Less flow=better polyp extension???

**Sir Patrick** · 03-24-2011, 03:39 PM

I seem to be struggling with polyp extension on alot of my corals. Have been for a while.

The other day, I killed all the flow in my tank for a few hours, to zap a few nasty nems. During the low flow period my sps polyp extension rapidly increased.

Looking for feed back.

**Heidi** · 03-24-2011, 03:42 PM

I have too much flow to keep anything that doesn't like a lot of flow. . . I have had to take stuff back .. . so I know I'm not an expert but I disagree. I have awesome polyp extension on everything except this one really yellow/bright green sps but it is getting better the longer its been in the tank.
Heidi

**EMUreef** · 03-24-2011, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by Sir Patrick

I seem to be struggling with polyp extension on alot of my corals. Have been for a while.

The other day, I killed all the flow in my tank for a few hours, to zap a few nasty nems. During the low flow period my sps polyp extension rapidly increased.

Looking for feed back.

i have the same issue, i guess it depends on the stick. I have a piece that is getting insane polyp extension and its in very veyr little flow than a pink lemonade sps in the same area with no polyp extension at all...

**Sir Patrick** · 03-24-2011, 03:48 PM

Wonder why everything got bushy when i turned off all the pumps.....strange.....

**ReefSolutions** · 03-24-2011, 03:49 PM

might have been what you added to the tank. usually sps need higher flow but not pounding flow. lps such as frogspawn and torches tend to like slower flow to eneable them to open fully.
do you usually feed with your pumps off?
i do at home and anytime the pumps go off my sps open up thinking they're getting food.
shannon

**Sir Patrick** · 03-24-2011, 03:58 PM

Nope, I leave all pumps blasting when feeding. Just turn of my 100 gph return pump off for a bit. All other pumps stay running.

All I added to the tank was a little bit of kalk paste.

**bigbill** · 03-24-2011, 04:02 PM

yea some sps just cant take as much flow as some + 1 on shuting all pumps down to feed

**redemer123** · 03-24-2011, 06:57 PM

I keep all my sps right below all the flow and they do great..same goes for zoos im pretty much have them in the same spot.

**Sir Patrick** · 03-28-2011, 07:15 PM

bump

**schminksbro** · 03-28-2011, 07:35 PM

I run 2 Vortech MP40s in a 100 gallon display and my acros are all bushy with polyp extension across the board. The type of flow is as important as the amount of flow.