Green star polyps not extending

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

Using tap water is kinda like playing Russian roulette, IMO. You never really know what you're putting in your tank. Store bought RO ( water machines) is probably better but even then, it's a gamble. I'm not sure a large water change or even a series of smaller water changes with tap water would be better or worse for your tank.

[MyNameIsJoe]

The reason you don't want a lid on the container is so you don;t restrict the gas exchange. putting holes in the lid would work since fresh air is in contact with the water surface.

[MyNameIsJoe]

Using tap water is kinda like playing Russian roulette, IMO. You never really know what you're putting in your tank. Store bought RO ( water machines) is probably better but even then, it's a gamble. I'm not sure a large water change or even a series of smaller water changes with tap water would be better or worse for your tank.

However, if you always used tap water, than a water change wouldn't hurt. I would do the water change regardless. That way you can dilute whatever's causing a problem. If at all possible, test the source water to make sure that it is safe.
Ofcourse filtered water is gonna be the first choice, but if thats not an option use what you have. Just make sure you mix the salt solution correctly and give it time to aerate. Mix it up soon so you'll have time to let it sit.

Good Luck.

[Parrothead]

The tap water could be and very well might be what is causing the problems, the stuff is barely fit for human consumption and some won't even be that nice. also mix the salt into the water for 24 hours, then test your pH, don't just add buffer because your tap water has a low pH. The salt mixes have a natural buffer, and stop assuming, buy some test kits

[MyNameIsJoe]

The tap water could be and very well might be what is causing the problems, the stuff is barely fit for human consumption and some won't even be that nice. also mix the salt into the water for 24 hours, then test your pH, don't just add buffer because your tap water has a low pH. The salt mixes have a natural buffer, and stop assuming, buy some test kits

+1 Sounds like great advice to me. Maybe, since you don't have an RO/DI unit, you should go to wally-mart and get you some distilled water in the gallon jugs. Or get some water from one of the public water-purifying machines( also found at the devil's empire). Especially since you are having troubles, you would want to go with the purest source water.

I bought my ro/di unit on ebay and its been working great for over a year now. Some of the cheaper ones have a slower output, but none-the-less they still purify the water. I dont have an auto top-off so I just fill a 5 and 3 gallon jug by setting a timer so they dont overflow.

something you might wanna consider for future use. It's a relatively small investment compared to the great returns.

here are a couple links (just examples):

0 PPM 6st Reverse Osmosis 2 OUTPUT RO DI Water Filters - eBay (item 380291094139 end time Feb-18-11 00:32:42 PST)

or

100 G Aquarium Reef RO DI 5stage Reverse Osmosis Water - eBay (item 180544571860 end time Feb-04-11 21:47:21 PST)

[reeferbill]

Oh JessieMON ; I ust checked my water and found my phosphates were .5 because my water pump for phosban reactor was clogged and I found out my PH was 7.8 so I added some buffer and my star polyps are opening up. Check your ph I bet it is low. Happy Reefing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jessie Nicoletti]

Interesting development last nite i took a bit of mysid defrosted it then took a airline hose and siphoned it into the tank rite near my scoly case its tentacles are almost always out at nite, today it seemed to regrow a bit over the skeleton except its swolen kinda upwards rather then over the skeleton fully almost reminds me of a zoa the way the top is