Acro polyp extension

[JCH]

Hey reefers , question about my acro polyps .I don’t have any polyps extension during the day when my lights are cranking . I have a 48 inch by 30 inch tank with 2 radion G6 pro xr30s at 70% and 1 G6 blue xr15 at 80% . My macros are 15 inches below the light. Is this the reason being to much light or am I missing something else? The polyps come out for just a short time in the morning when the lights are ramping up. Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[TX_REEF]

Maybe try tuning the lights down a bit and see how they respond after a week or so?

Par readings would be helpful if you have them, anything over 300 may be overkill and cause them to hide.

 

[Miami Reef]

It’s possible you might have a fish that nips the polyps during the day.

What’s your fish list?

 

[anthonymckay]

Sometimes it's a flow issue. Another thing that can cause this are pests. White bugs are a very common acro pest that cause poor PE. Easily and safely treatable in-tank with Interceptor though.

 

[Reefer Matt]

Try checking at night. Some acros extend more when the lights are out.

 

[Faurek]

Its Hard to get par with those lights, how did you start the tank, how old is it and nutrient level?

 

[JCH]

Maybe try tuning the lights down a bit and see how they respond after a week or so?

Par readings would be helpful if you have them, anything over 300 may be overkill and cause them to hide.

Yeah we’re thinking alike I turned the lights down to 60% . I’ll see if that makes a difference. Don’t have a par meter. It’s on the list of new toys I want.

 

[TX_REEF]

Yeah we’re thinking alike I turned the lights down to 60% . I’ll see if that makes a difference. Don’t have a par meter. It’s on the list of new toys I want.

good call, I'd give it a solid 2 weeks to adjust and observe before you make any other changes.

BTW, this is the PAR meter I use, it's relatively affordable and plug and play with any laptop via USB. you can buy it without the wand, which is what I did at first, but having the wand makes it so much easier to use than stretching your arm down while trying to look at the readout on the laptop: https://amzn.to/4ivQuAw

 

[JCH]

Its Hard to get par with those lights, how did you start the tank, how old is it and nutrient level?

The tank 10 months old . Nitrate runs around 20 and phosphate runs 0.05 . I know that’s kinda high but every thing is growing and looks good

 

[anthonymckay]

The tank 10 months old . Nitrate runs around 20 and phosphate runs 0.05 . I know that’s kinda high but every thing is growing and looks good

20 is not high at all

 

[JCH]

It’s possible you might have a fish that nips the polyps during the day.

What’s your fish list?

I have a flame angel but he doesn’t nip . I feed heavy so don’t see acros getting nipped

 

[JCH]

Sometimes it's a flow issue. Another thing that can cause this are pests. White bugs are a very common acro pest that cause poor PE. Easily and safely treatable in-tank with Interceptor though.

Would I see those bugs? I have a Melanarus wrasse and a Timor wrasse I believe they keep across clean don’t they?

 

[JCH]

good call, I'd give it a solid 2 weeks to adjust and observe before you make any other changes.

BTW, this is the PAR meter I use, it's relatively affordable and plug and play with any laptop via USB. you can buy it without the wand, which is what I did at first, but having the wand makes it so much easier to use than stretching your arm down while trying to look at the readout on the laptop: https://amzn.to/4ivQuAw

I’ll check them out. I see a selection on Amazon as well

 

[anthonymckay]

Would I see those bugs? I have a Melanarus wrasse and a Timor wrasse I believe they keep across clean don’t they?

They're pretty tiny. The bugs can often be down in the base of the polyps out of site.

 

[moosevandyke]

where have you gotten your acres from? Do you dip and QT? As said above there are a lot of bugs going around one being grey, black or red bugs you can google treating with interceptor its very safe and effective.

 

[JCH]

where have you gotten your acres from? Do you dip and QT? As said above there are a lot of bugs going around one being grey, black or red bugs you can google treating with interceptor its very safe and effective.

Get the acros at various places most are from WWC and coral stop in Chicago and a couple sellers at shows. I do dip but no QT tank . Funny though my malenarus and Timor wrasse come and check out the acros as soon as I put them in . Makes me wonder if they know something I don’t ?

 

[Faurek]

The tank 10 months old . Nitrate runs around 20 and phosphate runs 0.05 . I know that’s kinda high but every thing is growing and looks good

I would keep nitrate where it is, maybe phosphate I would go up, what do you normally feed the tank and pumps?
Good water movement leads to more pe, as well as feeding meaty and particle foods.

 

[JCH]

Well it’s a mixed reef , so I try to find that happy medium . But 2 mp40’s are blowing opposite ends across the acros but only running at 25% because I don’t want to blast the torches and hammers to hard . And also 2 Nero 5’s on the back running at 40% and 2 siccie 6.0 return pumps blowing across the top at 50%. Yeah they get meaty foods and reef chili and reef roids mixed in every day along with reef energy AB and some phyto. Plus my big fat tangs are constantly popping along with all the other fish. So, idk ? I cut the lights back a little gonna see if that makes a difference because I do see the polyps early morning when they come on but then they retract when the lights ramp up.

 

[Reefer Matt]

I do see the polyps early morning when they come on but then they retract when the lights ramp up.

That is normal in many cases. Not all acros fully extend during the day.

 

[JCH]

Huh , maybe I shouldn’t sweat it then? They look good otherwise. Perhaps I watch too many YouTube videos? lol !