Candy Cane heads detaching

[jiggysmb]

My candy cane has had unbelievable growth over the past year. About a week ago I noticed one of the heads detached from the structure but still hanging on to another head. Now I see many of the heads on the outer ring are doing the same thing. I assumed it was bail out, but at a frag swap yesterday another reefer mentioned this is how they multiply in the wild. Any way to determine which scenario is playing out here?

ca 480
KH 9.8
Magnesium 1600
Salinty 1.027
ph 8.2
Ammonia and Nitrates are lower end of safe range. We feed AB+ 2x week, rods frozen reef food 3-4x a week and reef roids once a week.

 

[vetteguy53081]

My candy cane has had unbelievable growth over the past year. About a week ago I noticed one of the heads detached from the structure but still hanging on to another head. Now I see many of the heads on the outer ring are doing the same thing. I assumed it was bail out, but at a frag swap yesterday another reefer mentioned this is how they multiply in the wild. Any way to determine which scenario is playing out here?

ca 480
KH 9.8
Magnesium 1600
Salinty 1.027
ph 8.2
Ammonia and Nitrates are lower end of safe range. We feed AB+ 2x week, rods frozen reef food 3-4x a week and reef roids once a week.

It is indeed bailout due to stress. I have this now 70 head and it has multiplied by producing new branches- not bailing out
Stress can be several factors:
Elevated salinity
High phosphate
Elevated nitrate
Lack of feedings
Escessive flow
excessive bright white causing zooxanthellae to expel
low calcium
irritation from anemone or other coral

 

[DanyL]

I grew 3 different kinds of Candy canes for about a decade now, usually I let them grow to a head size before taking them apart and restarting the colonies.

They do in fact sometimes grow "bubbles" with small skeleton attached to it as an attempt to propagate itself, that's at least the form of self-propagation I've witnessed with them.

However what you are describing sounds more like a bailout to me, would you mind posting a better photo?
From your parameters, it can be caused due to your high Magnesium and salinity levels.