increasing light, stems still growing

[Hoopster81]

http://imgur.com/a/ULpNZ

When I got this red zoa (paly?) four months ago, the polyps did not have stems. It was my first coral, and it is in a JBJ 5 gallon w/ an AI prime (mounted 8" above water line). When I got it, I was worried about the light being too strong, so I started it out pretty low (blues in the 30s). I have since gradually increased the lighting to: blues ~80, white ~10, red/green 0, max photo period 3 hours, 2.5 hour ramp. I recently moved it to a higher location in the tank, but it has not made an immediate difference.

Water params are all in range besides nitrates which are 20-40, so I have recently been upping the water changes. It sits below a koralia 240 and receives light-medium flow (sways like a soft breeze).

Max photo period too short? I will try increasing it to 4 hours, with 2 hour ramp. Any other ideas? Thanks.

[RooKi3]

Give it more time to acclimate to the new light settings. You are on the right path by moving it higher and raising intensity slowly.

In the past, when I have ran into the long neck issue was because they wanted more light. Take it slow and try to find the money spot without rushing.

[jayball]

If you are only running your lights for 8 hours total you can bump that up too. Just be sure you make no more than 1-2 small changes a week.

[organism]

2.5 hour ramp is crazy long, even 1.5 hour would be pretty long... They're not getting much light at all basically, I'd try shortening the ramp period incrementally since that's likely why they're still stretching.

[Hoopster81]

OK, thanks guys. I will start cutting down that ramp time.

[Jone]

most cases when the zoas /palys stretch is 2 reasons,,lighting is too low or flow is too low,,its easier to see if flow is the problem,,if your polyps are open fully then most cases its flow being too low..start with increasing flow more,,youd be surprised how much flow they really need..

[SIR PATRICK]

+1 on flow, if its not the light.

[Hoopster81]

Alright, I'll find a spot with better flow and continue to gradually increase the light

[Jone]

skip the light topic til you try the flow topic,,do one thing at a time,,so you know what the actual problem is or was..

[SIR PATRICK]

skip the light topic til you try the flow topic,,do one thing at a time,,so you know what the actual problem is or was..

Excellent advice.

[Hoopster81]

I haven't increased the light since moving them to a spot with more flow. It seems like they are shrinking a little bit, but it has only been a couple of days.

However, I just looked into my dark tank before bed and I saw a small asterina starfish wrapped around one of the (closed) polyps. I was able to get him off. I guess I'll see if that polyp opens up tomorrow. Thoughts?

[Hoopster81]

Ah, I just saw the other thread on asterinas. I believe all of mine are the white variety.

[SIR PATRICK]

Was it blue grey in color, or off whitish?

Typically, asterinas that are white are reef safe, and those bluish grey are coral eaters- but there are exceptions to the rule.

Did you remove it? I would remove it, just in case. Better safe than sorry.

[Hoopster81]

mine all appear to be whitish which is why I was suprised

unfortunately after I popped it off the polyp it fell into the rock work and I couldn't retrieve it