Trachy retracting, or extending randomly.

[MattPLaw]

Good day, all!

As the title says, my trachyphyllia coral seems to retract or extend its flesh randomly. Some days it is super goofy and happy looking and 3x the size at night, and some days it's tucked in close to it's scheleton. I can not for the life of me figure out why. I have observed it for months now and I cannot figure out a trend. Does anyone have any experience with this or suggestions?

Here it is sucked in:

Here is the rest of my tank at the same time, you can seel all sorts of other things fully extended.

My water params are pretty consistent around:
Alk: 10
Ph: 8.2
Magnesium: 1350
Calcium: 450

The only thing that has been a bit up and down has been nitrate and phosphate, although they are leveling out now around:
Nitrate: 9ppm
Phosphate 0.1ppm

Please let me know what you think, thanks!

 

[VintageReefer]

My wellso does the same thing

Today is “medium poofy”

The other day it was retracted and skeleton outline was more visible

Randomly it fully inflates (old pic)

I can’t figure out any reason but I read it can happen and I just attribute it to normal behavior for these style of corals

 

[MattPLaw]

That's beautiful I want one!
Thanks for the reply, it would be great to think it's happy, just changes whenever it feels.

 

[VintageReefer]

I can not find any reason r pattern so my assumption is it is performing bodily functions as needed. Possibly Digesting?

I have seen it be retracted in the afternoon and fully inflated later that day. Who knows lol

Most the time it’s like the first pic. That seems to be the normal.

 

[MattPLaw]

I have literally seen mine go from full puffy to retracted in about half a second, it opened all its mouths and expelled a ton of waste all in one motion.

 

[VintageReefer]

That's beautiful I want one!
Thanks for the reply, it would be great to think it's happy, just changes whenever it feels.

Thanks! First thing I thought when I saw yours was that it looks really good to me!

 

[VintageReefer]

I have literally seen mine go from full puffy to retracted in about half a second, it opened all its mouths and expelled a ton of waste all in one motion.

Thank goodness this happens underwater lol

 

[VintageReefer]

That's beautiful I want one!
Thanks for the reply, it would be great to think it's happy, just changes whenever it feels.

Caught this just now as I walked by

 

[MattPLaw]

Wow! That's how I want mine to look!