reef snow help

[par]

Background: I've been using Reef Snow at night about once a week (approx.) But it says to use it after the lights are out and sweeper tentacles come out.

Problem: None of my corals "sweep." As many euphyllia as I have, they just don't sweep. Matter of fact, as soon as the lights go out, they shrink up.

Question: How am I suppose to use this stuff? Just turn everything off and go for it??

 

[Anthony Calfo]

Those are just general guidelines, my friend. The sweeper actually aren't even feeding structures. Just an indication that its nighttime and the lights have been out long enough in those that produce them. Other corals such as bubble (Pleroyro, Physogyra) you need to wait for the vessicles to retract (they don't eat chunky plankton any more than sweeper tentacles do).

Its just tough for the mfg to list every common coral structure...more people understand "sweeper" tentacle than any other common polyp structure.

Deep night is ideal. But just before you go to bed is simple enough, presuming your reef lights go off before that. No worries.

 

[Captain Nemo]

Also make sure you turn off the skimmer like th package says...

 

[Joost's reef]

Also make sure you turn off the skimmer like th package says...

Turning off the skimmer is the opposite of what you want to do, the skimmer is in most cases the only thing that keeps your pH up at night.

 

[drainbamage]

many corals have to retract their main flesh structure to actually put out their sweepers- turn lights out (and relative darkness in room) and come back after a few hours (yup, hours) with a red light of some sort, and you'll be surprised how many of them actually do sweep.

But Anthony hit the nail on the head (not surprisingly :tongue: ) that the instructions are just general guidelines at best.