SPS Polyp Extension way down

[mess7777]

Over the past couple months, after almost a year my ATS has gotten all the nutrients down and is growing actual hair algae, turf algae, and even chaeto. It seems to be doing a fine job of keeping N and P under control now, I haven't changed GFO in 6 weeks and it's not going up any further.

However, several of my SPS are displaying virtually no extension, even at night in the case of my milleporas. This is very peculiar for milles, since they are usually the first to go all hairy. It used to be this way in fact. Somewhere along the line I lost PE on several SPS pieces and it just won't come back. I also have some shrinking zoas although this may be fungal as opposed to anything else.

Strangely, some SPS still doing just fine. All seem to be still growing despite the lack of PE.

Has anyone else experienced this?

[mess7777]

also, i do have a duplicate post from a couple weeks ago, just looking for a fresh perspective.

[Floyd R Turbo]

Are you running any carbon, or a skimmer?

[mess7777]

carbon yes skimmer no. alk 7.3 , ca 420

[Floyd R Turbo]

I've steered away from the "scrubber only" methodology. PE or lack thereof can be due to many factors, most not understood, but gas exchange is one of them. Several have reported that the aeration effect of a skimmer seems to aid in PE. So you might consider that. You don't need a big one - don't go by tank sizing. If you have one on hand, throw it in there and give it a while, or borrow one to try it out, or find one on the cheap. Also with the carbon, while it does have a huge capacity for uptake, it can get used up pretty quick, so I recommend using a small amount and changing it weekly or bi-weekly.

[mess7777]

thinking the same way Floyd. I don't have one on hand worth plugging in, but keeping my eyes open for something external.

I half been doing half cup of Rox carbon every two weeks, but was due to change and just put in 1 cup to see if it makes any difference.

[Floyd R Turbo]

Maybe try 1/2 cup and changing it weekly instead of every 2 weeks. I guess the question would be, do you notice PE after you change out the carbon? Keep us posted...

[mess7777]

PE basically unchanged with the new carbon...so it isn't that. still on the drawing board.

[Garf]

Have you got a recent pic of your screen, out of curiosity ?

[Floyd R Turbo]

Also, it might take a few days or more to make a difference. When a colony get "hit" with a bad condition, sometimes it doesn't just pop right back. I have some frogspawn that was fully contracted in my UAS tank and I took it out and put into a 10g frag tank and it has slowly started to open back up over the last 10 days.