Acropora receding but polyps extending well?

[vdubers]

Hi everyone. I guess advise needed however I’ve pretty much given up on this frag, that said keen to learn for the future. This frag did fine in the tank for a while although no polyp extension at all then it started receding. However recently it has started extending very nicely but still receding. I think the initial recession was due to PH issues but that’s sorted now. It’s strange the bit remaining looks great and polyps looking better all the time. Just a case of too little too late maybe?

I see people trying to get polyp extention all the time but I guess just because they are extended doesn’t mean they are happy?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I could be wrong, but it looks like the bottom of the frag is dead, I see algae growth. It looks like the top of the frag is fine where the polyps are extended, I would try to frag the healthy top part and glue it somewhere. IME the algae will overtake the healthy part

 

[billyocean]

It's either ride it out and maybe the top hangs on or cut off the tippy top off and reglue it.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

I agree with @Mr. Mojo Rising and @billyocean. This acro appears to have stn or possibly a pest eating it. It may or may not make it as is. Fragging the healthy portion does work sometimes, but it’s a 50/50 shot either way, imo.

 

[vdubers]

Thanks for the replies. I definitely should have fragged the top off sooner. I think I’ve read in cases like this you have to cut into the healthy tissue? My problem is there is so little healthy flesh left not sure what it would leave me with if I frag the top off!

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Thanks for the replies. I definitely should have fragged the top off sooner. I think I’ve read in cases like this you have to cut into the healthy tissue? My problem is there is so little healthy flesh left not sure what it would leave me with if I frag the top off!

That’s generally the advice to cut above the dead portion. I think an alternative to try is to frag it normally, then carefully bury the dead portion in super glue just slightly into the living tissue. This may seal off an infection that is moving up the coral. I have had it go either way, but sometimes fragging them does work.

 

[vdubers]

That’s generally the advice to cut above the dead portion. I think an alternative to try is to frag it normally, then carefully bury the dead portion in super glue just slightly into the living tissue. This may seal off an infection that is moving up the coral. I have had it go either way, but sometimes fragging them does work.

Ah that’s a good idea thanks. Might give that one a go.

 

[billyocean]

Fwiw for the future...growth is more important than seeing PE during the day. If ypu don't see PE during the day you can look at night and should have PE. As long as an acro is growing (encrusting or branching) things are usually fine. Some acros don't have much PE to begin with.

 

[vdubers]

Fwiw for the future...growth is more important than seeing PE during the day. If ypu don't see PE during the day you can look at night and should have PE. As long as an acro is growing (encrusting or branching) things are usually fine. Some acros don't have much PE to begin with.

Yeah I think that’s what I was more getting at with my post really. I see some people chasing PE as an indicator they are doing well yet this frag has great PE but is definitely not doing good. Interestingly I knocked a tip off a stag horn i have around the other side of the tank so just stuck it down next to it. The larger parent frag has no PE at all but the smaller mini frag has PE for days. Both are basing out slowly. Corals are strange