What the heck is happening

[ReeferBill]

Reefers. I call upon you for help. What is happening to my corals? Parameters are perfect. All other corals are amazing. No issues. But both my blastos and trumpets are having that droop. Is it from having them on an angle? If so, will it harm them long term? Please advise.

 

[KrisReef]

I’m not an expert but I believe that your corals are beginning to identify as male (instead of hermaphrodites ) and they are beginning to transition and soon they will drop a pair into the sacks.

Otherwise, I have no idea what they are doing? I have only heard rumors about these things and that is what I have assumed that would happen in these situations.

Maybe other folks will verify this?

Happy June coming to your reef?

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

I’m not an expert but I believe that your corals are beginning to identify as male (instead of hermaphrodites ) and they are beginning to transition and soon they will drop a pair into the sacks.

Otherwise, I have no idea what they are doing? I have only heard rumors about these things and that is what I have assumed that would happen in these situations.

Maybe other folks will verify this?

Happy June coming to your reef?

Thousands of years of science don't change just because some dude in a gif says so.

But your argument is convincing. Especially the sack dropping part.

 

[Reefer Matt]

That's pretty neat. As in I have never seen that before. A lot of people will want your parameters though, so if you haven't tested today then you may want to, to get better help. Hope you figure it out.

 

[CoastalTownLayabout]

Looks like the usual growth habit of Caulastrea scrotumnus.

 

[ReeferBill]

What do you mean usual growth?

 

[ReeferBill]

Maybe they are just seeing what’s happening in the house and imitating.

Honestly. Does anyone know?

 

[Sleeping Giant]

looks like your coral has elephantiasis

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I’ve seen this sort of thing once or twice before on here (I’ll try to track down the thread/threads tomorrow), but I don’t think anyone on those threads actually knew what causes this or if it’s harmful/indicative of bad health for the coral. On a semi-positive note though, this condition can sometimes look really cool.

 

[Hurricane Aquatics]

How long have you had it?
What lighting and flow do you have?
Whats your magnesium level at?

To add, Blastos usually are placed near the Sandbed and that Pic looks like it's up on a rock hanging off vertically. That's not a good idea if that's the case. They need to be in lower lighting and flow.

 

[ReeferBill]

Blastos are super happy there. Have tripled in size since I got them 6 months ago. It’s just the weird drooping thing with both of those corals. Aside from that, they have both grown many more heads.
As I said. All the growth from all of my corals is perfect. I do a 25% water change weekly. Dont check parameters as I feel like the water changes keep the levels where they should be. All my coals, clams, fish, inverts are happy. I just didn’t know if this was caused from putting the corals in a vertical position, although I’ve seen many people do that without the same outcome. Fyi they have had this droop for over 3 months. Not getting bigger or smaller. Just there.

 

[Hurricane Aquatics]

Blastos are super happy there. Have tripled in size since I got them 6 months ago. It’s just the weird drooping thing with both of those corals. Aside from that, they have both grown many more heads.
As I said. All the growth from all of my corals is perfect. I do a 25% water change weekly. Dont check parameters as I feel like the water changes keep the levels where they should be. All my coals, clams, fish, inverts are happy. I just didn’t know if this was caused from putting the corals in a vertical position, although I’ve seen many people do that without the same outcome. Fyi they have had this droop for over 3 months. Not getting bigger or smaller. Just there.

It's my opinion that you have two problems.

First, I believe the vertical position is contributing to the droop, but it's probably because of the second reason.

Second, I would say that your magnesium is low. LPS and other corals do better with higher magnesium. I like 1450 to 1500 as lower magnesium can cause tissue loss on the Blastos. I believe your magnesium may be on the lower end and it has caused your Blasto to lose its ability to keep it's tissue firm.

I would move the Blasto to the Sandbed and check your magnesium. I don't care if it's 1250, raise it to 1500 and the best way to do that is a bottle of Red Sea Magnesium. It's very concentrated and a dose of 100ml daily for two days would raise you substantially.

If you have a good test for magnesium, please test it.

 

[ReeferBill]

Magnesium is 1470. Just checked.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Reefers. I call upon you for help. What is happening to my corals? Parameters are perfect. All other corals are amazing. No issues. But both my blastos and trumpets are having that droop. Is it from having them on an angle? If so, will it harm them long term? Please advise.

Occasionally I see this and it seems to coincide with downward flow pattern and causes inflated polyps

 

[ReeferBill]

I dosed magnesium as well just in case.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I’ve seen this sort of thing once or twice before on here (I’ll try to track down the thread/threads tomorrow), but I don’t think anyone on those threads actually knew what causes this or if it’s harmful/indicative of bad health for the coral. On a semi-positive note though, this condition can sometimes look really cool.

I found one of the threads I'd seen and another from way back. I think there are more threads about it on here, but I can't find them at the moment:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/wird-favia-growth-ever-seen-this.982854/https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/favia-dripping-new-bud.86028/

 

[blecki]

I had a favia that did this. It was fine until the 'bubble' ruptured, at which point it turned completely to brown jelly in about 48 hours. I'd think there'd be a similar issue here. Something is preventing the coral from deflating; it will tear, and it will be susceptible to infection.

 

[ReeferBill]

Thank you all. Don’t want it to die. Should I make it not on an angle? Just weird.

 

[Hurricane Aquatics]

Thank you all. Don’t want it to die. Should I make it not on an angle? Just weird.

Do you have any Iodine you could dip it in? If it has any infection that will clear it up. It looks healthy other than the droop.

See if it helps it after you dosed the Mag. I would be interested to see in a couple of days.

 

[ReeferBill]

Will do. I’ll monitor my mag as well.