Coral Help!!!!!! Closed Polyps

[stoy]

I recently started setting up my a reef in my marinland column 60. I purchased a red mushroom colony and a brown button? colony. The Button polyps have not opened up in over a week but the mushroom looks fine. I have tried dusting it off several times and moving it to different spots to no avail. I tested my water and it seems my nitrates are out of whack but when the LFS tests it it comes out at 10PPM or less. They have used 2 kits with the same results but this does not help my current dilema. Please help if you can.

 

[sac10918]

Could you post your water parameters and the lighting for the tank? That will help us help you.

 

[stoy]

Originally Posted by sac10918
Could you post your water parameters and the lighting for the tank? That will help us help you.
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Phosphates 0
Nitrates as stated above
Sunpaq Power Compact 55W 50/50 Actinic/Daylight w/Moonlight

 

[namas05]

55W light on a 60 gallon tank?
Sounds like you need to up your lighting.
would suggest at least 5 watts per gallon on the simple corals.

 

[stoy]

Wow so you think it is a lighting problem. Sounds very feesable. What suggestions do you have?

 

[stoy]

Here is a photo of what i asume to be healthy fully opened mushrooms and the polyps in question. I am sorry for the quality but it is the best a Treo 600 could do in a hurry. Also they have never fully opened since purchasing almost 3 weeks ago.

 

[kzoo]

Need more light.

 

[stoy]

Ok I am upgrading to a 230 Watt 4 bulb power compact with moonlighting. Will this be a better situation?

 

[crox]

Do you think those 'shrooms are fully open?

 

[crox]

IMO if you add the 230w to your existing 55w you might be ok.

 

[stoy]

Well I cannot combine them. Not enough space on top. It's the best I can do with the money I have. My wife had surgery recently and things are a little too rocky at the moment to drop 5 bills on a Halide.

 

[teresaq]

I would move them up as high as you can under new lights, and those type of poylps like to eat. mine love mysis and brine, and flake.

 

[stoy]

put the new lights in. HUGE improvement with the mushrooms but the polyp still look really bad.