How to get green polyps to open up? SPECIES ID request!

Rob · 05-23-2001, 10:02 AM

Someone brought me a small rock with a mat of closed polyps, said that she bought it from an LFS, and that at home the polyps would not open.

Her lighting was two 55 watt PC's, my tank has three 96 watt PC's, one actinic, one 10k, one 6.7k. Her nitrates were about 100 ppm, mine are about 20.

Any ideas on getting these polyps to open, or what species it is? It's hard to do an ID, because the pictures that I see are all of OPEN polyps. The LFS is no help, I called them and they said that they don't keep track...

She said that the polyps were bright green in the store, closed they are deep purple lumps about 5mm in diameter, about the same colour as the coralline algae on my other rocks.

------------------
Cheers,
Rob
New York City

djheywood · 05-23-2001, 10:17 AM

sounds like green star polyps to me. I have heard they like good current. I can't figure these things out though. I had some, but they don't open eaither and they seem to be dying. My SPS, LPS, and Softies are all doing great though. Maybe I didn't get a healthy piece from the start. Anyway, try more circulation and direct light. Sometimes they stay closed for a few dyas then open up.

Good luck.

------------------
http://www.ssaland.com/reefpages/reefhome.htm

icemark · 05-23-2001, 10:44 AM

Too much light.

Make sure that you do not have those polyps directly in the light with your tank having over 2.5 times the light she had them in.

What did the store she get them from have them under.

They may eventually open, after they get rid of the sunburn.

Med water flow as well. Wave or surge is the best for them in my tanks.

------------------
Mark

Play Well

[This message has been edited by icemark (edited 05-23-2001).]

Rob · 05-23-2001, 11:05 AM

> Too much light.

Oy! I didn't think of this.

They've been almost a week like this, in the light. I'll move them into a bit of shade now...

> What did the store she get them from have them under.

I did ask that question... the usual 40w Coraldeath bluish bulb. These pet chain stores are VERY cheap with both salary and electricity!

> Med water flow as well.

I set up a 300 gph powerhead to blow on them, and it's about 20cm away. I could make it more indirect though.

Thanks.

------------------
Cheers,
Rob
New York City

CaptainTrips · 05-23-2001, 02:26 PM

I've had my Green Star Polyps close up on me before,once for almost a week. yours should open, they're pretty hardy. They seem to go through a growth spurt after opening IME. HTH

asmith · 05-23-2001, 04:11 PM

How long have you had these polyps? I don't think the lighting is the problem. I have some green star polyps that are about 6 inches from the surface of my tank under 4 96 watt PC bulbs (2 actinic, 2 6700K) They were closed for over a week when we first got them. Now they are out all day long. They have moderate water flow. If they are new to the tank, then give them some time. They will most likely adjust to the conditions.

JMO/JME,
Andrew

------------------
I'm living so far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart. e.e.cummings

[This message has been edited by asmith (edited 05-23-2001).]

Colin · 05-24-2001, 05:20 AM

Erm, star polyps aren't 5mm in diameter closed. That sounds more like a button polyp/sea mat to me.

FWIW, mine haven't opened since I installed MH almost 6 months ago, regardless of tank position. However, they do seem to be growing and healthy. Got me.

--Colin

Bruce · 05-24-2001, 07:15 AM

I have a large colony of Green star polyps in the middle of my tank, about 12 inches from the surface. The tank is illuminated by a 250 watt iwasaki, and 2 75 watt actinics. However, these polyps were slowly acclimated to this intensity. They started out with 2 vho tubes, then moved to 4, before upgrading to the halide lighting.

Green star polyps, as most other corals, can be acclimated to intense lighting if done slowly.

kholladay · 05-24-2001, 07:48 AM

If they are green star polyps then here is what I did to get mine happy. When I first got them, last week, they were totally closed so I put them at the top of the rock right in front of a powerhead. Left them there for about 3 days then I moved them to a low flow area but still at the top of the rocks and they are open and beautiful now. It took about 4 days for them to open completely.

------------------
Kyle Holladay
My Fish Site

Mobious · 05-24-2001, 11:29 AM

What size tank do you have those 96watters over?

I have 1000watts over a 75 gallon and my Star polups are growing like crazy.. I think your problem might be the nitrates.

Neal359 · 05-24-2001, 11:45 AM

also a little bit of iro in the tank ken help i started adding it to the tank and mine have never looked better i also dont think the lighting it bright. i have mine under about 300 wats af lighting and about half way up

[This message has been edited by Neal359 (edited 05-24-2001).]

waterboy · 05-24-2001, 02:03 PM

I don't think the problem is so much that you have high intensity lighting. It's probably more that they went from 55W clear up to 96W - twice as much. I'm by no means an expert, but they should probably be acclimated slower.

