Bubbling SPS disease

[Reefer Dan]

So the only thing me and you have in common is high calcium lol… weird.. it’s gotta be some kinda bacterial thing! Weird part is it doesn’t spread, at least not in my tank or anyone that has put the coral in a different tank and it fixed the issue..

Definitely possible, but the bacteria theory is last on my list. I’m still suspecting lighting.

 

[Troylee]

Definitely possible, but the bacteria theory is last on my list. I’m still suspecting lighting.

I’m running phoenix 14k metal halides.. there is a radion in the general area but it’s not doing much.. at least I think lol.. the red dragon next to my pink lemonade that’s bubbling is brown and begging for more light.. it’s just outta reach of the metal halides.. I need to move it!

 

[Reefer Dan]

I’m running phoenix 14k metal halides.. there is a radion in the general area but it’s not doing much.. at least I think lol.. the red dragon next to my pink lemonade that’s bubbling is brown and begging for more light.. it’s just outta reach of the metal halides.. I need to move it!

I don’t have MH, but my bubbling coral (pink lemonade) is lower in the tank than the top and so I think it’s in a similar situation as yours.

My theory: they are getting just enough light to survive/break even, but not thrive and so they are bubbling, etc to increase surface area in hopes to get more light. I figure I can move it, but if I do that, flow, etc variables changed.

 

[Troylee]

I don’t have MH, but my bubbling coral (pink lemonade) is lower in the tank than the top and so I think it’s in a similar situation as yours.

My theory: they are getting just enough light to survive/break even, but not thrive and so they are bubbling, etc to increase surface area in hopes to get more light. I figure I can move it, but if I do that, flow, etc variables changed.

I’ll scoot my halide directly over it and see if there’s any change.. I can move my radion also so it gets no led lol

 

[Rjmul]

I am definitely leaning towards lighting, I have had two more corals rehomed in new systems and both have lost all their blistering.
I have suspected my lights for a while, I have two hydra 26hd and both the uv and violet chips are damaged due to overheating, and I mean the diodes not the lenses these have been changed twice. I hypothesise that it could be due to a significant change in spectrum, not sure if the spectrum is now missing something or has shifted away from optimum levels? Anybody else using older or damaged lights?

Yes. I'm in the same boat with hydras. Waiting for replacement lenses. Unsure if it's diode or lenses but I have all my chips on lenses. So i hope that's it. I'm dreading taking them down. My wire management isn't great.

 

[justy]

New update.
This may sound like one of those random responses that suggest some wild ideas, but!
As I have previously documented, I have removed several frags to other tanks, and more recently brought one back into my tank after it had recovered.
At the same time a chance conversation brought up the subject of plug in air freshners and how toxic they can be to an aquatic environment. No I am not saying that this is conclusive proof by any means, but.
I had a plug in air freshener a foot away from the tank and 2 others in close proximity, I have consequently removed them all and guess what total transformation in the tank over the last week or so. The hystrix frag in question continues to have no blistering and now has multiple growth tips and all other corals have woken up and are beginning to grow again.
It may be worth checking if you have air fresheners in close proximity?
I know this is not conclusive and mostly anecdotal, but I've been keeping corals for over thirty years and the transformation is note worthy.
Hope this may help some people, will be interested to hear people's responses.
Kind regards justin.

 

[Hurricane Aquatics]

New update.
This may sound like one of those random responses that suggest some wild ideas, but!
As I have previously documented, I have removed several frags to other tanks, and more recently brought one back into my tank after it had recovered.
At the same time a chance conversation brought up the subject of plug in air freshners and how toxic they can be to an aquatic environment. No I am not saying that this is conclusive proof by any means, but.
I had a plug in air freshener a foot away from the tank and 2 others in close proximity, I have consequently removed them all and guess what total transformation in the tank over the last week or so. The hystrix frag in question continues to have no blistering and now has multiple growth tips and all other corals have woken up and are beginning to grow again.
It may be worth checking if you have air fresheners in close proximity?
I know this is not conclusive and mostly anecdotal, but I've been keeping corals for over thirty years and the transformation is note worthy.
Hope this may help some people, will be interested to hear people's responses.
Kind regards justin.

