Sps getting white tips. Normal?

[MnFish1]

This happen to me when I over use gfo to reduce phosphate to slow down algae growth.
I end killing lot of sps and I will never use gfo again.
Now I use turf algae scrubber and no more burn tip on sps.

This looks like 'growth' - but the picture is not great. I wouldn't go changing anything (GFO, etc) until you're sure what it is. Does it look like there is still coral tissue on the tips?

 

[MnFish1]

Is this normal?

That may or may not be normal. For example if there are some micro bubbles in my tank (ie. the water level is a bit too low) - the coral will shed mucus. Generally its a sign of 'distress' - whether a big deal or not depends on how long it lasts.

If its not mucus - it could be hair algae growing on the tips of dead coral (which is not good)

 

[James Mikell]

That may or may not be normal. For example if there are some micro bubbles in my tank (ie. the water level is a bit too low) - the coral will shed mucus. Generally its a sign of 'distress' - whether a big deal or not depends on how long it lasts.

If its not mucus - it could be hair algae growing on the tips of dead coral (which is not good)

I don't have micro bubbles it literally looks like the polyps are letting out many long filaments

 

[James Mikell]

That may or may not be normal. For example if there are some micro bubbles in my tank (ie. the water level is a bit too low) - the coral will shed mucus. Generally its a sign of 'distress' - whether a big deal or not depends on how long it lasts.

If its not mucus - it could be hair algae growing on the tips of dead coral (which is not good)

You can see here the white strings are coming from under the polyps

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

You can see here the white strings are coming from under the polyps

Those are mesenterial filaments. They can be a sign of stress, but can also be for feeding purposes.

 

[MnFish1]

I don't have micro bubbles it literally looks like the polyps are letting out many long filaments

Right - Like I said - you can see it with any kind of 'stress' - for example another chemical, in the water - or a nearby coral. Do you use carbon?

 

[James Mikell]

Right - Like I said - you can see it with any kind of 'stress' - for example another chemical, in the water - or a nearby coral. Do you use carbon?

I do but i had turned it off because i was running gfo with it.

 

[MnFish1]

I do but i had turned it off because i was running gfo with it.

curious- did it happen after you started the GFO?

 

[James Mikell]

curious- did it happen after you started the GFO?

It started after i stopped running the gfo. When the sps got placed into the tank i was already running carbon and gfo

 

[dreplogle]

I dont post often, but had something to share for once!

One thing I did to try to help with the worry of GFO dust in tank is in my sump I had enough room to install an addition sock mount so all of my reactor outlets run up out of water and through an ultra fine sock. I realize this is adding another maintenance item but all but eliminated dust from carbon, GFO or any other material I would run. Best of luck, keep the water stable and in the zone!!