why does my plate coral seem to be doing best under lunar lights?

kolosy · 07/02/2008, 10:28 PM

it seems to have survived the earlier episode (against most odds), but it's still rather odd. this is what it looks like under lunar lights:

when the MHs come on, or even just the T5s, it retracts the polyps, and looks very much like this (sans mucus)

idears?

petoonia · 07/02/2008, 10:52 PM

Mine usually inflates, and extends its tentacles at night also. I dont think its unusual.

kolosy · 07/03/2008, 07:37 AM

is that everyone else's experience too?

Nano Chris · 07/03/2008, 07:43 AM

I believe that's when it feeds.

greenbean36191 · 07/04/2008, 05:12 AM

They inflate at night and deflate during the day. When you see them in nature they look very much like the second photo. In the hobby, it's not unusual for them to "learn" to inflate during the day too due to the absence of predators.

abulgin · 07/04/2008, 07:28 AM

My guess is that it's learned that night time is when all your pods, etc. come out. You can train it to extend during the day if you start a daytime feeding routine.

07/02/2008, 10:28 PM	#1
kolosy Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 655	why does my plate coral seem to be doing best under lunar lights? it seems to have survived the earlier episode (against most odds), but it's still rather odd. this is what it looks like under lunar lights: when the MHs come on, or even just the T5s, it retracts the polyps, and looks very much like this (sans mucus) idears? __________________ not yet. maybe someday. Current Tank Info: 90L RR mixed reef, panworld 150ps external pump, t5/mh/led, 20g under-tank sump, 27g above tank sump, 27g fuge with 4" dsb, macro and lr rubble.

07/02/2008, 10:52 PM	#2
petoonia HereWeGoAgain... Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,648	Mine usually inflates, and extends its tentacles at night also. I dont think its unusual. __________________ I've been in the hobby for about 10 years....(so I know a little bit)...(but not all that much).... Current Tank Info: 58G. Oceanic (Starphire). Mixed Reef

07/03/2008, 07:37 AM	#3
kolosy Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 655	is that everyone else's experience too? __________________ not yet. maybe someday. Current Tank Info: 90L RR mixed reef, panworld 150ps external pump, t5/mh/led, 20g under-tank sump, 27g above tank sump, 27g fuge with 4" dsb, macro and lr rubble.

07/03/2008, 07:43 AM	#4
Nano Chris Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,758	I believe that's when it feeds. __________________ Chris ------- 34 Gallon Red Sea Max 130! Setup (Just got back into the hobby) Current Tank Info: 34 Gallon RedSeaMax!

07/04/2008, 05:12 AM	#5
greenbean36191 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 10,598	They inflate at night and deflate during the day. When you see them in nature they look very much like the second photo. In the hobby, it's not unusual for them to "learn" to inflate during the day too due to the absence of predators. __________________ Some say the sun rises in the East. Some say it rises in the West. The truth must be somewhere in the middle. Current Tank Info: tore them down to move and haven't had the time or money to set them back up

07/04/2008, 07:28 AM	#6
abulgin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,664	My guess is that it's learned that night time is when all your pods, etc. come out. You can train it to extend during the day if you start a daytime feeding routine.