What is my feather duster doing?

[Chewie]

Had the feather duster for about 2 months now. It was doing great at first. The tube was looking "strong". Last few weeks the tube seems to have gotten "weak" and the duster was not coming out to often. I thaught it was dying. Then the other day I saw this
http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/z...e/DSC_0359.jpg
If you look there is a second smaller "feather head" to the right. Is this the asexual division of it?
http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/z...e/DSC_0348.jpg

[skabooya]

never seen that before. But Ive ready many times that the tube starts to go "weak" when not enough calcium is present. maybe check that??

[Chewie]

Faithfully check water params...
All reading 0 ( nitrate, nitrite ect..)
Calcium at 450
KH is at 10 dkh (alkalinity)
ph 8.3
Will keep posted as to what happens

[fkshiu]

Double check the Ca and Alk levels with a different brand of test kit. Also check Mg.

[Chewie]

I am using the Reef Master Test kit by API. Is this no good?
I do add suppliments to water in the form of Purple-Up and Kent Marine Coral-Vite to keep trace Elements up.

[fkshiu]

There's nothing wrong with API. It's simply good practice to double check important parameters. SW people tend to use Salifert, Elos and Seachem test kits.

Purple Up is a calcium carbonate slurry. It's not the most soluble form of Ca and Alk. Please read this article (Purple Up would be "Calcium Carbonate without a reactor"):

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

Furthermore, magnesium is the often forgotten third pillar of reef chemistry that is just as important as Ca and Alk. The problems of many novice reefers are probably caused by low Mg levels. Please read this:

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

[bvlester]

general rule for dosing do not dose anything you don't test for. API test kits are fine I have used them and they seem to be as accurate as some of the more expensive brands and way easier to read than the Hagen test kits. You should test your Mag level as that can through the amount the feather duster can absorb the Ca. your Alk, Ca and Mag have to be at the proper levels for everything to thrive. If they go down a bit no harm but if one is way out of whack then you find any thing that uses Ca may start having troubles.

Bill

[Chewie]

Thank you for the information. I will get a secondary test kit and see if there is a difference in readings. I will start dousing with limewater as well.
Just when I thaught I had a decent knowlege of what was going on....
Read, read, research........
Thank you once again, will keep posting results.

[Chewie]

I think it is just dividing into two. The second crown it growing every day.

[gklaw]

So I guessed right