What is the Trick to Get SPS Polyp Extension During the Day?
- Thread starter cumbeje
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Feed regularly during the day and unless you have something that picks on them, they'll start opening up at your feeding time. I randomly feed day and night, so I have pretty continuous polyp extension.
Corals are creatures of habit, so just get them on a cycle.
Corals are creatures of habit, so just get them on a cycle.
Yeah, start with very light feeding (like just a few food particles) until they start putting out feeders then give a standard feeding. A couple weeks and they should be on your schedule.
chipmunkofdoom2
Always Making Something
In the wild, corals naturally keep their polyps in during the day to avoid predation. In captivity, corals typically learn that it's safe to extend polyps during the day and usually do so after they become used to their new environment. All you can really do is provide good water quality and wait.
It's worth noting that in almost all circumstances, corals in captivity do not need supplemental feeding to survive. Supplemental feedings may optimize health and growth, but they are certainly not required.
It's worth noting that in almost all circumstances, corals in captivity do not need supplemental feeding to survive. Supplemental feedings may optimize health and growth, but they are certainly not required.
mpsteve
Active Member
Don’t use filter socks and stuff like that. You want all those unwanted particals flowing in the water. Corals love that stuff. I don’t run a skimmer or any mechanical filtration for that matter. Locals always say I have the best polyp ext they have seen besides pictures online
Only corals that are hungry will risk PE to feed. The most common use is for gas exchange, which is at night.
You can/will do more harm than good chasing PE. Look to growth and color for better indications of health... but also notice if a traditionally hairy coral (Millepora, some of the Tenius, etc), have stopped having PE because that can be a warning sign.
If you are looking at TOTM or vendor type of photos, they will use boxes with stationary water, or turn off all of their pumps when taking photographs. Less water movement means more PE for gas exchange.
You can/will do more harm than good chasing PE. Look to growth and color for better indications of health... but also notice if a traditionally hairy coral (Millepora, some of the Tenius, etc), have stopped having PE because that can be a warning sign.
If you are looking at TOTM or vendor type of photos, they will use boxes with stationary water, or turn off all of their pumps when taking photographs. Less water movement means more PE for gas exchange.
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Question to all of you who have seen good PE during the day. Does nightly water flow versus daily water flow differ?
bubbaque
Follow me on Instagram @ Bubbaquecorals
I feel I have good day time polyps and I don't change flow ever.
I'm running 2x gyre 250s that are programmed on the oceanic gyre mode which is random but intensities mimic tidal changes in intensity. So, my flow is variable throughout the day, but there is no real reduction in intensity. I attribute my PE to the fact that my auto feeder broadcast feeds oyster feast and R.O.E several times throughout the day and night.
chipmunkofdoom2
Always Making Something
No change in flow here. I use the same random flow settings 24/7. The only time the polyps are not extended is when I blow algae or debris off the corals, or when inverts are bothering them.
I do slow my pumps down at night. The wave box keeps going, but I just use the light sensor on the Tunze controller to sense when the sun is not out and it slows the pumps down. I do not know if the coral care, but the fish seem more healthy and less skinny if they can relax at night with less to blow them around - the sea is calmer at night... not that this matters at all in captivity.
I find it extremely dependent on the coral. my strawberry shortcake is hairy in the light but crazy extension at night. Others are out during the day and retract at night. Some don't care. No change in flow for me.
Daydream Corals
Active Member
strong flow!
happyhourhero
Burner of the Tips
I find that the higher flow, the better the PE. I also do not change my flow rates day vs night. That does not happen in the ocean. IMO unless you have a nipping fish, you should be seeing PE during the day.
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