Monti White Light Sensitivity?

[ReeferWarrant]

So I’m trying SPS for the first time and got a couple frags of Montipora from a friend. I notice in the morning with the blues on the polyps are fully extended, but once whites come on it recedes. Is this normal?

Currently battling Nitrate and Phosphates, so I know those are an issue.

415ppmCa
8.7Alk
1260ppmMg
8.0 pH
10 ppm Nitrates
.25 Phosphates

 

[Spare time]

If the white is too strong it could be closing up. Try turning the white down. What light do you have?

 

[ReeferWarrant]

@Spare time, Steve Turbo LED upgrade for a 32 Biocube. Below are my settings. I have whites at 5% and blues at 40%

 

[Spare time]

I doubt that is too much light unless it is right under a diode. How high up is it in your tank?

PS your nitrate is not bad at all. Consider using waste away gel to bring them down to where you'd like if you are having trouble.

 

[ReeferWarrant]

They were showing under 40 ppm on a color kit so that’s after a 30% and 10% WC consecutive days.

Middle of the tank on the left glass in a rack, power head aimed at them across the way.

 

[Spare time]

Hmm well then I highly doubt it is a light issue. Do the polyps seem extended before the blue comes on? It might just be extended from night when it was attemtping to feed.

 

[ReeferWarrant]

Yeah they are all fully extended at night, I’ve been adding phytoplankton. Just figured the polyps would be out photosynthesizing during the day too. Should this be a concern? I want to get the whites back up so my fish have a normal day pattern again.

 

[Spare time]

Yeah they are all fully extended at night, I’ve been adding phytoplankton. Just figured the polyps would be out photosynthesizing during the day too. Should this be a concern? I want to get the whites back up so my fish have a normal day pattern again.

It should be no problem! Just change the white slowly and its fine.