Tortuosa got bubbly skin

[thile123]

Anyone know what causes a tort to develop this bubbly skin? I have cali and Oregon tort; the Cali was in the tank longer so its skin appears more bubbly; the Oregon tort seem to start developing the bubbly skin as well although its less right now.

Cali Tort


Oregon Tort

[buy_baff]

Odd never seen that happen.

[ddnguyen]

hi
its like growing thicker, i have that on many corals, seriatoporas caliendrums, mnontiporas. i had that when my alk and ca was low, hows yours?

[philipchan]

by looking at the rocks, looks like u got some NO3/PO4, or low MAG level ?

[smtank]

Interesting!

You have what appears to be significant cynobacteria. Which probably means you are having some issues with excess nutrients. I would start there and see if fixing that issue helps with the acroporas.

Never seen that before, hope it resolves or has no bad outcome.

[GreshamH]

Arg I wish my brain could remember every friggen thread title I have posted in. This discussion has taken place a few times in this forum and I posted several pictures into each of them. For the life of me I do not recall the titles though. Sorry, semi useless post.

I can tell you Bornamen chimed in though.

[GreshamH]

double post

[celebrityovernight]

How much flow do you have in your tank? My guess is that the bubbling is a response mechanism to increase it's surface area. This will allow it to acquire adequate nutrients and oxygen levels.

[saltygeek]

Originally Posted by GreshamH

Arg I wish my brain could remember every friggen thread title I have posted in. This discussion has taken place a few times in this forum and I posted several pictures into each of them. For the life of me I do not recall the titles though. Sorry, semi useless post.

I can tell you Bornamen chimed in though.

Ok, get that brain working and remember the verdict

[GreshamH]

IIRC it was an infection. Send the pics to E.B. and see what he says

[thile123]

Thanks everyone for the replies, I wasn't able find other threads that discuss "bubble/bubbly" skin in RC or on google (maybe I'm using the wrong key word/words?). The red stuff is not cynobacteria, it's turf algae. The algae started when I stop running PO4 media, so that I can start vodka dosing; algae problem got better once i started vodka, although haven't completely disappear yet (note: the algae growth isn't the problem since the bubbly skin condition started way before the turf algae). This bubbly skin condition doesn't seem to stop the growth of these corals; the cali tort nicely (it's one of the faster grower in my tank) faster than my blue tip slimer. That current piece was grown from 1/4" frag into that size, 1"+, in about 3-4 months, then now it start to spread out more than vertically. The oregon tort I just got a month ago, so can't comment much about it other then it's encrusting at about 1/4 of the rate or less of the cali tort.


My tank condition are as follows,
po4 = .78ppm
ALK = 12.4 dkh
Ca = 500+ ppm
Mg = 1350+
Flow = ~ 7000 gph in 200gal

po4 was tested on hannah checker, other test were with Salifert

[thile123]

I found many thread that discuss these type of "blistering" skin condition. There doesn't seem to be a definitive answer to ask the reason why these SPS develop this condition. Some pointed to, too much light, in direct flow, high CO2 lvl, low ALK, low MAG, Coral neoplasia (type of skeletal disease that causes tumor like growth), organism living under tissue, due to prodibio, maybe UV component of lighting. here are the links I found interested relating to this topic.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hlight=bubbles

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ral+blistering

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ral+blistering

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...t=acro+blister

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...t=acro+blister

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...t=acro+blister (half way down)

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...=913886&page=2

[smtank]

Oh I know the difference between turf algae and cyno and that is cyno. Turf algae does not have the air bubble appearence to it.

With a p04 of 0.78 you are going to have problems with algae no way around it.

If you can show me a link to the ID that the red algae is turf algae I would appreciate it.

[CJ 1098]

Very Strange!

[thile123]

Originally Posted by smtank

Oh I know the difference between turf algae and cyno and that is cyno. Turf algae does not have the air bubble appearence to it.

With a p04 of 0.78 you are going to have problems with algae no way around it.

If you can show me a link to the ID that the red algae is turf algae I would appreciate it.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...red+turf+algae

the reason for the bubble appearance is because the algae is creating air pockets from photosynthesis; so it might give the appearance like cyno. Cyno is very easily remove while this is stuff is "glued" onto the rocks. Also cyno has a smoother appearance while this is very fuzzy.

The algae dont bother me, because I know it will go away when my PO4 goes lower with vodka dosing.

[Ralph ATL]

I attributed it too not enough light & algae issues.

[thile123]

Originally Posted by mysterybox

I attributed it too not enough light & algae issues.

I saw that picture of the blue tort you uploaded in the 2007 thread (link above). It look exactly like the condition of my torts. How is that one looking now? got a picture to compare?

Does the two condition you mention have to go hand in hand for this to happen or is "either/or" condition.

Before the algae outbreak my lights were 2x250w and 1x400w; I recently switched to 3x400w and started dosing vodka at about the same time (had to remove PO4 media, so PO4 went up causing algae outbreak currently). The blistered tissue appeared (and stayed) before these two events. I just take closer look at my cali tort in the "shadowed" (shaded) area, and the skin does not have the blistered tissue. Only the parts that are exposed to the light had it. IIRC the blistering might have gotten worst when I switched over to 3x400w. In one of the old thread, someone got an answer from Eric Borneman and EB said it might be due to the UV effect of the MH. I'm leaning toward that conclusion as well.

This is taken 5/21/10 very minor blistering; lighting = 2x250 and 1x400w


This is taken 9/28/10 before switching to 3x400w; lighting = 2x250 and 1x400w


This is taken 11/9/10 2 months after switching to 3x400w



One thing these pictures show is the progression of algae issue. It might just be an algae problem.

[Ralph ATL]

I had 2 x 150 radiums at the time, dosing AZNo3, and having some phosphate & algae issues.......


I just thought it was light, algae, but who knows?

This was a few months ago, it's growing fast now...........no bubbles.......

[thile123]

Seems that other acro are starting to develop this tissue blister as well. Most likely due to algae problems.... as pictures indicated.

[smtank]

Originally Posted by thile123

Seems that other acro are starting to develop this tissue blister as well. Most likely due to algae problems.... as pictures indicated.

Sorry to hear this. It has got to be very frustrating. Hope it all works out and the problem self resolves once the p04 values come down.

Good Luck

[thile123]

double post...

[fatkien]

oh wow that that is so weird.

[Mr. Right]

’ve experienced something like this before. Two millies I had swelled up around the base. The bubbly areas were hard, not pockets, like others experienced. It seemed to be the skeleton itself, not the flesh. IMO growth was effected. I really think flow was the culprit in my case, though I’m not certain. I read how flyguy said he was bumping up his mag around the time of his occurrence. During the time I noticed bubbly skin, I was also raising my mag. It is really hard to pin point the cause. I found that corals did not return back to normal but maybe that’s just me. Good luck.

[sbreefer]

What is your Nitrate level? I have had this occur as well. just a thick abnormal growth.
turns out I had a PO4 issue and a copper issue. I began rowaphos, non lignite carbon, and a polyfilter regimen and have wonderful growth now. I use a fluidized media reactor for both.

[thile123]

I have API test kit for NO4 so I dont trust the reading (but it says 0). I have hanna checker for PO4 and it's currently at .40ppm, it used to be .9 few weeks ago. I start vodka dosing recently and I just put in some GFO to bring down my PO4 faster (plan to slowly take it offline while vodka dosing take over). I do think it's PO4 (algae) problem that is causing these blistering as well. I don't know if I have copper issue, but I hope using RO/DI water eliminates that possibility.