Sps frags no longer have polyp extension, should I adjust LED intensity?

BPPmichigan · 12/20/2015, 08:40 PM

So I have 2 small branching acropora corals. Ones a small frag and the other is a little bigger, maybe 5 inches tall. I got them separately and initially each of them were doing amazing. The polyps where really extending out and they just looked very furry and heathy! Then one day last week, I came home and both lost all extension. Just a bunch of gaping holes where the polyps were coming out. I haven't seen the polyps now in a week. My LFS, the main guy I use for info, who has great experience with sps, says polyp extension doesn't mean anything and as long as they are still showing color you're good. What are your thoughts on this. I feel like these things can't be healthy. My calcium has been around 400. My magnesium was low and I adjusted that last week and haven't seen anything change. Everything else tests greet. My softies are all flourishing. I am running a AP700 on a 120g. The intensity was set at 80%. I thought maybe because the light could be not enough for a 48x24 tank, I bumped it to 100%. Please share your thoughts. I really want to try and keep sps around the top of my tank with soft corals around the bottom. I use seachem calcification for calcium, ions for magnesium, fuel for coral growth and the number 28 blocks to maintain everything. I would love some tips on the best way to get those polyps to come back out. Thank you for your help.

twon8 · 12/20/2015, 09:01 PM

What fish are in the tank and what is your alkalinity. Might want to run some carbon if you got a lot softies

BPPmichigan · 12/20/2015, 09:21 PM

My alkalinity was at 8.2. And I have green chromis, 2 perc clowns, a chevron tang and a lemon peel. I was thinking it could be the lemon peel but never really saw him pick at anything.

twon8 · 12/20/2015, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BPPmichigan

My alkalinity was at 8.2. And I have green chromis, 2 perc clowns, a chevron tang and a lemon peel. I was thinking it could be the lemon peel but never really saw him pick at anything.

I'd put money on it being the lemonpeel. They are notorious nippers

shortcake · 12/20/2015, 10:48 PM

I noticed when I increase the flow I get much better PE! Also maybe try dosing something like azox coral food. I use it and see great results! I like fuel, but I've had problems in the past with algae from it. Also I would check to see how the PE is at night because often PE will greatly increase at nighttime.

DiscusHeckel · 12/21/2015, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twon8

I'd put money on it being the lemonpeel. They are notorious nippers

As ^^^.

sahin · 12/21/2015, 04:23 AM

Its the lemonpeel...

BPPmichigan · 12/21/2015, 05:28 PM

Wow I think you guys are right. Just left my LFS and talked to my sps guy. Told him about what you guys said Bout the Lemonpeel. He said "yeah they will for sure pick at sps, why did you put a Lemonpeel in there" and I immediately snapped back "YOU SOLD IT TO ME!" He apparently forgot I wanted to do sps and thought I was justo doing soft corals. So job that being said... Any suggestion on how to get a Lemonpeel out of my tank?

itz frank · 12/21/2015, 08:55 PM

Dynamite is the quickest solution.

nemodan · 12/21/2015, 10:36 PM

Look for DIY fish traps or commercial ones.

twon8 · 12/21/2015, 11:01 PM

A net and some food works if you have quick wrists.

It's likely irritating the acros but not hurting them. In nature they are rarely polyped out during the day.

SpSChief85 · 12/22/2015, 02:38 AM

I agree on the angel, when I converted from softies to sps afew years back, I had the same issue, once I removed the coral beauty it was night and day difference, in the whole year or so I watched my tank religiously trying to see him nip at the sps corals and never saw it, and one day I was walking by stopped and glared and low and behold he was nipping at a strawberry shortcake frag I had just added afew days before, so a quick note... just because you don't see it doesn't mean it's not happening.

Johnyman · 12/22/2015, 09:29 AM

I have the same issue, my regal angel can´t see a PE!! It´s like a candy for him!!! But i love him so...

robbous · 12/22/2015, 09:45 AM

i have this same issue in my 500 gallon display where 95% of my corals are SPS acro's none of them have polyp extension. i have a few angels and a butterfly fish and have seen them nip the corals but ya know what i love the colors of the acro's and i love all my fish so i just deal with the non PE. that way i can have both. bid deal that there is no PE my corals are healthy and grow.

btb72 · 12/22/2015, 01:18 PM

Inverted Coke bottle worked great for a flame and coral beauty

BPPmichigan · 12/23/2015, 10:43 AM

Thanks guys, all great info. The old fashion food and quick wrist method worked. Put flake food on the surface waited until he got close, scooped him up and threw him in my sump temporarily. Taking him to the LFS today and maybe get a couple yellow anthias or blue surgeon to replace the color. Do you think the polyp extension will come back?

twon8 · 12/23/2015, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BPPmichigan

Thanks guys, all great info. The old fashion food and quick wrist method worked. Put flake food on the surface waited until he got close, scooped him up and threw him in my sump temporarily. Taking him to the LFS today and maybe get a couple yellow anthias or blue surgeon to replace the color. Do you think the polyp extension will come back?

Yes. In a few days or weeks

sahin · 12/27/2015, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BPPmichigan

Thanks guys, all great info. The old fashion food and quick wrist method worked. Put flake food on the surface waited until he got close, scooped him up and threw him in my sump temporarily. Taking him to the LFS today and maybe get a couple yellow anthias or blue surgeon to replace the color. Do you think the polyp extension will come back?

