Monti strings

[karimwassef]

I used to think these were intended to sweep out and clear new territory before the monti starts growing in that direction. But now, it's on the fringe of the coral's growth and on its main body.

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/43855661-8B4A-4877-9383-901D439F49A6_zpsnsp3kjc6.png.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/43855661-8B4A-4877-9383-901D439F49A6_zpsnsp3kjc6.png" border="0" alt=" photo 43855661-8B4A-4877-9383-901D439F49A6_zpsnsp3kjc6.png"/></a>

Anyone really know what these are?

 

[DiscusHeckel]

These look like damage caused by sediment settling on your coral. You need good flow to ensure that anything that settles on your coral is washed away.

Another possibility could be nudibranches. You can eliminate this quite quickly by examining your coral in the dark with a torch.

I hope this helps.

 

[karimwassef]

That's when I took this pic. In the dark with a torch.

It never shows up by day. It's all the way at the surface (this is a top down picture) so no sediment settles on it.

I don't see nudis. Do you see any?

 

[tom obrecht]

I'm also intrigued for I have that same thing on a couple species in my display. Mine continue to spread. IMO it's almost like some kind of weird sponge. Sound about right?

 

[karimwassef]

I've never touched it. It looks like a defense mechanism. I see it around the coral edge before a growth spurt, so I think it's setting the stage for growth.

The middle of the body strings/blobs is unexplained though.

 

[tetra-tag]

Mesenterial filaments, part of the digestive system, often used, as you have noted, to clear adjacent substrate for growth. I think they are also produced in response to any sort of chemical irritant, such as detection of a nearby competitor, or salinity imbalance.

https://www.reefs.com/blog/2011/07/23/when-corals-spill-their-guts/

 

[tom obrecht]

Mine is just the opposite. They are out during the day but disappear during the night. Perhaps it is a feeding response since of course I feed during the day.

 

[karimwassef]

I feed coral food at night... And see them at night. But I also see them when I don't feed.

I have a healthy plankton base though...

Thanks!

 

[spkennyva]

I have a Montipora Spongodes that when I feed the tank at night I see exactly what you're showing. By the time the lights come on in the morning it has already been retracted.

 

[karimwassef]

ok. that aligns with what I see too.

 

[spkennyva]

Yeah, and mine is attempting to take over my tank. Serious pruning is in order.