sps polyps extension

[damien_kee]

Anyone care to share the possible reasons on the polyp extension of sps. how to improve?

 

[Curtswearing]

Polyp extension can mean sooooo many things that you cannot judge coral health by it. Growth and coloration is a much better measure. They move in response to food stimuli via chemoreception. They open and close to control respiration. People often say, I fed this supplement to my tank and the polyp extension was wild. Unfortunately, this doesn't mean that the corals are benefitting from this supplement, it is just stimulus/response. I can offer a bunch of 5 year olds ice cream for breakfast and they would be excited. It doesn't mean it's good for them.

 

[NaH2O]

It is true that there are a number of reasons for polyp extension. Provided the corals are not getting nipped by fish, or have parasites on them and otherwise in good health, then I wouldn't be overly concerned. Have you checked the corals at night for polyp extension? Here is a similar thread on the subject: Polyp Extension = Happy Corals? Maybe Kevin can offer some more insight.

 

[kevinpo]

IME polyp extension on SPS type corals has nothing to do with the health of the coral. Most SPS corals only extend their polyps at night. Most learn to extend their polyps during the day if fish or other predators do not pick on them. Things that seem to promote polyp extension are, low nutrient water and older tanks (3-5 years old). Also water flow in a surging or alternating pattern. Most corals extend their polyps to capture prey.
With so many variables in our tanks it is very difficult to pinpoint the conditions that produce the best polyp extension.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[damien_kee]

thanks guys!

 

[fishermann]

I have noticed looking at different tanks that the ones with a sand bed seems to get better extension then BB during the day. Maybe more food in the water column, I don't know but seems to be the case from my observations.

 

[damien_kee]

or is tat nutrient is higher with sand bed?

 

[fishermann]

I agree, I thought that was what I said. LOL.

 

[ethanriley]

With my SPS I get most of my polyp extension during the day. Always have. It particulary expands after coral vite addition and when i dose Kalk. I run twin 96 watt actinics and twin 96 watt 10,000 K over my thirty long DSB in tank and refugium.

 

[damien_kee]

ok guys! will feeding help on polyps Extension?

 

[ethanriley]

I find when I feed my corals close for a while slime and then reopen, but I have mostly porites in my tank. I also only feed the three Kent plankton concentrates which I know some people on the forum don't find affective. My tank is almost two years old with no coral deaths so I guess the jury is still out. I feed three times a week

 

[ethanriley]

One other thought I notice particluar improvement on polyp extension when i keep iodine and strontium particularly high. i double dose Kent's recommendation for iodine on my thirty long with no ill affects and like I say excellent polyp extension.

 

[Curtswearing]

One other thought I notice particluar improvement on polyp extension when i keep iodine and strontium particularly high. i double dose Kent's recommendation for iodine on my thirty long with no ill affects and like I say excellent polyp extension.

Whoa Nelly!!!

An overdose of Iodine can nuke your tank. Be very careful and make sure you are testing these levels often.

 

[ethanriley]

i agree on the iodine overdosing. I do monitor and I am so religious with my water changes i don't think its much cause for concern, but thanks for the headsup. I will add one closing note my buddy Krish put me onto reef frontiers and everyone here is so helpful responsive and pleasant.

 

[Krish]

I will add one closing note my buddy Krish put me onto reef frontiers and everyone here is so helpful responsive and pleasant

I have no idea who this fellow is...He thinks he knows me because we are both from the Bahamas, but yeah...Don't know him(LOL JK) Yeah, I told him RF rocks! Oh yeah Andrew, I'm in the states. Damian will cal you he said if he has trouble with my tank(LOL)

 

[NaH2O]

Andrew - it's great that you joined us! Now we can give more than Krish a hard time about living in the Bahamas . Welcome to the forum!

 

[mojoreef]

As mentioned above thier are so many reasons for coarl polyp extension. Most of the time it is mechanical or chemical stimulation, sometimes offence or defence or reproduction. On the feeding sps type corals require the perfect sized food to hit them square in the mouth, so in our tanks that not overly likely to happen, more often its the slime netting you see that is going to do the job when it comes to indirect feeding of these types of corals.


Mike