Green Star Polyp coral...have a question...

[steve-s]

Try to add buffers in the AM where possible. It will help reduce the overall swing in daily pH. It's not crucial but a good "safety" habit to get into. If pH tends to be normal-high, it keeps it in the same daily range.

 

[steve-s]

Dissolved CO2 equals carbolic acid equals lower PH.

That should read hydrated CO2 equals Carbonic acid.

 

[davidabrown66]

Don't forget Iodine for long term health of GSP.

 

[Jan]

Don't forget Iodine for long term health of GSP.

Thanks for that. I never learned this one in the first place. To all: what is your favorite book for looking up a specific coral or fish, and learning what conditions make it happy and what are its signs of illness? I have 4 books and none of them are specific enough about the individual animals.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

That should read hydrated CO2 equals Carbonic acid.

Thanks Steve, you make a great editor which is needed to prevent accidental spreading false info. Photosynthesis by the plants, algae, and even some by the coral's symbiotic algae in it's tissue, use up dissolved carbon dioxide, which acts like carbonic acid (H2CO3) in water. CO2 removal, in effect, reduces the acidity of the water and so pH increases.

Respiration of organic matter produces CO2, which dissolves in water as carbonic acid, thereby lowering the pH. For this reason, pH may be higher during daylight hours and during brighter light cycles when photosynthesis is at a maximum. Respiration and decomposition processes lower pH.

Thus without buffering, the PH is higher during the day and lower at night. Some including myself run their refugium at night to help stabilize the PH swings.

 

[auqua man]

Don't forget Iodine for long term health of GSP.

It is my opinion that Iodine and other additives are unnecessary if a regular schedule water change is performed. All the things you need are in your salt water mix.

 

[Jan]

Is anyone of the opinion that the unhappy-looking, curled tips of my GSP during the daylight cycle, and subsequent uncurled, happy-looking tips with the lights off, imply that I should do something to lower the amount of light it is exposed to? I have 190 total watts compact florescent for my 40 gallon tank, and the GSP is placed high in the tank so that it is only ~8-10 inches away from the light fixture. I'm thinking of moving the GSP to a lower position in the tank. Thoughts?

 

[Herefishyfishy]

I had GSP growing like wildfire under 1310 watts of combined VHO and halides.
Sometimes they get pissed and take awhile to open back up. I suspect it is more water and less light caused.

 

[Jan]

I had GSP growing like wildfire under 1310 watts of combined VHO and halides.
Sometimes they get pissed and take awhile to open back up. I suspect it is more water and less light caused.

OK...thanks for your response. I am stumped though, since I can't find fault with my water parameters except that the alkalinity was too low. I'll focus on that for the moment and try to get it higher.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

They also like good water flow across

 

[Anthony Calfo]

well said Herefishyfishy and Steve-s especially.

- dip strip tests... dont take tnem for free, let alone spend money on them.

- high Alk, high pH and very strong water flow are quite important for GSP. Lighting however can be modest or even low and they will survive.