LOL, well it's absolutely a possibility. I had a 40 gallon cube that was doing gtlreat and had LPS and many Montipora, etc. frags I was growing under an ATI Straton.

Out of the blue my whole tank started dying duenti various issues. Nothing was wrong in the parameters or lighting. I concluded that the reason was my wife was running the plug-ins she got from Bath and Body. I'm 100% certain that's the cause in my tank crash.

If they are that close to your tank, you definitely need to removed those. ANY airborne disinfectant, fragrance, air freshener spray, etc. is a huge No No.

I still says it's mostly bacterial, but definitely still remove those. I am 100% certain it has nothing to do with the LEDs that some have mentioned.

 

[justy]

LOL, well it's absolutely a possibility. I had a 40 gallon cube that was doing gtlreat and had LPS and many Montipora, etc. frags I was growing under an ATI Straton.

Out of the blue my whole tank started dying duenti various issues. Nothing was wrong in the parameters or lighting. I concluded that the reason was my wife was running the plug-ins she got from Bath and Body. I'm 100% certain that's the cause in my tank crash.

If they are that close to your tank, you definitely need to removed those. ANY airborne disinfectant, fragrance, air freshener spray, etc. is a huge No No.

I still says it's mostly bacterial, but definitely still remove those. I am 100% certain it has nothing to do with the LEDs that some have mentioned.

Interesting thanks for your insight.

 

[drawman]

New update.
This may sound like one of those random responses that suggest some wild ideas, but!
As I have previously documented, I have removed several frags to other tanks, and more recently brought one back into my tank after it had recovered.
At the same time a chance conversation brought up the subject of plug in air freshners and how toxic they can be to an aquatic environment. No I am not saying that this is conclusive proof by any means, but.
I had a plug in air freshener a foot away from the tank and 2 others in close proximity, I have consequently removed them all and guess what total transformation in the tank over the last week or so. The hystrix frag in question continues to have no blistering and now has multiple growth tips and all other corals have woken up and are beginning to grow again.
It may be worth checking if you have air fresheners in close proximity?
I know this is not conclusive and mostly anecdotal, but I've been keeping corals for over thirty years and the transformation is note worthy.
Hope this may help some people, will be interested to hear people's responses.
Kind regards justin.

LOL, well it's absolutely a possibility. I had a 40 gallon cube that was doing gtlreat and had LPS and many Montipora, etc. frags I was growing under an ATI Straton.

Out of the blue my whole tank started dying duenti various issues. Nothing was wrong in the parameters or lighting. I concluded that the reason was my wife was running the plug-ins she got from Bath and Body. I'm 100% certain that's the cause in my tank crash.

If they are that close to your tank, you definitely need to removed those. ANY airborne disinfectant, fragrance, air freshener spray, etc. is a huge No No.

I still says it's mostly bacterial, but definitely still remove those. I am 100% certain it has nothing to do with the LEDs that some have mentioned.

Agreed I think it's bacterial/viral but I think a weakened coral will be predisposed to the infection or showing symptoms. In your case I bet the plug in was just one more insult that the coral had to fight off.

 

[justy]

From my perspective it has to be environmental rather than bacterial, can't see how it's possible to turn the blistering on and off just by simply moving it from one system to another?

 

[Hurricane Aquatics]

From my perspective it has to be environmental rather than bacterial, can't see how it's possible to turn the blistering on and off just by simply moving it from one system to another?

If one system has a bacteria or other pathogen and then you move it to a system that doesn't, it stops.

There are some Acro pathogens that are organisms that attack after being consumed by the polyps. They eat from the inside out.

It's possible the other system has bacteria to fight off the bad bacteria. Then when you move it back to yours, blistering again.

