Polyp extension?

[BgFish]

Hello reefers,

ive been trying to figure out why my sps only gets polyp extension at night while lights are out. At night everything has great polyp extension but during the day nothing.

I have also had all my zoas disappeared slowly- someone is munching on them. So I’ve removed al that was left. I’m pretty sure one of the fish are nipping them but haven’t been able to catch anyone in the act. I’m going sps dominant so I’m fine removing zoas- but really don’t want fish that nips polyps in here. Here’s fish list:

1. file fish (my buddy thinks he’s the issue)
2. Large Fox Face
3. Hippo tang
3. Scopus tang
4. Powder brown tang
5. Yellow tang
6. Purple tang
7. Two gobies- not sure the kind?
8. green coris wrasse
9. Sailfin tang
10. Yellow eye kole tang
11. Coral beauty angel fish.

the coral beauty has been with me for 3 years and never nipped anything but I know angels have reputation to nip- but I don’t think it’s him/her. But could be wrong.

next suspects are the file fish and fox face?

anyone have similar experience with any of these fish? I really don’t want to remove anyone unless I know for sure it’s them causing the issue. Figured I would see everyone else’s thoughts on this.

 

[Dwizzle28]

i think the best way to know is just to stare at the tank. So many different variables - pests, chemistry, fish etc.

I had colonies melt for no reason as well - atleast not that i know of

The tangs, gobies, and wrasse seem to be on the safe list

 

[BST310]

My first guess would also be the filefish. When you add a new piece does it show PE for the first few days?

If you do decide to remove it, I wouldn’t expect PE right off the bat. The coral took time to learn that behavior and will take time to unlearn it.

 

[joseserrano]

Pe I’d normally longer at night than day. Day light provides food, night time pe is to try and catch food

 

[Emac909]

Filefish for sure is eating on zoas and sps polyps. I had a file fish annihilate a colony of firework clove polyps then he moved on to zoas. Then after annihilating the zoas he moved onto red and purple sps. But I just had this talk with a coworker that is in reef aquarium.
Shorter PE during day hours is natural. Due to the fact during the day there are fish that are awake that feed on coral polyps. It’s the corals defense to keep its polypss close to the skeleton during the day.
Now there are instances that break this rule, just like a broken clock is still right twice a day. But these are established tanks with established pieces. It can take months even years for a coral to adapt to the rhythm of a system.
Another instance is. I have a milli that has better stock PE during the day but the tip doesn’t have a bit of a polyp protruding. But at night the stock has very little PE and the tips have a polyp that is a 1/4” plus.

 

[Emac909]

Also like Jose is saying. The algae in the sps tissues are converting nutrients and elements into skeleton, they use the energy from light to do so. Then at night the polyps capture the nutrients so the zooxanthellae can do it’s job the next day.

 

[BgFish]

My first guess would also be the filefish. When you add a new piece does it show PE for the first few days?

If you do decide to remove it, I wouldn’t expect PE right off the bat. The coral took time to learn that behavior and will take time to unlearn it.

yes, I added a new Millie and it immediately looked hairy. Next few days no PE during the day.

 

[BgFish]

i think the best way to know is just to stare at the tank. So many different variables - pests, chemistry, fish etc.

I had colonies melt for no reason as well - atleast not that i know of

The tangs, gobies, and wrasse seem to be on the safe list

I have tried to stare at it lol but who ever is doing it must be shy lol still haven’t fought anyone in action

 

[BgFish]

My first guess would also be the filefish. When you add a new piece does it show PE for the first few days?

If you do decide to remove it, I wouldn’t expect PE right off the bat. The coral took time to learn that behavior and will take time to unlearn it.

I may try to remove file fish and wait some time and see what happens.

 

[BgFish]

This Millie looked super hairy before it went into my tank. First day or two looked hairy. But within a few days it has no more pe during the day. At night it’s super hairy and everything else has great pe. Otherwise everything is looking ok, but I’m thinking file fish may need to be moved to the softie tank lol. Things in there grow fairly fast, hopefully faster then he can nip it lol.

 

[BgFish]

On that note: can I keep two file fish together? I have one already in the softie tank- 100 gal mostly nems and soft corals.