Puffy white thing on corals

[FINSandGILLS]

Hi everyone

Over the last few weeks I have noticed these random "puffy" white things show up on a few of my corals. They appear to have a small hole at the end? They have made an appearance on my eagle eye, green star, and two of my candy cane corals.

As you can see from the photo, a portion of my eagle eye is closed with a small area of white fuzzy stuff on The closed portion. I also have a small portion of my green star polyp which has been closed since I noticed these random white things.

I did manage to pull this white thing off of the green star and the eagle eye. Not sure if this was a good idea or not... I did not touch it by hand but it appeared slightly squishy.

Any thoughts?? Maybe just pure coincidence but I also had what I think are copepods show up on my wall around the same time.

180 gal
Salinity 1.027 (I am trying to reduce to 1.025)
Temp 79.7 to 80 F
Nitrate 0
Phos 0
KH 9
Mag around 1800 (I always have high mag, I question the test kit?)
Calcium 500
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Currently have two clowns, hippo tang, powder blue tang and coral banded shrimp

Any input is appreciated. Thanks

 

[Annie3410]

pineapple sponges. Harmless filter feeders whose population will wax and wane naturally. You will probably have an explosion of their population as your tank gets established. i assume from your clean white rocks your tank is still fairly young. I wouldn't bother trying to remove them.

 

[FINSandGILLS]

Second picture

Second picture

Here is the candy cane with the white protruding thing. Maybe this is easier to see than on the eagle eye

 

[Annie3410]

Looks like the same thing. No worries.

 

[FINSandGILLS]

Thank you Annie! Wow I spent hours searching the web. I should have just started here.

Do you think the unhappy closed corals have something else going on as the pineapple sponge seems harmless....

Yes, started up in January. I think I have a small portion of coralline starting...I hope it takes over soon!

Thanks again

 

[Annie3410]

I have never seen corals be bothered by pineapple sponges. I would look for other causes. Is your flow adequate? What about params?

 

[FINSandGILLS]

Yeah half of eagle has been closed for over a week and a half now

I am battling a mag of over 1800 ( although my mag always reads way high)
I also have a salinity at 1.027 (water change due this weekend to lower)
Other param were in my first posting and all seem ok I think.

I'd say flow is good. Have two additional Hydor powerheads. Green star is on top lots of flow and eagle eye is middle of tank. Looks healthy except colors seem a little dull and the small portion stays closed now. I'm hoping it will comeback around.

 

[650-IS350]

I was going to say sponge too, only worry if they start to encroach on your Z's and P's and start to take over and suffocate them.

 

[Annie3410]

Did you dose to get your mag that high? I am running way high mag too, but on purpose to kill bryopsis(gone now, gonna start lowering in the next 1-2 wks). My zoas are the only thing that has been negatively impacted. They are still spreading and opening fully but most have bleached quite a bit. Your's look like they may be getting eaten, but its hard to tell by the pic. Any pests on them? Have you tried dipping them?

 

[FINSandGILLS]

No I have never dosed mag, but I always get readings of 1600 to 1800. I thought I read somewhere that perhaps the instant ocean reef crystals can cause High mag like this? I am using the Red Sea reef foundation test kit and on a side note I just read that the calcium in that kit has a recall... Sort of makes me wonder about the whole kit

I cannot see any pests on the zoa or polyp but each continues to have a small section which remains closed. The zoa almost has like a white fuzz on the closed portion.

I have never dipped them although I just bought some coral RX for any new comers. Would I have to take apart my rock structure and dip the rock too since they're attached?

I should also say that I did find a small shell sitting on top of my green star about a week ago! Maybe something crawled out of this? I regret that I threw it away without taking a picture of it. I found a similar photo on the web of the shape except mine was white and maybe 1/4 inch big. Hmmmm