hi all, hoping someone can lend their knowledge here
I have a blushing star coral I got in on some liverock from TBS last year. I've had this coral for a full year and it's grown a bit and generally is doing well.
Recently I noticed what looks like tiny white fuzzy cotton balls on it. At first I thought it was just stuff the polyps had gathered from the water, but after a few days I decided to take a closer look. Under 10x magnification it just looks like fuzz. I tried to remove some to look at under a microscope, but you can't scrape it off. I think it might actually be part of the coral flesh? I can't tell.
When the polyps are fully extended you can't see the fuzz.
At first I thought it might be pests of some kind, but it doesn't appear to be that.
The only thing that has changed parameter wise in my tank was I raised Mg from 1140 to 1340 over 6 days recently, and if that is causing stress I'd be surprised because this coral has been through way worse. I did make a small flow adjustment but do not think that is the cause here.
The coral has shown no sign of irritation or anything.
66g total water volume
77.0F
SG 1.026
Alk 7.8
Ca 390
Mg 1340
Nitrate 6.8
Phosphate .10
PAR ~150
Daily I add 8mL of All for Reef, 0.5mL Bactobalance (carbon source), 1mL calcium nitrate (to maintain nitrate levels).
Last pic is yesterday with polyps fully extended for a general view. I had to get it to retract it's polyps to get pics of the fuzz. Polyps are generally at least partially extended 99.9% of the day. Marked pics are from the top of the tank, outside the water and the rest through glass while holding the rock.
Appreciate any thoughts!
I have a blushing star coral I got in on some liverock from TBS last year. I've had this coral for a full year and it's grown a bit and generally is doing well.
Recently I noticed what looks like tiny white fuzzy cotton balls on it. At first I thought it was just stuff the polyps had gathered from the water, but after a few days I decided to take a closer look. Under 10x magnification it just looks like fuzz. I tried to remove some to look at under a microscope, but you can't scrape it off. I think it might actually be part of the coral flesh? I can't tell.
When the polyps are fully extended you can't see the fuzz.
At first I thought it might be pests of some kind, but it doesn't appear to be that.
The only thing that has changed parameter wise in my tank was I raised Mg from 1140 to 1340 over 6 days recently, and if that is causing stress I'd be surprised because this coral has been through way worse. I did make a small flow adjustment but do not think that is the cause here.
The coral has shown no sign of irritation or anything.
66g total water volume
77.0F
SG 1.026
Alk 7.8
Ca 390
Mg 1340
Nitrate 6.8
Phosphate .10
PAR ~150
Daily I add 8mL of All for Reef, 0.5mL Bactobalance (carbon source), 1mL calcium nitrate (to maintain nitrate levels).
Last pic is yesterday with polyps fully extended for a general view. I had to get it to retract it's polyps to get pics of the fuzz. Polyps are generally at least partially extended 99.9% of the day. Marked pics are from the top of the tank, outside the water and the rest through glass while holding the rock.
Appreciate any thoughts!
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