My SPS dont seem happy

[Reefdad]

My SPS (monti digi, green porcpilla and green plate monte) dont seem happy. They all look ok but they are not extending their polyps all the way. I can see them but they just look like skeletons with colorful dots on them. My water seems ok (ca 420, sg 1.025, dkh 10, amm/nit 0, nit less that 20) They are under 10k 150w mh in a 12 Gallon AP. I feed the tank oyster eggs every other day and Phyto every other. I dose my CA every other 1.5ml mantaining at 420 (maybe needs to be higher? my monti is showing growth). I have been changing their location to see if that is the problem. Today they are in a high flow area. in the past they have been under moderate to high flow and low flow. Any other thoughts.

 

[Gomer]

Don't change things too fast. Corals can take several days to weeks to show signs of change.

The first question is: were they ever happy in your tank? What changed between then and now?

 

[under_water_ninja]

I would try to get your calcium up to 450. That is a good level to maintain. I'd put them back in a medium flow area and let them adjust there for a while. Have you been target feeding them or just adding food to the tank? Check out the coral care sheets!!! They have a lot of info!!!!

 

[under_water_ninja]

The coral care sheets are under the Reef Talk forum!

 

[Reefdad]

[quote author=Gomer link=topic=6041.msg76534#msg76534 date=1232729608]
Don't change things too fast. Corals can take several days to weeks to show signs of change.

The first question is: were they ever happy in your tank? What changed between then and now?
[/quote]
Yes they were happy I cant think of any thing. I had a candycane die early last month for no reason. Not sure if there is a connection.[quote author=newreefnut link=topic=6041.msg76536#msg76536 date=1232729687]
I would try to get your calcium up to 450. That is a good level to maintain. I'd put them back in a medium flow area and let them adjust there for a while. Have you been target feeding them or just adding food to the tank? Check out the coral care sheets!!! They have a lot of info!!!!
[/quote]

Yes I have been target feeding them oyster eggs in still water with pumps off letting them sit for about 10 min.

I looked at the care sheets last night that is why I moved them to high flow. Do you think I should still move them back?

 

[under_water_ninja]

Its tough to say! Corals sometimes can be a little touchy and do stuff for no reason! Like Gomer said. you shouldnt move them to much. If they require high flow, leave them there and let them get used to it. How is your PH? in a 12 gallon tank it is really hard to keep your parameters consistent, they are probably fluctuating on a daily basis.

 

[Dyngoe]

Don't worry "too" much about polyp extension. I had corals of the exact same colony in my tank and my friend's tank and they looked VERY different. Our parameters were almost identical, we used the same salt and both had enough light (mine T5s, his MH). We actually thought it might be because my lights were brighter, i.e. mine got enough light for photosynthesis and his were more actively looking for food. But, this was just a guess.

One question I have is how do your plating montis look? Are they "flat" or do they grow little vertical ridges?

 

[badbread]

I think it was Gresham I talked to about target feeding SPS and if I recall correctly he said not so target feed SPS. Something about food getting into the channel the polyps extend out of and actually hurting the coral.

That's probably way off but I was interested in target feeding my SPS with Oyster Feast and he advised against it.

Matt, what does it mean if the monti plate or get ridges? Is it a flow thing?

 

[Dyngoe]

Hey BB,

I can't remember the article but from what I remember if a plating monti is purely flat in texture it means it may not be getting enough light. I believe the rational is the greater surface area increases the amount of light absorbed. When you see ridges it has enough light and grows vertically to help catch more floating food. Now, I saw this in my tank. When I replaced my lights with new T5s my montis started growing ridges and growing faster.

 

[tuberider]

A 12 g tank is a very difficult size to be successful with SPS stuff, they simply don't like change. Make sure your temp and salinity are as steady as you can make them.

 

[Reefdad]

[quote author=newreefnut link=topic=6041.msg76539#msg76539 date=1232730469]
Its tough to say! Corals sometimes can be a little touchy and do stuff for no reason! Like Gomer said. you shouldnt move them to much. If they require high flow, leave them there and let them get used to it. How is your PH? in a 12 gallon tank it is really hard to keep your parameters consistent, they are probably fluctuating on a daily basis.
[/quote]

I dose to keep my PH a 8.2, And I try to keep it steady