Green Hydnophora issue
 

i know there are a few people on here with these corals so mabye i can get some help. When i bought it, it had amazing polyp extension. it was fuzzy all around and it slowly went down from there in the course of a month. The only polyp extension i get now is mostly on the tips and it isnt much either. The coral has already doubled in size since i got it a few months ago so i dont think its in danger. I know they like a lot of flow so i put a powerhead pointing right at it and it didnt change anyhing.

My water parameters are also good. Everything in the tank is healthy and grows at a really fast rate.

Any ideas?

Mine bearely have flow and it is always very much inflated.

Maybe it has too much flow? any fish nipping at it?

No matter what I put them they are always inflated. I have one in all my aquariums.

The only time mine retract is when I touch it.

What types of food do you feed? I've observed mine swelling when I add frozen foods to the aquarium.

I would say consider yourself lucky, hydnophora has one of the most powerful stings out there quickly killing near by colonies. To have it healthy & growing with little polyp extension is a good thing in my books.

Quickly kill nearby colonies? Not in my experience. As long as you provide it with 1" of clearance you'll be fine and your colonies will be safe.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...icture1922.jpg

Agreed, I've always kept it in close quarters and never had issues.

On occasion I'll loose an inch of montipora to my colony but the dead area quickly becomes grown over again. The only circumstance where you'd really need to worry is with tiny frags placed adjacent to the colony or toppled coral landing on it. But that basically goes for any coral.

The conditions mine is under are: 250W Phoenix 14K DE, moderate flow, 78 F, 1.025, pH 8.1-7.8, Ca 450ppm, Alk 10 DKH, Mg 1400ppm.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...aneyedo/31.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...eyedo/Horn.jpg

Considering that many SPS will grow right into their neighbors and begin warfare at that point I would consider a 1" growth inhibition zone to be fairly large.

no there isnt to much flow because before i put the powerhead facing it, it was in an area with little flow and there was no difference.

The only fish i have in the tank are a couple clowns and they stay away from it. once in a while i catch a little crab walking on it but i dont think that is the issue

i feed pellets and frozen food too but there isnt any difference.