No polyp extension during the day

[hafer12]

Hey everyone, fairly new to sps. Had my 75g sps tank going about 9 months, im getting growth and finally getting some color. My question is why do I never have any polyp extension during the day time. I always broadcast feed oyster feast and fuel at night, because the PE is the best. Do I need to trick the corals and feed during the day to possibly reverse the feeding pattern? Or is it a parameter problem.

1.025
No3- 2 max
Po4- .01
ca- 420
dkh- 7.5
mag-1340

Thanks, Matt

 

[kennedpa]

Don't worry about it now. A lot of SPS need to mature and actually grow polyps to a larger size before it really becomes noticeable. There isn't giant polyps in there hiding waiting for just the right sweet spot. It also depends on the coral. Some like stags (very broad statement) don't have big polyps and sometimes don't display them much at all. Sounds like you've got your water maintenance and stability down now if your getting growth and color. Just be patient and they'll grow/reveal themselves when they're ready. Broadcast feeding isn't bad, but be careful. If this is a new thing you're doing you don't want to throw off the nutrient balance right when you just found the sweet spot for growth. Color and polyps will follow.

FWIW, some polyps are mostly nocturnal too, like my vivids colony I just got, I noticed that it hasn't grown all its polyps out yet, but the tips have large polyps only visible at night, and normally the colony has small polyps about its surface too. So this could be something you're noticing also. In contrast, my other corals and especially my RMF biohazard has polyps that look like they're morbidly obese flying around all day.

 

[hafer12]

Don't worry about it now. A lot of SPS need to mature and actually grow polyps to a larger size before it really becomes noticeable. There isn't giant polyps in there hiding waiting for just the right sweet spot. It also depends on the coral. Some like stags (very broad statement) don't have big polyps and sometimes don't display them much at all. Sounds like you've got your water maintenance and stability down now if your getting growth and color. Just be patient and they'll grow/reveal themselves when they're ready. Broadcast feeding isn't bad, but be careful. If this is a new thing you're doing you don't want to throw off the nutrient balance right when you just found the sweet spot for growth. Color and polyps will follow.

FWIW, some polyps are mostly nocturnal too, like my vivids colony I just got, I noticed that it hasn't grown all its polyps out yet, but the tips have large polyps only visible at night, and normally the colony has small polyps about its surface too. So this could be something you're noticing also. In contrast, my other corals and especially my RMF biohazard has polyps that look like they're morbidly obese flying around all day.

I was only feeding once a week and couldn't figure out why all my corals like to turn white, figured it out it was a lack of nutrients issues so I started broadcast feeding about 3 times a week. Finally getting some color and I couldn't be more excited. Not to mention I bought new Radion gen 3 non pros for this tank ( my last two tanks had current orbit LEDs) massive learning curve

 

[kennedpa]

Ah gotcha. Yeah, I run mine around 10-15. Even if I get corals that brown I know they'll adjust and be hardier. Colors are good too.

I have three kinds of lighting, and I will say that even the black boxes if ran right can grow SPS well.

Keep it up!

 

[hafer12]

Ah gotcha. Yeah, I run mine around 10-15. Even if I get corals that brown I know they'll adjust and be hardier. Colors are good too.

I have three kinds of lighting, and I will say that even the black boxes if ran right can grow SPS well.

Keep it up!

I actually have my XR 30s up to 50% but I'm running there sps AB+ schedule that I tweaked for a better sunrise and sunset and I think it peaks at 32%

 

[kennedpa]

I have two G4P over a 40 breeder at 20" off water and corals 12" under running 80% each. I don't do sunrise sunset. Its on or off. If halides can do that so can LEDs IMO. I also run AB+. You'll get a million answers on this. All depends on height, water clarity, placement in the tank, clearly your's is working. My only advice, don't test how high you can go unless you can measure par. It's easy to over light. If it's not broken, let it be.

 

[hafer12]

Oh definitely I don't plan on turning them up any higher anytime soon I'm only using the Ecotech RMS mounts so my lights are nearly 10 inches off the water

 

[kennedpa]

Cool, they're nice but I was trying to mimic the report that led to the AB+ program. I just can't get two feet. I literally have the lights mounted in the floor joices :D

 

[hafer12]

 

[hafer12]

Just got the doors on today!

 

[hafer12]

Cool, they're nice but I was trying to mimic the report that led to the AB+ program. I just can't get two feet. I literally have the lights mounted in the floor joices :D

Just recess them into the ceiling like can lights! lol

 

[kennedpa]

It's in the non-finished half of the basement. I need to finish it for dust reasons but it'll be like that. This is what's up now.

 

[kennedpa]

Just got the doors on today!

Nice! Looking awesome.

 

[hafer12]

Nice! Looking awesome.

Thank you!