Acropora polyp extension problems

billdsl · 10/12/2006, 10:50 PM

Hey All

I have an issue with polyp extension on my acropora's. I have several different type's and all have this issue at present, excluding a new colony of milepora just added.

Basically i think i had a spike of some kind that took out one colony and seems to have effected the rest, and after several months the problem hasnt eased.

All of the acro's I have used to have awesome polyp extension during full lighting, now they get none, lights on or off, still seem to be getting some growth but just no pe.

Ive asked a few people locally (who id consider guru's) who suggest its fine but I really would like to find a solution.

Tank info:
- 4x2x2.6 plus sump (approx 450L)
- 2x150w MH, plus 4x18w pc actinic, running for approx 14h per day
- 1x12,000lph tunze for circulation
- Decent sized protein skimmer, purigen, carbon, taxifolia in refugium
- Readings
- Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia: 0
- PH: 8.3
- CA: 420
- ALK: 7dkh (bit lower than normal, generally runs at 7.7dkh)
- PH: between 0.03 & 0.1 (unsure with salifert colour chart)
- Top up: RO/DI, with kalkwasser
- Tanks been running for nearly a year

A pic of the tank atm --> http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77...lTankOct06.jpg

Im sort of holding off going with a lot more sps till i get this sorted, and am about to replace the 150's with 250's.

Any thoughts/idea's on what I might be able to do to get my pe back? If any more info is needed let me know.

Thanks
bill

prodman · 10/13/2006, 07:31 AM

I notice a loss in Pe in my tank if my dkh drops below 7. You might want to raise that back to 7.7-8dkh. Also check for redbugs or a nipping fish.

LobsterOfJustice · 10/13/2006, 02:10 PM

Is that a flame angel I see in there?

Even if you never see it nip, my experience is that, for some reason, Acropora wont extend in the presence of angels. I have a majestic in my reef, he NEVER nips anything, yet I get 0 PE during the day (even milles), but plenty at night when all the fish are sleeping. I have heard that many others experience this as well.

onehundred20 · 10/13/2006, 02:17 PM

id say get you alk back up to 8

Serioussnaps · 10/13/2006, 02:53 PM

ALK!!!!!!!!!!!

also give them good flow

billdsl · 10/13/2006, 05:25 PM

thanks for the comments guys

the flame is only quite a recent addition, i had this problem for several months prior to him going in, so its possible he's annoying them but think its probably something else as well

ill definitely bump the alk up, flow's around 20x atm, this not enough?

10/12/2006, 10:50 PM	#1
billdsl Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3	Acropora polyp extension problems Hey All I have an issue with polyp extension on my acropora's. I have several different type's and all have this issue at present, excluding a new colony of milepora just added. Basically i think i had a spike of some kind that took out one colony and seems to have effected the rest, and after several months the problem hasnt eased. All of the acro's I have used to have awesome polyp extension during full lighting, now they get none, lights on or off, still seem to be getting some growth but just no pe. Ive asked a few people locally (who id consider guru's) who suggest its fine but I really would like to find a solution. Tank info: - 4x2x2.6 plus sump (approx 450L) - 2x150w MH, plus 4x18w pc actinic, running for approx 14h per day - 1x12,000lph tunze for circulation - Decent sized protein skimmer, purigen, carbon, taxifolia in refugium - Readings - Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia: 0 - PH: 8.3 - CA: 420 - ALK: 7dkh (bit lower than normal, generally runs at 7.7dkh) - PH: between 0.03 & 0.1 (unsure with salifert colour chart) - Top up: RO/DI, with kalkwasser - Tanks been running for nearly a year A pic of the tank atm --> http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77...lTankOct06.jpg Im sort of holding off going with a lot more sps till i get this sorted, and am about to replace the 150's with 250's. Any thoughts/idea's on what I might be able to do to get my pe back? If any more info is needed let me know. Thanks bill

10/13/2006, 07:31 AM	#2
prodman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: napa,ca Posts: 3,305	I notice a loss in Pe in my tank if my dkh drops below 7. You might want to raise that back to 7.7-8dkh. Also check for redbugs or a nipping fish. __________________ everything that happens will happen today Current Tank Info: 120XL

10/13/2006, 02:10 PM	#3
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Is that a flame angel I see in there? Even if you never see it nip, my experience is that, for some reason, Acropora wont extend in the presence of angels. I have a majestic in my reef, he NEVER nips anything, yet I get 0 PE during the day (even milles), but plenty at night when all the fish are sleeping. I have heard that many others experience this as well. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

10/13/2006, 02:17 PM	#4
onehundred20 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 826	id say get you alk back up to 8

10/13/2006, 02:53 PM	#5
Serioussnaps Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,703	ALK!!!!!!!!!!! also give them good flow

10/13/2006, 05:25 PM	#6
billdsl Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3	thanks for the comments guys the flame is only quite a recent addition, i had this problem for several months prior to him going in, so its possible he's annoying them but think its probably something else as well ill definitely bump the alk up, flow's around 20x atm, this not enough?