Whats going on with my Euphyllia??

[sm1983]

I have had these two heads for about a week. Tank parameters are great. They are in a medium flow area under a 150w MH. The left mouth has a rather large bubble forming around the mouth. The other head's mouth seems fine. Any idea whats going on??

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c250/shaner1983/My%2020g%20tank/th_DSCF1179.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c250/shaner1983/My%2020g%20tank/?action=view&current=DSCF1179.jpg)

[CoryDude]

The mouths on my elegance and open brain look like right before they expelled digested food. Usually returned to normal after a few days.

Any tissue recession?

[recoiljpr]

SM, sorry to keep harping on it, but you have freakishly white rocks for your tank being already established (how old is your system?). Your system looks very nutrient poor if it is established.

IMO, rocks are a invaluable indicator to a tanks health. Healthy rocks don't look that white and clean in an established system. Even if you haven't had coraline start growing, you should see some amount of debris and a general darkening of the rock.

Do you have fish and other organisms in there besides coral? How often and how much do you feed? What are your parameters if you know them? Do you have an overtly aggressive maintenance routine (large % water changes, using vaccum daily, etc)?

[sm1983]

I have had the system up since May. The rock was base rock from reefcleaners.org. I had been using instant ocean and it left the tank with terrible calcium measurements (around 240ppm). I have just started using Seachem salt and after one 5 gallon change it is up to 340ppm. I have a pretty decent clean up crew of snails and a hermit. The only other thing in the tank is a small perc clown. I usually feed a small amount of mysis shrimp every day.

[recoiljpr]

I have had the system up since May. The rock was base rock from reefcleaners.org. I had been using instant ocean and it left the tank with terrible calcium measurements (around 240ppm). I have just started using Seachem salt and after one 5 gallon change it is up to 340ppm. I have a pretty decent clean up crew of snails and a hermit. The only other thing in the tank is a small perc clown. I usually feed a small amount of mysis shrimp every day.

Did you seed the base rock with existing live rock? It really looks like your nutrient poor, which could be one of the reasons you are having trouble with corals. I'm assuming your feeding the cubed shrimp, how much of a cube are you feeding?

Also, upping your Ca won't hurt, but it's still in what I would consider a safe range. What is your alk at? Do you dose any 2 part?

[sm1983]

Since I just have the one fish I have been feeding about 1/6 of a cube each time.
I seeded the tank with some live rock rubble and a few medium pieces from an established tank.
Alk is at 8dkh and I am not dosing a 2 part. I have been using Tech Purple by Kent Marine. You can't really see it in that pic but my coraline is really starting to take off. All of my corals except my zoas seem to be doing quite well. I was just nervous about this air bubble type thing on my Euphyllia.

[Bill S]

It can be tough to keep and grow corals in a new tank. Yours looks just fine.

That being said, my tank is pretty sterile, and my Euphyllia does REALLY well. Mostly because my angels have no interest in eating it!

You may soon have a problem with yours and the clown. If the clown decides to host in it, it will quickly get beat up.