My first SPS

[racingtiger03]

I got my first SPS about a week ago, and it doesn't seem to be doing very well. It isn't bleaching and it still has an orange color (digitata), but I have seen no real polyp extention. It seems sometimes like it may be a little fuzzy, but nothing note-worthy. Currently is only under a dual Glo T5 22" in a 29 gallon tank (One actinic one 6700K), all parameters are in check and even my anemone is doing fine. New lights will be going on today (Nova extreme 36", I would rather have too much than not enough lol). What all can cause very minimal/non existent polyp extension in digitata?

 

[cherylann]

They require a medium to high water flow, and decent lighting VHO or MH. What is it next too, if a soft coral you may consider moving it. If you have to move it try putting a little higher in the tank and don't move it too often. It may just need some time to adjust since you see no bleaching or RTN. As always water test. Good luck, would like to see a pic of your new sps

 

[nycbob]

any other corals do u hv? try listing ur water parameters. 2 t5 over a 29 isnt too much at all. 4 t5 bulbs r better for sps and anemones.

 

[9supratt4]

Where'd you get the coral from?? Is it wild caught?? Or aquacultured??

 

[racingtiger03]

The tank overall has a Medium water flow (Koralia #2 and the coralife skimmer output). The lighting, well.. I just upgraded today actually and now have 4 T5HO over the tank, and it will be up to six as soon as I can find a way to fit the Nova, and my glo fixture over the tank lol. the 4 over it now are 39 watt 36" bulbs (went a little large as to have NO deadspots in lighting and for tank upgrading much later). It seems to have a LITTLE more polyp extension now, but still very little. Now I can at least tell the polyps are coming out. For placement, it is a little above mid-high in the tank. The nearest coral is a pacific rose brain that is 4-5" away. Should I consider moving the digitata?
The digitata is an aquacultured frag from the LFS display/frag tank (220 gallon reef) The original colony was from the ocean, so it's a first generation aquarium raised. It does seem to be growing from what I can tell as well, but very little so far. (in two weeks maybe 1cm on each tip) The frag is about 2-3" diameter, and for $10 I couldn't pass up the chance to try out an SPS.
Wish I could get a pic for you guys, but my camera among other things.. was stolen out of my car on tuesday =/

 

[9supratt4]

So...welcome to the hardest part of reefing...SPS

I love it!!
First...check the coral after lights out...wait about an hour or so....a lot of corals only extend their polyps at night. They feed off the sunlight during the day and then feed off of phytoplankton at night, technically eating 24 hours a day. My acro's do not extend during the day.
Also, because it is technically a wild frag, don't be surprised with browning or bleaching. I have found that corals that have been out of the wild for years survive better in my tank.
Also now with SPS you really need to watch your water parameters. Calcium and Alkalinity need to be adjusted as frequently as needed. I need to add about 25ml of alkalinity each day, but I also have a bunch of SPS using it up.
So check at night and let us know what you see. Also, was it a fresh frag?? Is it encrusted to the plug?? If it is a new frag and not yet encrusted, once it begins to encrust, thats a definite sign it's growing!!

 

[racingtiger03]

Thanks supratt, I'll keep a closer check on alk and calc now then. So far my tank hasn't needed any dosing with the weekly 3-5 gallon water changes. Also, at night it hasn't been doing any extending that I could see. With the new lights it does seem to be opening up its tentacles, but still very minorly. It's just now I can tell for sure that they are it's polyps lol. It is fully encrusted on the plug that I got it from, so it wasn't too fresh of a frag, it was just starting to grow upwards when I purchased it.

 

[9supratt4]

Well the proof that it encrusted usually means it is healthy. Now don't forget, moving it from the LFS tank, which they usually have 400 Watt MH's. So it will go through some changes until it gets comfortable in you tank. I wouldn't worry. Just keep an eye out for bleaching, browning & RTN. Oh yeah...parasites too

 

[racingtiger03]

will do, thanks. The tank it came from (Or at least the sell tank it was in) Had a 250 watt MH sunpod fixture over it. So.. yeah it was an extreme light setup lol. I hope that's all it is!

 

[9supratt4]

The last thing I have to say is....Welcome to the Wonderful World of SPS!! If you can master an SPS tank, than you prove you know what your doing!!

 

[racingtiger03]

Well, looks like its on its way to being in good shape. After the new lights, it is no extending its polyps at night fully. Looks like it wasn't getting enough photo energy from the lights before to even give it the energy to do that =/
Good thing I was feeding the nem twice a week! Looks like I can cut it back to once a week now too with that in mind (in supplement to its feedings by the clowns )

 

[racingtiger03]

Turns out I had a pic afterall, from before my camera was taken! Since this I have moved it up in the tank a bit more, but it looks pretty much the same. Whatdya think?

 

[racingtiger03]

Since adding the new lights it seems to be bleaching a little just around the edge of the top layer. Not like the edges are growing, but at the edges of the flat part you can see on top. Is it just adjusting to the stronger light or perhaps something more sinister? I think it did get stung by my RBTA when it was moving around a couple days ago.. could that be it as well?

 

[9supratt4]

Originally Posted by racingtiger03
http:///forum/post/3167622
Since adding the new lights it seems to be bleaching a little just around the edge of the top layer. Not like the edges are growing, but at the edges of the flat part you can see on top. Is it just adjusting to the stronger light or perhaps something more sinister? I think it did get stung by my RBTA when it was moving around a couple days ago.. could that be it as well?
Well coral death does show up as white skeleton. And if it got stung by your RBTA then it defnitely will have some dead parts on it. But if it is healthy they should grow back in time.

 

[racingtiger03]

Just figured I would give an update! The skeleton that was white has started to regrow and is now more of a tan color, also the polyps are extending a little more, and are showing some purple coloration now! I can't tell if it has grown any since the last update though, aside from repairing itself. Seems to be doing well though!

 

[9supratt4]

Originally Posted by racingtiger03
http:///forum/post/3174378
Just figured I would give an update! The skeleton that was white has started to regrow and is now more of a tan color, also the polyps are extending a little more, and are showing some purple coloration now! I can't tell if it has grown any since the last update though, aside from repairing itself. Seems to be doing well though!

Congrats!! If it's re-encrusting the dead area, you are doing well!!

 

[racingtiger03]

can 5 T5HO lights over a 18" deep tank be too much on a digitata? I had mine placed against a ledge, and it had poor polyp extension after I added the 5th light to the tank. I noticed yesterday that the backside of it was a beautiful deep redish color with the polyps very well extended. I moved it down to the sandbed for now, and may be removing the fifth light if it turns out to be the case that it was too much. It was midway up the tank before so only 9" deep.
Since this I had purchased a stylo, and it seems to be having a similar issue, the side directly under the light isn't very happy. Both of these in the fish store had AMAZING polyp extension even during daytime hours. They still do in my tank, but only for the night and aren't quite as extended as they were in the store.
I will try to get some updated pictures of both, but I only have my phones camera now. The digitata has grown a little since the original and has an extra arm starting up from the far back of the base