Help with my brain........lol

[KenStanley]

I have something I think is rather odd and wanted to run it by everyone to see if they have ever encountered anything like it.

I have a open brain coral. I've had it for a year or so. About 4 months ago it separated from its skeleton and it seems to be doing fine. I can't believe it. Its colors are bright blue and green and it is often "puffed up" and other time small. I've told and showed it to everyone I know and no one has ever heard of anything like it. I've examined it very closely in my hand and there is absolutely no skeleton at all. Just like a blob of jelly. It seems to just be moved around the tank by current. I most often find it behind live rock out of site but I swear it seems to always be some where, where it gets light shining down through the live rock.

What do you guys think? Has anyone ever heard of any thing like this? All my other coral is doing great. Thanks for your input.

 

[elegance coral]

I have read about this, but never had it happen in one of my tanks. How is your calcium level? Do a google search for "polyp bailout". You will find a great deal of info on this.

 

[KenStanley]

polyp bailout

polyp bailout

Thanks Elegance, I Googled "polyp bailout" and read some of the articles that you said were available and have yet to find any reference to this behavior where the coral survived over a period of months. One article pointed out that most corals (less than 5%) survive the ordeal. Although this particular study involved SPS coral not LPS coral and was believed to be a form of asexual propagation because the polyp reattached to a new substrate and started a new colony. My coral has survived for more than 4 months without a skeleton.

You asked about water parameters. I have to be honest about the time of this happened I was not monitoring very frequently and I made several equipment purchases to improve the environment. Replaced 2- 150W halides with 2- 250W (10K), added a Calcium reactor, Phosphate reactor (running RowaPhos and Activated Carbon), Ozone and replaced an Impact (in sump) skimmer with a H&S A150-F2001 external skimmer, added a Tunze Wave box and Tunze Stream with 2 â€"œ 6100 pumps and controller. Now, I monitor my tank religiously and I believe my water quality to be very good at this time. Below are the averages for the month of June 2007.

Water Temp Avg - 77.3 with a range of 75.9 - 78.5
Salinity - 1.026 (I use natural sea water with virtually no variation)
Mg Avg - 1242.8 with a range of 1125 -1362.5
Ph - Avg. 7.91 (early morning prior to lights coming on). Range 7.72 to 8.19. (Relatively low ph is likely a result of using a calcium reactor).
Calcium - Avg 422 with a range of 370 - 500 (excessive range due to dialing in of calcium reactor)
Alkalinity - Avg 3.66 mequ/L with a range of 2.614 - 5.107
Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates and Phosphates are all virtually 0 to undetectable and have been that way for a year. I very rarely even test for them any longer.

I'd also like to identify the piece in question. It is a Trachyphyllia or Open Brain coral.

At this point based on your suggested reading I have to conclude this was the result of stress. One article suggested this occurred, in another situation, due to proximity to some zoos and the open brain did not like being around them. It was suggested that perhaps the open brain was seeking a more favorable location away from the palytoxin produced by the zoos.

At any rate I've decided to attempt to anchor the piece and see if it will begin to form a new skeleton. I'll keep this thread updated to let you know what happens.

Again EC thank you. At least I know now what the phenomenon is called and that it is not unheard of although it is rare.

Ken

 

[Hormigaquatica]

Ive heard of that happening with some LPS- namely Lobophyllia and Euphyllia (had a frogspawn do it in my own tank). Ive not see Trachyphyllia do it before, but it wouldnt shock me.

I cant think of any cases where the coral survived long term- sorry. The problem is just what youve noted, they float all over the place and never have a chance to settle someplace and recalcify. My only suggestion (and its just an educated guess) would be to find a spot with ideal lighting and flow, find a piece of liverock thats nicely covered with coralline and no nuisance algae or aptasia, and put the tissue on that rock, covered loosely with either a bridal veil like material, or numerous loops of fishing line. You dont want to restrict the tissue, but dont want it to lift up from the rock much either.

Id be really interested to see how things go with it.