Yes, the PE comes back. Took a few days on my tank, but its was crazy, as soon as one acro got PE, all the rest followed within hours.

12/20/2015, 08:40 PM	#1
BPPmichigan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Michigan Posts: 13	Sps frags no longer have polyp extension, should I adjust LED intensity? So I have 2 small branching acropora corals. Ones a small frag and the other is a little bigger, maybe 5 inches tall. I got them separately and initially each of them were doing amazing. The polyps where really extending out and they just looked very furry and heathy! Then one day last week, I came home and both lost all extension. Just a bunch of gaping holes where the polyps were coming out. I haven't seen the polyps now in a week. My LFS, the main guy I use for info, who has great experience with sps, says polyp extension doesn't mean anything and as long as they are still showing color you're good. What are your thoughts on this. I feel like these things can't be healthy. My calcium has been around 400. My magnesium was low and I adjusted that last week and haven't seen anything change. Everything else tests greet. My softies are all flourishing. I am running a AP700 on a 120g. The intensity was set at 80%. I thought maybe because the light could be not enough for a 48x24 tank, I bumped it to 100%. Please share your thoughts. I really want to try and keep sps around the top of my tank with soft corals around the bottom. I use seachem calcification for calcium, ions for magnesium, fuel for coral growth and the number 28 blocks to maintain everything. I would love some tips on the best way to get those polyps to come back out. Thank you for your help.

12/20/2015, 09:01 PM	#2
twon8 Formally registered membe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: slightly sw of richmond, va Posts: 5,920	What fish are in the tank and what is your alkalinity. Might want to run some carbon if you got a lot softies __________________ Anthony Richmond Reef Club "and as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention." Not building a wall but making a brick Current Tank Info: 300g DD display, 60g frag tank

12/21/2015, 11:01 PM	#11
twon8 Formally registered membe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: slightly sw of richmond, va Posts: 5,920	Sps frags no longer have polyp extension, should I adjust LED intensity? A net and some food works if you have quick wrists. It's likely irritating the acros but not hurting them. In nature they are rarely polyped out during the day. __________________ Anthony Richmond Reef Club "and as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention." Not building a wall but making a brick Current Tank Info: 300g DD display, 60g frag tank

12/22/2015, 09:29 AM	#13
Johnyman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lisbon/Portugal Posts: 219	I have the same issue, my regal angel can´t see a PE!! It´s like a candy for him!!! But i love him so... __________________ Best regards João Current Tank Info: 90G SPS Reef Tank

12/22/2015, 09:45 AM	#14
robbous Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 284	i have this same issue in my 500 gallon display where 95% of my corals are SPS acro's none of them have polyp extension. i have a few angels and a butterfly fish and have seen them nip the corals but ya know what i love the colors of the acro's and i love all my fish so i just deal with the non PE. that way i can have both. bid deal that there is no PE my corals are healthy and grow. __________________ New Hampshire USA Current Tank Info: 500 Gallon display tank 200 gallon basement sump

12/20/2015, 09:21 PM	#3
BPPmichigan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Michigan Posts: 13	My alkalinity was at 8.2. And I have green chromis, 2 perc clowns, a chevron tang and a lemon peel. I was thinking it could be the lemon peel but never really saw him pick at anything.

12/20/2015, 10:48 PM	#5
shortcake Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 66	I noticed when I increase the flow I get much better PE! Also maybe try dosing something like azox coral food. I use it and see great results! I like fuel, but I've had problems in the past with algae from it. Also I would check to see how the PE is at night because often PE will greatly increase at nighttime.

12/21/2015, 04:23 AM	#7
sahin Ultimate Reefer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 8,540	Its the lemonpeel...

12/21/2015, 05:28 PM	#8
BPPmichigan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Michigan Posts: 13	Wow I think you guys are right. Just left my LFS and talked to my sps guy. Told him about what you guys said Bout the Lemonpeel. He said "yeah they will for sure pick at sps, why did you put a Lemonpeel in there" and I immediately snapped back "YOU SOLD IT TO ME!" He apparently forgot I wanted to do sps and thought I was justo doing soft corals. So job that being said... Any suggestion on how to get a Lemonpeel out of my tank?

12/21/2015, 08:55 PM	#9
itz frank Gives Bad Advice. Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL Posts: 2,168	Dynamite is the quickest solution.

12/21/2015, 10:36 PM	#10
nemodan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Westford, MA Posts: 1,063	Look for DIY fish traps or commercial ones.

12/22/2015, 02:38 AM	#12
SpSChief85 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 172	I agree on the angel, when I converted from softies to sps afew years back, I had the same issue, once I removed the coral beauty it was night and day difference, in the whole year or so I watched my tank religiously trying to see him nip at the sps corals and never saw it, and one day I was walking by stopped and glared and low and behold he was nipping at a strawberry shortcake frag I had just added afew days before, so a quick note... just because you don't see it doesn't mean it's not happening.

12/22/2015, 01:18 PM	#15
btb72 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: KY Posts: 657	Inverted Coke bottle worked great for a flame and coral beauty

12/23/2015, 10:43 AM	#16
BPPmichigan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Michigan Posts: 13	Thanks guys, all great info. The old fashion food and quick wrist method worked. Put flake food on the surface waited until he got close, scooped him up and threw him in my sump temporarily. Taking him to the LFS today and maybe get a couple yellow anthias or blue surgeon to replace the color. Do you think the polyp extension will come back?