39) Friends: (6)	Some coral deflate at night while other get a lot larger, as they put out feeder tentacles. Tree coral and leathers usually shrink at night and expand once the lights come on.

07-07-2008, 08:13 AM	#3
tunicata Tunicate Tamer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Newark, NJ Posts: 455 Reefer Ratings: (16) Friends: (2)	Hm, in my experience my soft corals do this every day. When the lights have been off for a bit they tuck in for the night. The head of my toadstool would be 4-5 inches in diameter then shrink down to maybe 2-3. Green Sinularia would stretch its arms out all over the tank, then bring them up and in like holding an umbrella upright. My long tip toadstool brings in its tentacles at night, so it looks like a bald headed coral though its tentacles are really about 3 inches. So, yes for me this is normal. my tanks been up since last Nov with the majority of my softies.

07-07-2008, 10:09 AM	#4
sweetsop Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: brooklyn, ny. Posts: 283 Reefer Ratings: (10) Friends: (4)	yes, this is normal, they even get smaller than that.