Dripping corals good?

[Oscapus]

I have a 120 gal reef under lots of power compacts, refugium, great live rock etc... and everything appears healthy. Recently, my candy canes, closed brain, and other unknown species have started dripping. The drips get carried off and start new polyps, and I have successfully got some to start where I wanted them.

Is this something good? I would think that asexual reproduction, or any reproduction, is a good sign? See picture, more available at higher rez.

 

[wrightme43]

WOW!!! YOUVE GOT ME MAN! I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN MY LIFE. I could not begin to tell you whats going on. It looks like candle wax. My trumpets just spread and split, they never have driped like wax. I hope somebody knows cause I sure don't.

 

[big t]

That is crazy, I have never seen anything like that either! So can you tell us what your water parameters are? Salinity, Alk, Cal, Phos, Nitrates...

 

[wrightme43]

T's right man, what salinity do you run? Phosphate level? Have you added anything to your tank,( mag,stron,moly,iodine,and such) I have never seen anything like that in the wild or in any tanks. As far as my limited knowledge goes its a first. Could the zoos be causing it? Is the water very hot, like 84-85 degrees? Could it be a sickness? I really want to know. You have got my brain working over time, I have looked at all of my books and nothing. I hope somebody knows. STEVE

 

[Wolfesbane]

Wow, I have seen pictures of candy cane that look like they're melting, but it's odd that several of your coral species have started to do that at the same time. Makes it look like a Dali painting!

~ Steve

 

[Oscapus]

One of them now has a drip over 7" long (see new picture below, just to the right of the Anthias). Water parameters are pretty typical, I do run salinity a little rich at 1.025, 78 degrees, all the Kent additives, kH a little low at times, Ca++ also a little low at times (lazy me).

If you look at the very bottom of the original picture, just barely left of center, you see 2 white candycane polyps on a ledge that started from a drip. They formed polyps within 2-3 days of the blob landing. The third polyp just up to the right is a polyp that dripped intact and is establishing. An elongated polyp up to the left is also slowly oozing down.

 

[Angelscrx]

I have seen corals do this on websites before and it was considered normal reproduction but I have never seen that many corals do it at once. It actually looks pretty cool and scary at the same time.

 

[wrightme43]

See somebody that know what the heck is going on. Angelscrx do you remember where you had seen it before. I am eat up trying to figure this one out. STEVE

 

[NaH2O]

Hmmm....interesting. I wonder if it is a form of polyp bail-out? Any changes recently to your system? Also, I don't feel your specific gravity is bad - I run mine at S=35/S.G. = 1.026 via refractometer. For kicks, could you list out your water parameters?

 

[Oscapus]

I did install a refugium/ reverse photosynthesis DSB sump about 6 months ago and everything loves it. The dripping showed up about 2 months ago. I will have to get off my duff and test everything. If this is something unusual I will get on it and report back.

 

[DonW]

I would check with Anthony directly on this wierd event. You might ask Mike how to get ahold of Steve Tyree.

Don

 

[Angelscrx]

See somebody that know what the heck is going on. Angelscrx do you remember where you had seen it before. I am eat up trying to figure this one out. STEVE

Actually I don't remember where I saw it it was a while ago. I found it on a person's personal tank page though. He had a coral that did it two or three times a year. It was pretty neat as he had pictures of different stages of drip. And just like yours it would grow new corals where it landed. I'd check with the pros like suggested.

 

[Anthony Calfo]

the (obviously asexual) reproductive mode you are seeing is actually rather common inthe wild and in aquaria. It occurs over an extremely wide range of corals and may be stress induced or not. I personally have seen it occur in Euphylliids, Faviids, Acroporids and quite a few more families.

When only one coral/specimen is dripping a satellite, I'd say its a planned event so to speak.

But when more than one specimens, species or even genera (multiple here) execute this strategy at the same time, it suggests that it was more likely a stress induced event.

As suggested above... was there recently a sudden changein salinity or temperature? Could be something as simple as being tardy on evap top off then suddenly adding a bunch of cool, freshwater to compensate - a sudden drop in temp and salinity.

No biggie either way... with good water quality, the parent and divisions will survive just fine

Anthony

 

[wrightme43]

Thanks Anthony, Now I can go back to the rest of my life. STEVE

 

[Angelscrx]

Thanks Anthony, Now I can go back to the rest of my life. STEVE

Oh you mean there's more to life than sitting in front of your tank and staring at it?

I am glad it is a normal thing and we can all learn from it.

 

[Anthony Calfo]

always welcome... special thanks to you for taking the time to photograph and share it. Its very helpful and important to other aquarists to see such events.

kindly,

Anthony

 

[wrightme43]

Hey I was looking through Mr Fenners book Conscientious Marine Aquarist. It say with low Iodine the corals will start melt down. Just a possibility something to check. Steve

 

[Shoreliner11]

I learn something new everyday. Cool pictures, reproduction would have been my last thought.