Reduced Polyp Extension - High Nutrients or Flame Angel?

jharding08 · 05/22/2014, 10:29 AM

I have a torch coral, hammer coral and sunset milli that all show less polyp extension than they did last week. The still look healthy, just retracted during the day.

My green slimer, undata and monti caps all have full polyp extension. I did have a open brain coral that died the other week, but it was showing bleaching for awhile.

My parameters as of last saturday were CA 460, Alk 7 (low), Mag 1270, N02 0 and PO4 .25 (API test kit)

I have had a flame angel for about 3 weeks now. I never see it nipping the corals directly, but have read that they are prone to, especially with millis. Do they nip LPS too?

I also started up my GFO reactor to get the phosphate down. I have had a a ton of red/rust colored algae since i started my tank up in January. Not sure if that is leading to the phosphate issue or not.

My skimmer was also not working as well as it could have, so I readjusted that too.

I do 10% (12-15 gal)water changes weekly and did a 20% (30 gal) this week.

So do you think its the angel? Or high nutrients (PO4)?

smtank · 05/22/2014, 12:02 PM

My money is on the Angel unfortunately.

ReachTheSky · 05/22/2014, 12:21 PM

+1 on the Angel.

They are clever. Mine never picked on corals when I was present. I found him later on because I gracefully woke up from a nap on the nearby couch and peered over and saw him nipping on my Tenuis.

smtank · 05/22/2014, 12:30 PM

It's almost like the corals know the Angel is going to nip. They get paranoid and just stay closed or close when the Angel is near. Sounds strange I know, but myself and a lot of other hobbyist never saw the nipping, it was not until the Angel was removed that the corals returned to normal.

jharding08 · 05/22/2014, 01:24 PM

even LPS, like Torch, Hammer and Frogspawn?

05/22/2014, 10:29 AM	#1
jharding08 BlueWorldAquatics.com Join Date: May 2012 Location: Murrieta, CA Posts: 657	Reduced Polyp Extension - High Nutrients or Flame Angel? I have a torch coral, hammer coral and sunset milli that all show less polyp extension than they did last week. The still look healthy, just retracted during the day. My green slimer, undata and monti caps all have full polyp extension. I did have a open brain coral that died the other week, but it was showing bleaching for awhile. My parameters as of last saturday were CA 460, Alk 7 (low), Mag 1270, N02 0 and PO4 .25 (API test kit) I have had a flame angel for about 3 weeks now. I never see it nipping the corals directly, but have read that they are prone to, especially with millis. Do they nip LPS too? I also started up my GFO reactor to get the phosphate down. I have had a a ton of red/rust colored algae since i started my tank up in January. Not sure if that is leading to the phosphate issue or not. My skimmer was also not working as well as it could have, so I readjusted that too. I do 10% (12-15 gal)water changes weekly and did a 20% (30 gal) this week. So do you think its the angel? Or high nutrients (PO4)? __________________ Stats: 180 g Mixed SPS/LPS reef tank, 30 gallon sump, live rock, GFO\Carbon, AquaMaxx AM250 in-sump skimmer, felt filter socks, cleaning crew

05/22/2014, 12:21 PM	#3
ReachTheSky Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 1,114	+1 on the Angel. They are clever. Mine never picked on corals when I was present. I found him later on because I gracefully woke up from a nap on the nearby couch and peered over and saw him nipping on my Tenuis. __________________ Van Current tank: 7.5g Nano-Reef \| Modified AquaClear50 \| RapidLED Par38 bulb \| 2x Koralia 240gph

05/22/2014, 01:24 PM	#5
jharding08 BlueWorldAquatics.com Join Date: May 2012 Location: Murrieta, CA Posts: 657	even LPS, like Torch, Hammer and Frogspawn? __________________ Stats: 180 g Mixed SPS/LPS reef tank, 30 gallon sump, live rock, GFO\Carbon, AquaMaxx AM250 in-sump skimmer, felt filter socks, cleaning crew

05/22/2014, 12:02 PM	#2
smtank Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,204	My money is on the Angel unfortunately.

05/22/2014, 12:30 PM	#4
smtank Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,204	It's almost like the corals know the Angel is going to nip. They get paranoid and just stay closed or close when the Angel is near. Sounds strange I know, but myself and a lot of other hobbyist never saw the nipping, it was not until the Angel was removed that the corals returned to normal.