sps bacteria or something..

[Samper]

Just today I noticed that 2 of my Montiporas have this brown algae like substance growing on them. The brown started on both pieces in a place where I fragged a branch but on one of them it has spread to a few small spots on branches that I haven't fragged. It almost looks like a diatom bloom but on the corals, it has a slight movement in the current and a little bit can be blown off with a blast from my turkey baster but not all of it. The problem is only showing up on the side of the coral receiving the most current. The tissue underneath it is still alive. What the heck is this?

[Samper]

anyone? It seems to be spreading fairly fast but only on those two pieces.

[Samper]

Today, whatever it is is mostly gone but a little is still present.

[scubadude]

it has a slight movement in the current and a little bit can be blown off with a blast from my turkey baster but not all of it.

I would try re-positioning your current on this piece(s) as well as attacking the nutrient levels on more aggressive skimming and w/c's bro. At first I thought you where saying the algae was growing where you fragged but its actually the other way around right? If it was algae where recently fragged then I would definately blame it on fragging procedures maybe a non-sterile razor or snips that would be infecting it.

[Samper]

The assumed algae growth started at the site of a recent fragging. On one colony it has moved to a few other branch tips, small spots but they bother me. I use a pair of stainless wire snips that I bought specifically for fragging but I've never sterilized them or anything afterward....I've never heard mention of this. I bought a red sea prizm and ordered the surface skimmer attachment. It's pulling out slightly more than my old skimmer did. I've also been doing 50% water changes weekly for the past 2 weeks since I lost my old skimmer. I'm hoping it goes away but this substance whatever it is isn't found anywhere else in my system...to my eyes.

The growth appears to not be spreading as of today but it's still present.

[Samper]

Maybe my title wasn't the best description but I'm at a loss guys. This isn't getting any better and I think I see a piece of it on my birdsnest now. I did a 5 gallon water change this evening. I'm praying I didn't pick up something bad somewhere...like my aquacultured one. It'll be nice to set up the 75 and have a nice q tank sitting around.

[Samper]

Well I have figured this much out, it grows during the day and receeds some at night. Not really getting worse but still there none the less. Tissue and polyps still look fine, These corals get the most direct flow of any of them in my system and this stuff won't completely blow off and actually seems to enjoy the flow, Looks just like a diatom bloom but slightly darker brown at the moment, still not present anywhere else but these pieces.

[Poseidon]

Sorry at a loss... Wish I could help more then saying do another WC. Maybe test for PO4, and if it is high get a iron based remover...

[Samper]

I think I'm dealing with dinoflagellates. I've read that ozone is the best way to get rid of it but that isn't possible for me at the moment. Anyone have any pics of it on corals? I searched google and just found a bunch of shots taken through a microscope.

[Samper]

I've decided on no photoperiod tomorrow or tonight in my refugium and a reduced photoperiod of 4 hours for the next week or so.

http://www.reefs.org/library/article/t_crail.html