"Bubbly" tips on acropora

[Guttungen]

Anyone have an idea on why some of the tips on some of my acropora looks like they are bubbly? Almost as if they are pumped up like LPS, and the tissue seems loose.
I have a theory that it could be a bacterial issue....

 

[UTCReefer]

Check your alkalinity. High Alk can cause this.

 

[Guttungen]

Alk is about all I check laying around 9 dKH (3,2 Meq/L)

 

[Guttungen]

Better picture

 

[typezero]

Ive seen this happen on tips and little on coralites but not to this extent wow!

 

[Guttungen]

No more ideas?

The bubbly tips are crispy, and gets pulverised if I touch them, leaving the skeleton in the open.

 

[Arkayology]

That is weird. If it were me, I would cut all the bubbly areas off.

 

[Dave & Monica]

I use to have a naso tang nip constantly on sps tips, and it looked like that. It was only two in one corner. I later traded the fish away... Just my 2 cents.

 

[Rogerh]

I use to have a naso tang nip constantly on sps tips, and it looked like that. It was only two in one corner. I later traded the fish away... Just my 2 cents.

Yep, I have a Hepatus that does that to one of my corals if I don`t feed him enough. So I would guess this could be the problem.

 

[Guttungen]

Hmm I got a half-blind flavences that I know nips a bit. Strangely even the skeleton in the tips are crispy and I can crush it to powder with my fingers. Might still be a fish...

 

[Balagur]

check Mg

 

[Arkayology]

The tips of the acros are brittle? It could be an alk swing issue or rapid reduction of nutrients.

 

[sahin]

Is this coral in direct line with water flow from any pumps/powerheads?

 

[Guttungen]

check Mg

I will

The tips of the acros are brittle? It could be an alk swing issue or rapid reduction of nutrients.

I have not noticed any swing i alk. My Balling+ dosing keeps it pretty stabile. And it looks like nutrients still is a bit high.

Is this coral in direct line with water flow from any pumps/powerheads?

Not a direct hit. Seems I got 3 acros with this symptoms, (this is definitely the worst) none within direct flow. I'm a bit on the low end on the total flow in the tank.

 

[UTCReefer]

Check your salinity with a freshly calibrated refractometer too

 

[Guttungen]

Check your salinity with a freshly calibrated refractometer too

Finally did that 1.029 and going down... my old showed 1.027. Taking it down over a few weeks. Not sure if that is the answer, but a start.

 

[trueblackpercula]

what are you dosing in the tank for Alk/Calcium/ Magnesium? also are you target feeding your sps or feeding them anything? what salt brand are you using?mIt looks like the purple stag acro is got it in a few places as well from the picture you posted.

 

[Guttungen]

Using Balling+ and I think that explains the raise of salinity, and water change with too high salinity to level it out. Using Red Sea Coral Pro at the moment.
And yes, a few more have the same symptoms, but not as badly damaged.

 

[trueblackpercula]

I have no idea what it could be tagging along at this point.

 

[Moser]

High calcium can do this.
Do you have fish that nip?. It might be recovery from nipping, with high calcium levels?. 500+.

Mo