05-23-2001, 10:02 AM	#1
Rob Governor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: New York City Posts: 1,445	How to get green polyps to open up? SPECIES ID request! Someone brought me a small rock with a mat of closed polyps, said that she bought it from an LFS, and that at home the polyps would not open. Her lighting was two 55 watt PC's, my tank has three 96 watt PC's, one actinic, one 10k, one 6.7k. Her nitrates were about 100 ppm, mine are about 20. Any ideas on getting these polyps to open, or what species it is? It's hard to do an ID, because the pictures that I see are all of OPEN polyps. The LFS is no help, I called them and they said that they don't keep track... She said that the polyps were bright green in the store, closed they are deep purple lumps about 5mm in diameter, about the same colour as the coralline algae on my other rocks. ------------------ Cheers, Rob New York City

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05-23-2001, 10:17 AM	#2
djheywood Council Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: El Segundo, CA Posts: 367	sounds like green star polyps to me. I have heard they like good current. I can't figure these things out though. I had some, but they don't open eaither and they seem to be dying. My SPS, LPS, and Softies are all doing great though. Maybe I didn't get a healthy piece from the start. Anyway, try more circulation and direct light. Sometimes they stay closed for a few dyas then open up. Good luck. ------------------ http://www.ssaland.com/reefpages/reefhome.htm

05-23-2001, 10:44 AM	#3
icemark Governor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Rohnert Park, CA, USA Posts: 1,102	Too much light. Make sure that you do not have those polyps directly in the light with your tank having over 2.5 times the light she had them in. What did the store she get them from have them under. They may eventually open, after they get rid of the sunburn. Med water flow as well. Wave or surge is the best for them in my tanks. ------------------ Mark Play Well [This message has been edited by icemark (edited 05-23-2001).]

05-23-2001, 11:05 AM	#4
Rob Governor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: New York City Posts: 1,445	> Too much light. Oy! I didn't think of this. They've been almost a week like this, in the light. I'll move them into a bit of shade now... > What did the store she get them from have them under. I did ask that question... the usual 40w Coraldeath bluish bulb. These pet chain stores are VERY cheap with both salary and electricity! > Med water flow as well. I set up a 300 gph powerhead to blow on them, and it's about 20cm away. I could make it more indirect though. Thanks. ------------------ Cheers, Rob New York City

05-23-2001, 02:26 PM	#5
CaptainTrips Just Moved In Join Date: May 2001 Location: New York Posts: 19	I've had my Green Star Polyps close up on me before,once for almost a week. yours should open, they're pretty hardy. They seem to go through a growth spurt after opening IME. HTH

05-23-2001, 04:11 PM	#6
asmith Mayor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Lenexa, KS, USA Posts: 978	How long have you had these polyps? I don't think the lighting is the problem. I have some green star polyps that are about 6 inches from the surface of my tank under 4 96 watt PC bulbs (2 actinic, 2 6700K) They were closed for over a week when we first got them. Now they are out all day long. They have moderate water flow. If they are new to the tank, then give them some time. They will most likely adjust to the conditions. JMO/JME, Andrew ------------------ I'm living so far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart. e.e.cummings [This message has been edited by asmith (edited 05-23-2001).]

05-24-2001, 05:20 AM	#7
Colin Just Moved In Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Edmond, OK USA Posts: 35	Erm, star polyps aren't 5mm in diameter closed. That sounds more like a button polyp/sea mat to me. FWIW, mine haven't opened since I installed MH almost 6 months ago, regardless of tank position. However, they do seem to be growing and healthy. Got me. --Colin

05-24-2001, 07:15 AM	#8
Bruce Tenant Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 82	I have a large colony of Green star polyps in the middle of my tank, about 12 inches from the surface. The tank is illuminated by a 250 watt iwasaki, and 2 75 watt actinics. However, these polyps were slowly acclimated to this intensity. They started out with 2 vho tubes, then moved to 4, before upgrading to the halide lighting. Green star polyps, as most other corals, can be acclimated to intense lighting if done slowly.

05-24-2001, 07:48 AM	#9
kholladay Tenant Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Ventura, CA Posts: 83	If they are green star polyps then here is what I did to get mine happy. When I first got them, last week, they were totally closed so I put them at the top of the rock right in front of a powerhead. Left them there for about 3 days then I moved them to a low flow area but still at the top of the rocks and they are open and beautiful now. It took about 4 days for them to open completely. ------------------ Kyle Holladay My Fish Site

05-24-2001, 11:29 AM	#10
Mobious Council Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 282	What size tank do you have those 96watters over? I have 1000watts over a 75 gallon and my Star polups are growing like crazy.. I think your problem might be the nitrates.

05-24-2001, 11:45 AM	#11
Neal359 Mayor Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: richmond Posts: 558	also a little bit of iro in the tank ken help i started adding it to the tank and mine have never looked better i also dont think the lighting it bright. i have mine under about 300 wats af lighting and about half way up [This message has been edited by Neal359 (edited 05-24-2001).]

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05-24-2001, 02:03 PM	#12
waterboy Citizen Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Columbus,OH,US Posts: 157	I don't think the problem is so much that you have high intensity lighting. It's probably more that they went from 55W clear up to 96W - twice as much. I'm by no means an expert, but they should probably be acclimated slower.