Button polyps doing something strange... what could it be?

[wartooth1]

Hi,
So since I've added some green button polyps to my tank, they have been growing, spreading, and keeping their nice bright green colors (yay), but as of last week, since I started feeding the tank zooplankton, I've been noticing some strange behavior with the buttons.
Basically, some of the polyps open up halfway and form a "cup" shape, and others open up so much they look like they're turning themselves into a ball, while the rest remain in their normal, flat button shapes.
I've tested the water and everything is in their normal parameters, so I think the zooplankton is the cause (its the only new stuff the tank has had since I noticed this).
I don't think there's anything bad happening though since I'm seeing new polyps appear on nearly a daily basis and the coral appears to be in great shape... just wondering what this new "personality" trait is.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wartooth1 http:///forum/thread/386932/button-polyps-doing-something-strange-what-could-it-be#post_3400913
Hi,
So since I've added some green button polyps to my tank, they have been growing, spreading, and keeping their nice bright green colors (yay), but as of last week, since I started feeding the tank zooplankton, I've been noticing some strange behavior with the buttons.
Basically, some of the polyps open up halfway and form a "cup" shape, and others open up so much they look like they're turning themselves into a ball, while the rest remain in their normal, flat button shapes.
I've tested the water and everything is in their normal parameters, so I think the zooplankton is the cause (its the only new stuff the tank has had since I noticed this).
I don't think there's anything bad happening though since I'm seeing new polyps appear on nearly a daily basis and the coral appears to be in great shape... just wondering what this new "personality" trait is.
LOL...it's called feeding on the food you put in the tank. Be careful of amounts, feed 2Xs a week not everyday. Remember what feeds coral feeds algae.

 

[wartooth1]

Hmm... ok well before this I would see the buttons feed by catching a floating particle, then close up for like 5 minutes, then reopen... but that was when a piece from frozen mysis or daphnia came floating by. So this is definatly a feeding reaction the the microscopic foods in the zooplankton bottle then?
Also, the instructions on the bottle say 5ml for every 20 gallons of water in the tank daily... should I really cut it back to 2 or 3 times per week?

 

[1guydude]

YES cut back! I rarely use my phytoplankton CRAP! Ull end up with cyano or some nuissance algae (HA) and be PO!!! If u really want to use it i say 3 times a month! Ur coral will survive and thrive on wat u feed the tank (fish foods) and ur fish poo and pee!!!
U have a skimmer correct?

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1guyDude http:///forum/thread/386932/button-polyps-doing-something-strange-what-could-it-be#post_3400947
YES cut back! I rarely use my phytoplankton CRAP! Ull end up with cyano or some nuissance algae (HA) and be PO!!! If u really want to use it i say 3 times a month! Ur coral will survive and thrive on wat u feed the tank (fish foods) and ur fish poo and pee!!!
U have a skimmer correct?
I totally agree here...what the coral dosn't feed on goes to feed other things you don't want fed, like the skimmer. What the coral isn't using is being pulled out by the skimmer and if the skimmer isn't powerful enough..hair algae gets to eat. In the end you are wasting money on coral food that isn't feeding the coral at all. I have even turned off the skimmer for the day when I feed the coral. 2Xs a week is plenty and not that much either...I feed zooplankton (smaller particles of food)...not all the coral even feeds on phytoplanton so even more is wasted.

 

[wartooth1]

great thanks for the input all... FYI I do have a skimmer... its a CPR Aeroforce rated for 70 gallons (on my 40 gallon tank). But ok, I'll cut back on the zooplankton to once or twice a week. But I do find it interesting that on the bottle they suggest daily feedings when really it should be weekly feedings however.

 

[1guydude]

this hobby has a lot or that info mumbo jumbo.....does it seem odd that the more u use it, the quicker you will be out and buy more maybe?!?!

 

[wartooth1]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1guyDude http:///forum/thread/386932/button-polyps-doing-something-strange-what-could-it-be#post_3401099
this hobby has a lot or that info mumbo jumbo.....does it seem odd that the more u use it, the quicker you will be out and buy more maybe?!?!
Yeah I get that but I think it would make more sense if they made a less potent substance... that would mean that we would have to feed the tank their product daily plus they don't have to make as much per bottle. That would mean more money for them since we would have to buy it more and it would cost them less to make it.
It seems really irresponsible of the manufacturers to say to use it like this if by doing so causes problems... that would be like Advil saying we should take 50 tablets per day to relieve minor headaches
Come to think of it... so far out of every aquarium product that I've bought so far that came in a bottle, except for this one, the guy at the LFS would say "Don't do what the instructions say, do it this way..." lol.