Millepora Polyps

[charlie1225]

I have a question for anyone that can help. The more pictures I see of Milleporas, the more I feel mine aren't normal. I have receive Millepora frags from numerous MR members and when I received them, the polyps were long and waving. Weeks or months later, polyps are still showing, but much shorter. Does anyone know why this occurs in my tank? Water parameters are as follows:

SG: 1.025
pH: Between 8.30 and 8.45
Calcium: 390
kH: 3.5
Phosphates: Undetectable
Nitrate: 0.5ppm

That's all I really test for.

 

[jackson6745]

I have experienced the same thing over the years. I've noticed the originating tanks fed their fish more than me. Also when AEFW infested my millis PE was poor. I would definitely do a dip for AEFW's. It's hard to see the classic bite marks on millis

 

[jerl77]

what lights you have?

 

[NYreefNoob]

or red bugs

 

[salt-rookie]

Your alkalinity is a bit low, should be in a range between 7-11 dKH. My millies are huge and have PE that looks like hsircuts in the 1960's I do feed golden pearls a couple of times a week, but skim agressively when I feed. I do this so the foos "passes through" the water column. Millies are also generally the first to be hit by polyp nippers. What fish do you have? Are you watching for nipping? Then there is always nocturnal nipping. Do you have Red Bugs? That could account for the reduction of PE. Take some macro shots, download them to your computer and zoom in. They look like Chickenpox. I hope this helps.

 

[charlie1225]

Hey guys, thanks for the replies. I had eliminated Red Bugs as a possibility as I don't think I have them and I also don't think they affect Millepora's. I may look into the Alk. As for the livestock in my tank:

Hippo Tang
Yellow Tang
Green Chromis
Bengaii Cardinals
Purple Firefish
False Percula Clowns
Purple Pseudochromis

Any other ideas?

 

[charlie1225]

Jerl, I also forgot to mention, for lighting, I use Solaris LEDs at 10-12 hours along with MH 150w at five hours a day.

 

[reefman]

aefw, low ca/alk , flow, bugs, ph, po4, just a few factors that affects pe.
recession usually follows.

 

[jejton]

What temperature is your tank?

 

[charlie1225]

I use an Aquacontroller 3 to keep it about 77.7 to 78.0. It's been pretty consistent thus far. Maybe Alk is the main culprit? I'm still messing around with my Calcium reactor.