soft sps

[clippo]

just noticed that my green plating monti seems to have developed a 'soft' edge in places around its rim - colour still looks good overall, possibly pale around the edge. Piece has been in tank and growing for several months. pH is 8.2, KH 2.5-3.0meq/l, Calcium 390-420ppm, Mag 1500ppm - temperature is no different to normal - stable 78-80f. I recently had a move around and added carbon - possibly light shock? I seem to remember someone talking about 'spongy tips' on here a while ago but can't find the thread..... other inhabitants are acros, other montis, maxima clam, blue xenia, rics, purple gorg, caulerpa in the fuge.:confused:

[clippo]

assume we are all stumped then.... is it normal for montis to have visible soft tissue around the rim? I am wondering if the growth rate was quite slow previously (meaning this tissue was inconspicuous), but now, following use of carbon, the colony has put on a growth spurt (meaning the tissue is more obvious). I guess the pale rim could be due to the zooxanthellae laggin behind?

[simon garratt]

Hi Clippo, sorry i didnt get a chance to respond earlyer. Basicly plating monti's commonly have a softer outer rim (about the last few mm) wether this is due to the limited skelletal stryucture at that point in time (it gets thicker and stronger as it spreads outwards) or wether it is a defence mechanism against damage from fish ect rubbing past it im not sure. (with a soft outer edge, this is more likely to get 'lightly damaged' and regrow rather than the whole colony being completely solid right to the rim risking being totaly smashed if it was rubbed or knocked) a bit like the lizards tail scenario.

Im hazarding a guess though that its simply a function of immature skelletal deposition to be honest.


As long as the rest of the colony is otherwise healthy and not fading out ( a pale growth edge is common in monti's moreso the faster they are growing) , i wouldnt worry too much. If you are noticing a decline in pigmentation over the next few weeks and a decline in growth, give me a shout back and ill run through some other possibilities.

regards

Si.

[clippo]

cheers Si - cool.

[fire999]

My monti is exactly the same , 2 to 4 mm pale around the edges. This is more predominent the older and faster it grows, If you were to measure one end to the other, after a month the bits that are pale now will be solid as rock and nice colour. But the new growth will be white......

Suppose all i had to say was its just new growth and perfectly fine :) :)