Thoughts on SPS polyp extension..

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by daniella3d

My sps have full polyp extension 24/7. The only time they retract is when I touch them or when I do water change and they are exposed to air.

I guess my tank must not be normal.

nope 12 years ago we rarley saw huge polyp extension during the day. for the last 22 years I have been diving hawaii, and other places same thing little or no polyp extension during the day lots at night. so to me that says that is normal.

a few papers I have read years ago linked extension to suspension feeding, others I have read link it to increasing surface area for light adsorption, so who realy knows......

I never worried about it much myself.. heath and color were what was important, never was extension during the day ever an indacator of health so I simply never worried about it. I had growth that was faster than norm, I had briliant colors and lots of extension at night when I did feed before bed. My brain used to be about 5-6" diamiter during the day, and a night would expand to ovewr 12" my acro's would look smooth during the day but almost like milli's during the night. millies well they always have good extension .... go figure that out

my actual theory was it is a defence mechanisim, the ocean calms down at night, so maybe the intence wave action during the day was to much for the corals so they pulled in, at night when it is more calm they extend to catch food...

another question would be that thoes of you that have good polyp extension during the day... whats kinda flow do you have and do you vary it at night?

Steve