star polyps not looking so good...

[escape2thewater]

I have had a colony of star polyps for a few months now that have been thriving. I have "split " them and started a new colony on the other side of my tank 2 months ago. They have been spreading onto nearby rocks and doing great until a few days ago. Both colonies started to not look as full then slowly got worse and worse until now they almost dont have any polyps open at all. This started about 4 days ago. Any ideas? All other corals in the tank are doing fantastic. I have a few diffrent types of mushrooms, zoos, hairy mushrooms, button polyps, finger leather, & pulsing zenia all doing great. Water quailty is fine:
Temp - 78
Ph - 8.0
Sg - 1.0255
alk - 10.0
Ca - 440
amm - 0
NO2 - 0
No3 - 0
PO4 - 0
Any ideas?
Thanks,
KYle

 

[searcher]

That just happens now and then with gsp. They'll be closed for up to a week and then open up again. I have'nt found any reason for it in my tank.

 

[escape2thewater]

they did it somewhat shortly after I put them in the tank, just not as bad, and also I only had the one colony at that time. They did open back up fuller then ever after a few days.I was hoping that to be the case again but thought it was kinda coincidental that both separate colonies did it at the same time?
Thanks,
KYle

 

[yosemite sam]

It's happened to me before and I've seen at least a few others on the board post similar questions. They always seem to come back. I've never heard an explanation as to why they do it. If things aren't back to normal in a week, post again. Good Luck!

 

[leboeuf]

I split mine two weeks ago also and got 4 colonies out of it. Great coral and no problems to date. Keep us posted.
Are there other varieties of GSP in this hobby. Different colors, been looking but can't find. thxs

 

[worldchanger]

To my knowledge there are only Brown and Green

 

[leboeuf]

I have never seen purple or pink polyps....... do you have any pics????

 

[leboeuf]

what LFS. I could go by and see what they have. On vacation all this week.

 

[leboeuf]

I know the place. GREAT corals, but the owner, Scott is an A$$. I saw him get into a physical fight at his last location with a customer. Can't stand the guy, he is so arrogant. I fight myself everytime I'm in there not to spend money and support such a knob!
thanks anyway.

 

[buzz]

Originally posted by escape2thewater
Temp - 78
Ph - 8.0
Sg - 1.0255
alk - 10.0
Ca - 440
amm - 0
NO2 - 0
No3 - 0
PO4 - 0

Temp is OK. I keep mine at 82. pH is a bit low - 8.2-8.4 is recommended. SG is OK - I keep mine at 1.023-1.024. Your alkalinity - what measurement is that in? dkh or meq/l? Calcium is fine.
Do you add iodine? trace mineral supplements? If not, you should. Also, when is the last time you did a water change?
I have several varieties of star polyps, and recently, mine closed up tight. I had added a phosphate sponge, and my hair algae all died off. Even though all readings were fine, I noticed in doing a water change that the water had a brownish tint to it. I subsequently did several large water changes, and added several chemi-pure bags. The water cleared up, and everything is now out, extended and happy.

 

[phil1964]

You split them?
Can they be pulled off the rock?
I never touched them.

 

[leboeuf]

I must agree on his quality of corals. By far the best I have seen in the state, and I travel everywhere in Tx and OK. I will keep an open mind and ask for Don the next time I am in there. Thanks for the positive feedback. I'll plaster this site with the new acros when I purchase them after the first of the year.

 

[escape2thewater]

Hey buzz, the alk is measured in dkh. Usually between 10-11.5. I have been doing small WC (10%) every other week or so. Some of the GSP polpys are starting to come back out so hopefully its pulling though this stage. I have added reef plus vitamin & amino acid supplement a few times but odd enough I dosed that the day before the GSP closed up. Maybe its unrelated but surely a coincidence.Thanks for the help.
KYle
Phil - Mine had a piece of its "Mat" that grew off the rock and was kinda flowing in the current. I just cut it off and moved it to the other side of the tank & held down w/rubberband. About 2 weeks later it stuck by itself and grew from there.