Mysterious "bulge" on moon coral

[MarineDreamer]

Alrighty,

I’m really excited to maybe seeing some asexual reproduction in my tank, so I’m looking for some calmer heads. While looking at my tank today; I noticed a bulge on my ‘moon coral.’

I recently moved the coral, it was sitting too close to the glass and consequently it was getting knocked around by the glass scrapper. The photo was taken roughly an hour and a half before the lights went out. Other than that, I cleaned my lights a week ago. Pretty much the same routine, 15 gallon water changes once a week. I’ve been feeding my normal, Phyto, clam eggs, Selcon during the week, no direct feedings. There is a five gallon refug on the tank.

What do you think?

 

[Scooterman]

I can't tell, looks like it is growing??

 

[MarineDreamer]

I can't tell, looks like it is growing??

Hey Scootie,

Don't know yet... Last night was the first time that I obseverved the bulge. And since I leave for work before the lights come on... Well, I can't see nothin' yet.

 

[prbhasson]

From the picture it looks like it is growing a new polyp. Looks like time will tell though. Other than that it looks healthy...

 

[Anthony Calfo]

don't get too excited bro Yes... it is a reproductve strategy. But it is most always stress induced when expressed this way in aquaria. A sort of "polyp bailout" (though not literally).

Its a common response (in Faviids and Blastomussa especially) to an accumulated "chemical soup" from degraded water quality. Thought the rest of the tank may look very fine (for now), this is one of the early signs/corals to respond to inadequate use of chemical media (weekly carbon or daily ozone coupled with light water changes over time).

The placement of the coral is telling too... near the glass. I wonder if its getting a good first hand "sniff" of exudates from a downstream green star polyp, corallimoph colony or leather/soft coral. I'd put my money on that one being 6-10" away.

At any rate... do provide a full tank shot and more history about the aquarium for us to help you my friend. Age of tank, number of fishes and corals.

If you are looking at much more than one coral per 10 galls and stocked in less than one year... I win the kewpie doll on the polyp bud call