Tongue Coral Help

[Mish1]

I purchased a tongue coral a few days ago and it was doing fine the first couple days but now the polyps are not fully extending. The strange thing is that they are fully extending at night but not when the lights come on during the day, that is when it closes up. I read that this coral uses light for most of its food but it can be supplemented with shrimp and silver sides broken in to very small bits. I fed it krill broken into small bits a day ago and it seemed to capture the Krill and eat it. Ever since I fed it it has been acting this way.

I have also noticed one of my clown fish taking a liking to it. It will rub its belly on the coral when the polyps are extended at night and it has started sleeping right above the coral. I am hoping it will start hosting the clown but who knows.

I have T5 lights, 6 bulbs at 54W. Here are my bulbs.
1 6500K Daylight T5 HO Fluorescent General Electric
2 Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent ATI
2 12000K Actinic White (50/50) T5 HO Fluorescent UV Lighting
1 Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent UV Lighting

Here are my current water parameters.

PH 8.10 now but during the day after the lights have been on for a while it goes to 8.4
Alk 7.4dkH
Calcium 420
Mag 1350
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Phosphates 0
Ammonia 0
Temp 78.8 but can go as high as 79.4 when the lights are on.

Here is a picture of the coral closed. The lights just came on and it retracted its polyps.


Here is a picture of where it is placed in my tank. I read they need to be kept on the substrate because if they are placed on rocks it could damage the underside of them.


Please help if you can, I am open to any suggestions.

[dcombs44]

Many species of coral extend their tentacles and polyps at night.

I would suggest spot feeding periodically during the day, and it may adjust its habits and open more during the day.

Plus, it's only day 3. Give it time to adapt to its new home.