Reduced polyp extension SPS/fading?

[Anonymous]

What would cause reduced polyp extension in SPS? A bunch of the frags that I have purchased over the past few months gradually show less and less polyp extension. I have been feeding heavier recently to see if that helps but no luck. For example I have 2 long polyp milli frags that the polyps now look like hardly anything. This was also happening before I changed the MH Pendant.

Fish consist of a Scopas tang and a green chromis.

Water Parameters
CA 420
Alk 10 DKH
Temp 79
PH 8.2
Sal 1.025

Lights 250W 14K Phoenix in a Lumenarc pendant 5 hours and 2 95W VHO 7 hours actinics

Any ideas?

 

[blackcloudmedia]

Personally I noticed my SPS polyps openning more since I upped my dosage of phytoplankton. I also moved them higher in the tank (under VHO's)

 

[Len]

Same thing happened in my tank. I thought it was my newly introduced dwarf angel, but then I did a water change and the polyps started to come back out. I think there's a lot of variables for polyp extension, but I can't pinpoint which they are. Adding food certainly encourages more polyp extension too.

 

[Unarce]

Have you checked what the PE's like a couple of hours after the tank and room has been pitch black?

 

[Anonymous]

I looked with a flashlight tonight. They look about the same. One coral though is showing more polyps out but the rest is no difference.

 

[Anonymous]

Check them before you go to work in the morning. I have one coral that takes a long time for the polyps to come out. Before I go to bed it is not much, but in the morning thay are really out.

 

[Unarce]

Can we rule out redbugs?

 

[Anonymous]

I dont see any. The Stylo looks fine of all the SPS.

 

[Ben1]

No new fish?

 

[Anonymous]

Watched that special on the coral reefs, and they say that polyps typically only come out at night, so the fact we've "trained" them to come out during the day is a bit of a difference from the norm. Check back after the lights are out to see if you have the polyps out, that might be a useful observation.

 

[Anonymous]

there are polyps out at night but for example I have a Acropora millepora that had long polyps that covered the structure. Now I see more structure than polyps. Most pictures I see of this coral have the long polyp extension. The corals also have gotten lighter.

No new fish - only the tang and the chromis

Am I not feeding the tank enough?

I have a 58G tank.

every other day

I add a 1/2 a cube of cyclops frozen

Description - All-natural single ingredient diet for fresh and saltwater fish, invertebrates & corals. Contains to no additives, preservatives or artificial colors. Easy pop out cube provides a pre-measured feeding portion.

1/4 cube of PrimeReef

Description - Natural blend of fresh, raw seafood formulated to meet the nutritional needs of marine tropical fish. Quality ingredients include shellfish such as shrimp, clams, scallops, squid, and lobster to create an exciting flavor that fish cannot resist! Provides an excellent source of pure marine protein essential for proper health and growth. Also contains algae, natural color enhancers, stabilized Vitamin C and other immune boosters to significantly improve coloration and vitality while aiding in disease resistance. Also great for freshwater tropical fish such as African Cichlids. 70 ct 1/2" frozen cubes

every other day
Some Nori for the tang.

and 2 TSP of Rotifeast everyday

 

[cyro]

if polyps are opening only at nigths maybe they dont like the ligths.
and maybe they are too close to eachother.
you can add plancton, elements and amino acids also.

 

[Anonymous]

Call me crazy but maybe the polyps aren't extended as much because you're feeding enough or too much? I would think that they would stretch out further as a result of needing more area to grab potential food items.

 

[Ben1]

Maybe its just alk/pH/mag fluctuations?

Have you checked mag. or how much your pH fluctuates during the day?

 

[Anonymous]

PH is usually 8.1-8.4

I have to test the mag - last time I checked a month or so ago it was 1350.

 

[Ben1]

I would also try shutting down any GFO you may be running like phosban, rowaphos, phoslock ect....

 

[Anonymous]

I don't run any of that or anything for that matter. Just a CA and a Kalk reactor.

I thought about trying some carbon though.

 

[Anonymous]

Did some testing this morning. Not that good.

Mag 1050
Alk 6.7
Ca 350

the Alk and CA are in balance but low.

Something changed in the past 3 weeks. As for the polyp extension I did notice it a month or so ago. Some of the corals with decreased polyp extension have turned lighter/pale.

 

[dnorton1978]

Have you checked Phosphates by chance. I have heard that certain levels of it can cause reduced polyp extension as well. Just a thought

 

[Anonymous]

Phosphates are 0.

The corals are getting paler as well. My guess 3 more frags will be gone in a month.

I just dont get it. The fact of no coraline is saying something as well.

Maybe I need to take a baseball bat to the tank.