Thoughts on SPS polyp extension..

[fishytime]

wild sps dont extend their polyps during the day due to diurnal predators...... nothing to do with available light or food.....I noticed a huge increase in PE when I started with phyto/zoo plankton feeding.....

[Haloreef]

I run three 400 watt halides over my 6' tank, believe me there is no light shortage. I think the polyps are extended during the daylight due to a lack of predators. Some seem to extend even more during lights out though!
Keith.

[Aquattro]

Keith, I run the same light, no polyps. Corals are all doing great, just curious why the polyps stopped coming out.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Haloreef

Some seem to extend even more during lights out though!
Keith.

thats what I would get, some extension during the day, at night it was way more.

Steve

[Jason McK]

It is my understanding that PE is a result of the coral sensing a level of available nutrient in the water. Like for example a Sun Coral and our ability to train it to open. A lot of fish feeding will trigger PE of all corals.
I don't believe sand storms would cause a lack of PE as most wild corals live in very turbulent areas with waves crashing directly on top of them.
It's my belief Potassium could be a trigger that tricks the coral to believe food is available. I also am a believer that Potassium is an important in a reef, but be very careful as over dosing will kill fish

J

[Bblinks]

I had a potassium shortfall on my tank, I use redsea pro kit to test for potassium. My reading was just under 360, I have since bumped it up to 430 ish with zeovit k balance. I have found it useful looking at the new polyp extension on several of colonies of sps which had no extension before and with brighter blue coloration. I do run pellets on the system, I strongly believe while running a probiotic system potassium gets striped out of the system way too fast, one must replenish it with supplements to ensure sufficient levels are met. Ofcourse with most supplements I don't like to dose anything I can't test.

On a side note. I found feeding also aid polyp extension as it is the reason why there is polyps in the first place.

I am interested in the grounding probe. I guess it's time to stick the good old multimeter in the water and see if there is any stray voltage.

Keep us posted on the progress.