Growth on Red Planet ( pic )

Jimbo · Apr 4, 2014

I have a very healthy Red Planet colony, only problem is It has a tumor looking growth that's probably about 1" in diameter. You can't see in the pic but there are small bubble looking things on the growth.

I can't find much information on this but I also have a frag of Miyagi Tort which looks like it is developing something similar. All other SPS Are fine.

Tank Info:
70 Gallon 30x30x18H
8x24 watt ATI Sunpower

Alk 8.2 ( Hanna checker)
Calcium 420 ( Salifert )
Mag 1350 ( Salifert )

I run Ecobak Biopellets nitrates <5 according to Salifert Phosphates .02 ( Hanna ULR )

Here's a iphone pic:

Jimbo · Apr 4, 2014

Here's a pic of the Tort. Growth is at the bottom center of frag. Small bubble like growths.

Connie · Apr 4, 2014

Is there a slit at the top of each growth? If so, it is small barnacles. If the "bubbles" are hollow at the top it could be vermetid snails.

Jimbo · Apr 4, 2014

I'm familiar with both those and it's neither. It's some kind of deformity within the coral tissue.

bknapp · Apr 4, 2014

What are your magnesium levels? I've had the same type of growth and people attributed it to high magnesium.

Jimbo · Apr 4, 2014

Magnesium is 1350 . I've read where people have attributed this to overdoses of magnesium and I believe calcium also. My levels have always been stable.

Jimbo · Apr 7, 2014

bknapp said:
What are your magnesium levels? I've had the same type of growth and people attributed it to high magnesium.

From what I have read these growths are not uncommon and pretty harmless. Nobody seems to know the cause though . Do you still have a coral with the growth? If so did it go away?

Thinking of cutting it off. Haven't heard of anyone doing that though.