GSP's not opening

[Krypt]

My GSP's are currently closed and have been like that for the past two days. I have a feeling they are in trouble. Last Wednesday, I noticed that only half of them were open. They remained like that (half open/half closed), until Sunday when they did not open at all. I have run some tests and the results were normal:
amm: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: less than 5 (unreadable)
dKh: 8
cal: 440
phos: less than 0.05 (unreadable)
ph: 8.2 (does the daily fluctuation, starts at around 7.9 then levels off at 8.2 at lights out)
salinity: 1.026 on the refract

All my other corals are open and happy. I have started running some carbon in a reactor to see if maybe there is something in the water that may be upsetting them but I wasn't sure if there is another possible explanation.

 

[mr_X]

how long have they been where they are now? any new additions like lighting (new fixture, changing bulbs recently) or power heads redirected or added lately?

 

[Krypt]

They have been in the location around 2 months, and I haven't changed anything mechanically since I reaquascaped the tank around a month and a half ago. The wife cut my funding so there hasn't been any new items put in.

 

[mr_X]

then i don't know what it could be. how about starfish? any asterinas on it?

 

[the_fish_man]

Do you have any flow in the tank? What fish are in your tank? Could you possibly have asternia starfish that are eating them

 

[Krypt]

I don't know what it could be either. The only starfish I have is a black banded brittle star, but he stays in the rocks on the other side of the tank most of the time and I keep him well fed with pellets and the occasional shrimp on a stick. I've read on another site that it may actually be a case of my water being too clean. Apparently, some think that they may prefer dirtier water with more nutrients in the water column. Also, I've read a few posts on reefcentral where some people were saying that their peppermint shrimp were eating them.

 

[mr_X]

it's not the brittle. that much i know.
i'm not sure i go along with the "clean water" theory. they give that theory any time they can't figure out the issue...lol.
i'll tell you one thing- they said the same about the sudden die off of xenia, and i had a mass die off after a few years of growth. i assure you, my water was NOT too clean.

 

[the_fish_man]

Well essentialy if you have peppermint shrimp they shouldn't eat them they are 100%reef safe but there is another shrimp that has a darker color red and a bigger hump on the back and it is a camelback shrimp which are sold as peppermint shrimp but they are not reef safe.

 

[Krypt]

Well, guess I will just the carbon do it's thing and see if it helps. Given GSP's nature of spreading everywhere, this may be a blessing in disguise.

 

[Krypt]

Update: They didn't open yesterday either. I am noticing that the purple encrusting parts are starting to turn a redish brown. I think they are dead.

 

[Krypt]

I am glad I gave them more time. They are open again and look fine. I still have no idea why they were closed but I won't question a Christmas miracle!

 

[mr_X]

it's a festivus miracle!