Stag Polyp Extension and Color

[Chipper1978]

I have one acro in my 10 month old mixed reef. It’s an orange tipped staghorn I got almost 3 months ago. One side is an unbelievably nice green with great polyp extension. However, the other side is an almost brown color with very limited polyp extension. It’s been like this for almost the entire time I’ve had it and, to be quite honest, I’m very happy I’ve kept it alive and I’m very hesitant to change anything.

I’m wondering if there is too much direct flow since the side that doesn’t look nearly as good is on the same side as my power head. I just figured that it being 2 feet from it would be far enough away (tank is 4 feet).

Would you guys just leave well enough alone or move the powerhead?

dKH-7.6, Calcium-456, Mag-1320, NO3-19, PO4-0.07, Salinity-1.025, Temp-77.7

Hopefully the attached pics will show you the difference from one side to the other.

 

[90's reefer]

The frag was probably growing horizontal from the colony it was cut from. So it did not get much light.
I have about 10 stags and the ones that grow horizontal have almost no bottom polyps and are brownish in color.
I have frags of them in my frag system and it takes awhile for them to grow polyps on the side that was not getting direct light.

 

[Viva'sReef]

Looks happy and healthy, I'd leave it alone. +1 for it was probably growing horizontally and you're noticing the shaded side.

 

[Chipper1978]

Good call guys! I didn’t even think of that. Love the help I’ve got on this forum!

 

[Chipper1978]

So now the side facing the power head had a small amount of flesh come off. I turned down the flow slightly. Very confused since the other side looks great.

 

[lemonade]

For a 3 month old piece, it doesn’t look like there was much growth going on. Is the MP on a constant stream or pulse?

 

[Chipper1978]

For a 3 month old piece, it doesn’t look like there was much growth going on. Is the MP on a constant stream or pulse?

Reef Crest mode

 

[lemonade]

I would look else where besides flow. After 3 months in your tank you should be seeing at the very least the base encrusting. Seems something else is going on here

 

[Chipper1978]

I would look else where besides flow. After 3 months in your tank you should be seeing at the very least the base encrusting. Seems something else is going on here

You are correct with minimal to no growth occurring. I am definitely stumped. Getting around 250 PAR in that spot and I feel like my parameters are where they need to be.