SPS Polyp Extension

[vanceny]

Just wondering how much extension some of you are getting. I've seen in some pics (jhale) the extension is amazing. I'm not getting very much. For a time I was dosing Vitamin C based on a thread I read but that was for zoa's. I did get some extsion during this period. Otherwise the extension is minimal.

Ca = 420
Alk = 10
SG = 1.027
Ph = 8.3
Temp = 78*
Flow = 4 maxijet 900 mods + quiet one return (~400gph)
Tek lighting 6 x 54W - actinics 9 hrs + daylight bulbs 7 hrs.

Am I missing anything?

 

[vanceny]

BTW - its only for the acro's and the milli. My monti and birdsnests all have polyp extension.

 

[ellebelle]

I have a lot of extension, but I think it's possible its because I don't have enough flow.

 

[vanceny]

Less flow? I always thought for sps we wanted high flow. I guess every tank is different. My sps is growing fine and the colors are nice as well. Just no polyp extension. :happysad:

 

[Deanos]

There was a thread in the Coral Farming forum about this very subject. Let me try to sum it up

Different acropora species will exhibit different polyp extension during different times of the day based on how much flow they are getting (or not getting) taking into account how much food they sense in the water considering the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate/phosphate levels. Add parasitic inverts (AEFW & red bugs) to polyp picking fish multiplied by lighting intensity and temperature and one can guess how much PE they should be getting.

p.s. Polyp extension is exaggerated in many macro photos

 

[jackson6745]

Could be a fish or invert nipping at the corals?

How is the SPS survival rate in your tank? How long before you grow a film of algae on the front glass? Is there green algae on the portion of the glass that you can't clean?

 

[vanceny]

I'd say it takes about 3-5 days for the glass to get covered and there are parts that I cant clean. As for nippers, I do have a yellow clown goby but I've never seen it nip.

 

[jackson6745]

That fish maybe nipping when you're not looking.

3-5 days and the front pane of glass is mostly covered with a brown film?

What about the spaces that you can't reach? Is there green algae on the glass?

 

[vanceny]

Its not that bad. Its a light green film. I can see through it. I have tested for phosphates using the salifert and it came up zero. I know that may not be accurate but its the only test I have.

I feed 2x per day with flake and pellets from a feeder. The food is gone is less than 30 sec. Sometimes I'll do an extra feeding of frozen grub or nori.

 

[charile1]

What?s the correlation between algae on the glass and polyp extension? Is this your way to check phosphates levels? Also, what?s the difference between have brown algae or green algae on the glass? (besides color ) I?m a noob.

 

[vanceny]

I think that's what jackson was trying to get at regarding the algea and phosphates but I'm not sure.

 

[autoponicz]

thats funny...my polyp extension is good....but just lacking the intense coloration...

 

[autoponicz]

ever check your MG?

 

[vanceny]

yep - its at 1250

 

[jackson6745]

I was getting at your phosphate level, although this is probably not the reason for a lack of PE. IME if a coral is "tight" when in other reefs in is usually pretty hairy, it is not in the greatest health.
From your description I would say you have high phosphates. You should run some phosban or change it if you are already running some.

Check out Phol's Coral Vitalizer. It is one of the Zeovit supplements to increase PE. It works! Make sure your phosphates are low before using it though.

As for your Salifert Po4 testkit, send it back to the company with a note saying you want your money back for a useless product

 

[vanceny]

Thanks. I'll change the phosban tonight. I got the sps as frags and its always been this way. Not sure how they were in the previous tank.

 

[jackson6745]

Charlie, I use the algae growth to know approx what my phosphate level. If there is any green algae on the glass your phosphate is high. If a brown film grows in < 5 days phosphate is too high. If you get a Hanna PO4 meter you will see the correlation.

 

[charile1]

Thanks. My phosphate are too high.

 

[ellebelle]

Less flow? I always thought for sps we wanted high flow. I guess every tank is different. My sps is growing fine and the colors are nice as well. Just no polyp extension. :happysad:

they do want high flow. I have a couple of corals where I think the polyps are OVER extended. I read that that can happen when the flow is too low and corals are having trouble "breathing".

 

[vanceny]

Thanks. My phosphate are too high.

If his phosphates are high why is he still getting PE?