If it's any consolation, I'm having a part RTN of my Acros after 0 changes and 12 months of nothing but success. It's definitely a bacteria infection and I'm treating with Cipro.

 

[Reefer Dan]

Update: no more bubbling since turning up my LEDs 2% over the last three weeks… however, previous growth when bubbling happened has left a bumpy appearance in places.

 

[polo1126]

From my perspective it has to be environmental rather than bacterial, can't see how it's possible to turn the blistering on and off just by simply moving it from one system to another?

I was wondering if you could provide how long the photoperiods are for your tank with the bubbling issue vs the photoperiod length in your friend's tank where the issue resolved?

 

[Reefer Dan]

Another update, since starting the trial of increasing my led I have increased it a total of 5%. 6 weeks since stating that and still no new bubbling. In fact new growth has some polyps (for the first time since I’ve put this acro in my tank ~1.5+ yrs ago).

While an unpopular opinion, my best guess is that the acro was bubbling to try and increase surface area for light. Pic for proof. Plan to update again in the future if I see the bubbling return.

 

[jackson6745]

I'm seeing bubbling on a couple of pieces. 2 things in my case are new. I recently went from radion to 250w halide, but I also thought it was a good idea to bump up my magnesium to 1400+ since it falls to 1200 in a week dosing All for reef. So, either a reaction to the lighting change, a reaction to the magnesium level, or possibly the contact with the ESV magnesium additive when I poured it in the tank since these corals were in that particular area?

 

[Hurricane Aquatics]

I'm seeing bubbling on a couple of pieces. 2 things in my case are new. I recently went from radion to 250w halide, but I also thought it was a good idea to bump up my magnesium to 1400+ since it falls to 1200 in a week dosing All for reef. So, either a reaction to the lighting change, a reaction to the magnesium level, or possibly the contact with the ESV magnesium additive when I poured it in the tank since these corals were in that particular area?

Definitely not raising magnesium level. Magnesium of 1500 ways worked perfectly in all my tanks.

Well, so I am near POSITIVE this is a bacterial issue. About two months ago maybe, all my Acros suddenly started going downhill with RTN and some other things. Nothing changed, parameters ertr what they've always been, very very good to perfect.

I treated with Cipro and that stopped it and they recovered fairly quickly. Then 4 weeks after they recovered, BOOM, started again, but much more aggressively. I have now lost every Acro I had including colonies.

I believe this is a new strain to the Acro hobby and I've seen it affect others. I'll be starting over most likely.

 

[jackson6745]

Definitely not raising magnesium level. Magnesium of 1500 ways worked perfectly in all my tanks.

Well, so I am near POSITIVE this is a bacterial issue. About two months ago maybe, all my Acros suddenly started going downhill with RTN and some other things. Nothing changed, parameters ertr what they've always been, very very good to perfect.

I treated with Cipro and that stopped it and they recovered fairly quickly. Then 4 weeks after they recovered, BOOM, started again, but much more aggressively. I have now lost every Acro I had including colonies.

I believe this is a new strain to the Acro hobby and I've seen it affect others. I'll be starting over most likely.

I've been carbon dosing a small amount of TM bacto balance for the last 6 months. I'm going to do a large WC and cut the dose in half to see if that makes a difference. We'll see

 

[jackson6745]

Here’s a pic of an infected frag for reference.

 

[Reefer Dan]

Here’s a pic of an infected frag for reference.

I only changed my led lighting intensity and it fixed mine..still hasn’t come back.

 

[jackson6745]

I only changed my led lighting intensity and it fixed mine..still hasn’t come back.

I'm running a 250w halide and t5. I did a large wc and stopped dosing amino just in case. I had this many years ago. It would only stay on a select few pieces. Whatever, I'm not going to stress it. I'll just observe and see if I can make sense of it. It is kind of tempting to pop the bubbles lol. I see them moving in the current.