Would definitely appreciate some help regarding to PE with sps colonies.

[Kevin Chang]

Hey fellow reefers,
I have a waterbox 20, mixed reef with some acropora colonies on the top part of the tank. Before I start my question
These are the parameters
KH 8.9
Salinity 1.026
Cal 440
Mag 1300
Phos 0.03
Nitrate 5-10
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
I run one AI prime HD 16 at 7 inch on top of the water and this is my setting

And this is where about are my sps colonies

So my question
How do I know if they are truely happy, I know colour and PE are the indicators of good health, but PE naturally should happen when this organism is hungry, so the tentacles are out to feed( is that why some people run low nutrients tank? So the coral is constantly starving?) when I bought them they were showing amazing PE with relative low light conditions.
I can only explain this with that when the light not that intense, the microalgea living in the coral is not feed on light, hence less nutrients coming from photosynthesis, so the PE is greater. Also, the PE is when the coral organism needs respirate, I have quite a lot of movement going on at the surface, so the tanks oxygen and CO2 level would be normal, dose that also contribute to not having much PE?
Any discussion would be much appropriated, as we all love this hobby because we learn knew things about these amazing creatures everyday!
Happy reefing guys!

 

[Peace River]

#WelcometoR2R!!! Let's see if we can get some help with your question...

#reefsquad @Jay Hemdal

 

[Kevin Chang]

#WelcometoR2R!!! Let's see if we can get some help with your question...

#reefsquad @Jay Hemdal

Hey man! Thanks for that!

 

[SPR1968]

Great question, and welcome to R2R Kevin!

I guess if their feeding, growing and colourful there healthy?

I run much longer lighting schedules in my tanks, on around 9am with a 1 hour ramp to 95% full power which reduces around 6pm and then off around 10pm. The Radion Pros are at nearly full power but I use cloud affects to give some relief and it’s very effective

Is this coral happy, I think so but who really knows for sure.....

 

[Kevin Chang]

Hey, man. Thanks for that! I’m just always worrying if I’m not giving them a proper home. They are so fragile, so delicate.