[Andrew52984]

I recently purchased some live rock from my LFS and on one rock there are three polyps. The LFS owner noticed them and said there's a chance they may open but she wasn't sure. I currently have the standard 40w light that came on my 46g bowfront. Is there a chance of them opening up and would i be able to keep any type of coral in this tank and then eventually upgrade my lighting. I'd really like to have some coral in for now until i can afford my new lights. I also have a Korallia 2 powerhead in there, and i have placed the rock with these polyps as close to the light and the powerhead as possible.

[demonsquirt]

It depends on your tanks age and the water readings and type of polyp.
A pic would help.

[Andrew52984]

Waitin on my wife to get back from walmart. could be forever from now for pics lol, camera's in her purse.
Parameters are as follows:
Nitrates - 20 ppm
Nitrite - 0
Alkalinity - 300
pH - 8.2
Temp 79 degrees
Ammonia - 0
Salinity - 1.024

[unclejed]

Hi squirt, you can house mushrooms as they don't require intense lighting and actually do quite well with lower lighting. Also for polyps and mushrooms you don't want too high of flow on them they like a mild to moderate flow.

[Andrew52984]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...4/100_0734.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...4/100_0741.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...4/100_0738.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...4/100_0744.jpg

Also purchased a new fish, picked up a blue hippo(regal) tang. Yes in a 46 gallon bowfront, but already have the money set back for a 100+ gallon tank, just waiting on the wife to decide what size she wants in the basement. And she's only an inch long from nose to tail tip. First two days she was really scared and skiddish but now she's out an actually swims around with the 3rd clownfish(the alternate that usually gets picked on by the large female). She's eating seaweed on the clip and chows down on mysis shrimp before bedtime.

[demonsquirt]

This is very true but growth would be slower. As for flow , you cant adjust flow to coral you need to get good flow or curculation and then adapt coral to this. Most coral like good flow as this is what provides the food source and oxygen amoung other things. You cant just throw a couple powerheads in and expect results. Flow needs a proper understanding as it is the most important factor in long term success.

Originally Posted by unclejed

Hi squirt, you can house mushrooms as they don't require intense lighting and actually do quite well with lower lighting. Also for polyps and mushrooms you don't want too high of flow on them they like a mild to moderate flow.

[Andrew52984]

Hey thank you for all your input, since we talked last those three polyps have doubled in size, they look blueish gray on the outside and the inside is a maroon or red! Even better yet, there are three to four other polyps, small green and yellow in color that I can already tell are zoas, they have opened already also but are very tiny. I played with the powerhead and the flow from my canister and have a nice cross flow going providing great circulation in the tank. The fish are loving it. I plan to purchase some more live rock soon, got my nitrates down to 20 ppm and am trying to get them down to less than 5 currently. I am going to post pictures later tonight. Thanks!

[spanko]

Let's see those pictures Andrew. It was hard to tell what the polyps were going to be in the first pics you posted, can't wait to see them opened up!