Acropora millepora question

[dvmsn]

I have five inch colony of acropora millepora which I have had for about a year. It is a brown morph. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas why it does have the fussy tentacle appearance that is characteristic of the species. It is placed directly under a 175 watt 10000 K German bulb, approximately 9 inches from the bulb. I have a thirty with a twenty gal sump. The only filtration employed is live rock and a plenum system. I have several other species of "sps" in the tank. All seen to be happy and exhibit good polyp extension. The A. Millepora seems happy otherwise and is growing, albeit at a slower rate than is typical for the species. All other "sps" grow relatively fast. The tank is nine years old and very stable. I also have lps and softies in the tank. It is in a area of medium current and no soft corals are within 8 inches of it.

 

[Reef Guy11]

It should work Try it, It seem when i stick any Acros directly under my 250 watts they grow really good So it should do it wonders it may not extend it polyps for a few days, but they will come out also try to put it lower directly under it and one a week move it up cause i remember Some one saying to me that if you but them directly under and to close at once you can shock the Coral and it may die SO do it do it slowly.

 

[dvmsn]

Thank you for replying. It is already directly under the lamp. Are you suggesting moving it to lower light and then moving it back?

 

[newkie]

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas why it does have the fussy tentacle appearance that is characteristic of the species.

I'm confused, are you wondering why milleopora's polyps extend the way they do or did you mean to saw you are not noticing much polyp extension?

 

[dvmsn]

I'm sorry. Not enough polyp extension.

 

[O P Ing]

hi.
My personal opinion is that most people placed too much emphasis on certain characteristic like "polyp extension." As long as it grows well, and appear in good health, then it is fine if it does not "behave" like its mother colony.

Some of my A. millipora have polyp extension of 1/4 inch, and I have seem longer one elsewhere. But the very same colony can be dead the following day, while a "shorty" is still alive and well.

I am sure some of the people down in The Sump can come with similarity of this thread with something tasteless... :wink:

 

[npaden]

I have a very hairy acropora that could be a millepora species. It extends it's polyps more than any SPS coral I've ever seen. I have given/sold several frags of it and for most people they get good polyp extension, but for one guy his SPS just doesn't extend their polyps - even this coral doesn't. They grow fine and his tank is awesome, the corals just don't extend their polyps. I think it could have something to do with DOC in the water as our tanks are very similar in terms of lighting and water flow but his tank stays imaculate with no nusiance algae anywhere and mine has some hair algae in spots.

Here is my favorite pic of the hairy acropora I'm talking about.

FWIW, Nathan

 

[SilverDucati]

Do you have any fish that like to "park" on it? I have a serveral SPS corals, and my wife loves the coral gobies. The SPS that they inhabit never have great polyp extension. I think they are to blame. Could be other types of fish as well, i.e. blennie or hawks that like to rest on things. Just a thought.

 

[dvmsn]

I think that the observation about POC might be accurate. I also have a very low nutrient level tank.

 

[damicodric]

dv,

can't speak for the rest of the folks, but most of my acros while all doing great and looking beautiful, extend polyps significantly more at night than during the day.

as long as they are healthy and growing, they can extend their polyps whenever the heck they want to.

borneman and sprung have commented on this too in various articles.

good luck.

 

[clwnphish]

hows the flow? my milles will only fully extend if they have some nice currents swaying their polyps.