We've had an octobubble for about eigth months. It's in a medium flow area of our 120g. Lighting consists of 175w MHs and PC/NO actinics. Ca is a bit high at 440 ppm, Mg is also a bit high at 1390 ppm, alk is 10 dKH. Don't test for phosphate or nitrate as we have scads of non-invasive macroalgae that are all growing well and there is no
nuisance algae.
Anyway, over the past few weeks, I've noticed that a portion of the fleshy part has separated from the stony base. The octobubble looks in good health overall, though it does not open as well as it did before the separation. Also, the part that has separated is moving around in the current and is, I think, irritating the rest of the coral that is still attached. Separation seems to have occurred the last time we reaquascaped.
I took a short video of the octobubble this morning before the halides kicked in, so you can easily see the part that has detached.....
http://www.lostmymarblz.com/v-120-oc...-oct-29-06.wmv
I'd like to remove the detached part, but am unsure as to the best method of doing so. I don't want to handle the coral very much, and was thinking that cutting the detached part might be simplest. However, I'm also worried that I'm going to severely stress the octobubble by cutting it.
TIA for your suggestions on how to deal with this situation
