Wesophyllia Red Dye

[alton]

My Weso. started giving off a red dye in the water last night along with shrinking. What is it doing? A little history I have had for several years, it sits next to another Weso and some Mushrooms

[Polkster13]

Sounds like it may be spawning. Got any pics of the event?

[alton]

No, next time I will try and get some. I have never seen it do that before so I was concerned? Everything is back to normal today.

[CD]

You might find more information if you Google under the name Trachyphyllia. The scientific name "Welsophyllia" is not valid anymore...all such brains are classified under Trachyphyllia now.
What are you feeding it, and how often?

Wendy

[alton]

I soak my fish food(Mysis, Lifeline, Angel and Reef Select) in Garlic, Zoe, and Zoecon and stick in the Fridg. what's left over I dilute with seawater and add Phyto Plankton, suck up in an baster and apply over all my corals at least once a week.

[CD]

Hmm...well, it sounds as if you are feeding it correctly. They like finely minced meaty foods (mysis is great) about once or twice a week. The only thing I wouldn't be too sure about is the garlic. Garlic is fine with fish, but I don't put it in my food mixtures intended for the corals...anybody else have some opinions on this?
Does it still look shrunken, or has it gone back to normal since the 15th? If it looks normal, I would tend to agree with Frederick and say that it was possibly spawning.

Wendy

[alton]

After that day it was back to normal. I have not seen any side affects due to the Garlic, maybe someone will write in? I am suprised Gary P. hasn't had a comment, I think he's slipping? If nothing else my last comment should bring a comment from him.

[GaryP]

What would you like me to comment on? I use garlic too, but have been cutting back a lot. I make sure to filter the food with a brine shrim net so that a lot of excess nutrients aren't going into the tank. I think the skimmer will probably take out anything you directly add to the water. I don't mind the idea of enriching food with a soak in garlic or vitamins or HUFA though.

I don't think that is an issue with a coral though. They mainly need the amino acids they get from planktonic foods. The rest they get from their zoanthellae IMO.