detaching bubble coral?

[Brian Bivens]

I have a bubble coral with four different sets of polyps... Two of the bubbles have detached from the main coral and are now sitting in my refugium. Both expand when the lights are on, and have extended tentacles when the lights are off.

Perameters are good.

0 ammo
0 trite
5 trate
< 1 phos
420 calc
8.4 PH

I have read two different theories... One, the detached bubbles are now forming their own skeletons (reproducing), the other, something has irritated the bubbles causing them to detach... I am wondering what are the thoughts here....

[Amphiprion]

Any pics? This shouldn't be considered the usual method of reproduction if whole portions of the polyp are lifting away from the skeleton. That would be more of a stress response than anything. If you are getting budding and/or polyp balls, that would be the more usual form of asexual reproduction in this species. It's hard to say which without more info.

What is your alkalinity? What exactly is "less than 1 ppm" phosphate? 0.5 ppm is way too much, even though it is less than 1 ppm. Salinity or specific gravity? Temperature?

[Brian Bivens]

Don't have pics right now, salinity (with hydrometer) is 1.023 and phosphates, I use phosguard and replace it every two weeks. Usually the API test comes out as light yellow which is 0-< .25... Temp is always 79 degrees

Don't know what my alkalinity is...

[DoctaQ]

with a hydrometer your probably also dont know what your sg is either, you should get a refractometer, and 1.023 is kinda low, an alk test from api is less than 10 bucks, if you have anything stony in your tank you should def have a test for alk and ca