Sps Not Lively

[brick-brothers]

I have an 300g sps dominant tank. (72x36x27). I have 4 mp40's (2 on each side wall) which all is running on reefcrest mode. I'm noticing that my sps doesn't show alot of polyp extensions. Could it be I have to much flow? 1 of the pix is my flow chart.

Sal - .025
Cal - 430
Alk - 9
Mag - 1350
Phos - .02
Nitrate - 2.1

 

[homer1475]

Fish stock list?

 

[Jminasalli]

I don’t think it’s from flow I have a 5x2x2 tank and for flow I’m running 4-mp40s on the back wall at 65% reef crest and then two gyre 350s on the side ways at 70% random

 

[ScottB]

I suffer from the same lack of PE and have trolled around for an explanation for months. Most blame my coral beauty. My sticks grow like crazy but very little PE.

Disney:

 

[amazongb]

In the words of Dr. Sanjay Joshi "I don't care about PE". Do you see PE when the lights are off? That's what counts. However, I do have nice PE during the day. But if I told you what I'm doing, there's no guarantee it's going to work for you - but I'll add it here anyway. Random flow - nice pulsing randomness - create a confusing wave pattern. When I feed the fish, I mix a little Selcon and a little Coral Labs Polyp Booster with my food and let it soak. Fish love it, corals love it. My params are: N03=10, P04=.22, Mag=1350, CA=420, Kh=8.3. That said, don't do what I do because it might not work for you. I do 20% water change every two weeks.

Again, this might not work for you, but through time I've been able to work out what my tank and its inhabitants seem to like.

 

[jda]

As others have said, don't worry about PE unless it is just nonexistent, even at night, or you have abrupt changes. The polyps only need to be used for gas exchange, but they can be out for other things too. In some cases, lots of PE can be really bad - like too much ammonia in the water, too little flow or other things where the coral cannot exchange gas very well. When you don't have much, it is usually when the lights are on and respiration is already easier with the zoox and the corals is not risking having them out more. I don't get much PE on most corals. Look to color and growth as better indicators of health.

You could have too much flow, but probably not. If the branches are thin and wispy or the colony is short, stout and fat, then maybe... but this is not too likely. A better indicator is if the fish are all skinny and never grow since they have to spend so much energy swimming around.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

I have an 300g sps dominant tank. (72x36x27). I have 4 mp40's (2 on each side wall) which all is running on reefcrest mode. I'm noticing that my sps doesn't show alot of polyp extensions. Could it be I have to much flow? 1 of the pix is my flow chart.

Sal - .025
Cal - 430
Alk - 9
Mag - 1350
Phos - .02
Nitrate - 2.1

You didn’t mention your lighting. Phosphates and nitrates could be brought up a little IMO. Flow seems fine to me