lobophytum is not extending it's polyps

[porscheman]

I have a devil's hand leather coral that is not extending it's polyps. It's body will flatten out and extend it's fingers but the polyps will not come out. The polyps where out for the first couple of weeks but now they don't. Is this a sign it is in too strong of water current or not strong enough. I use phytoplankton, iodide and strontium addivitves. Calcium is at 440-450. Salinity is at 1.024-1.025. No phosphates or nitrates. All other corals are doing great. I would appreciate anyone's input on this.

thanks,

Brian:cool:

[Adam]

Brian,

Adam here, helping fill in for Eric at his request while he is away.

I would try and increase the current and I might also try suspending the Sr and I additions for a couple of weeks.

Also, I'm not sure it is anything to worry about. I have seen lobophytum that show dramatic polyp extension almost all time and some that almost never do.

Fill us in a bit more on your tank, too. What kind of lighting, water quality paramaters and other corals do you have?

Adam

[porscheman]

Thanks Adam,
Here is more about my tank. I have a 90 Gallon. I have two toad stool leathers, capnella, montipapora, hydnophora, flat brain, yellow polyps, green button polyps, mushrooms, derasa clam, a squamosa clam, and bubble coral. My water peramiters are PH-8.3, alk.- 4.5,nitrate - 0, phosphate - 0, salinity -1.025, calcium 450. Lighting is one 65 watt smart light power compact and two 55 watt double bulb white and two double bulb actanic power compacts. the only fish in the tank right now are a red sea sail fin tang, coral beauty and a gold assesor.

[Adam]

Brian,

I doubt your fish are bugging it. Softies are generally too distasteful.

You measured water quality paramaters are certainly fine. (sorry I missed them in your original post, I have been reading way too many of these!)

If I understood correctly, you have 285 total watts of light? That should be enough for alot of corals (your devils hand included), but may be marginal for the Montipora and hydnophora as well as the clams.

As I stated earlier, I would try suspending the SR and I and increase the water movement.

Also, sometimes leathers take quite a while to "settle in" before they start behaving normally.