Aggravated Torch

[AmaleeC]

Hello! I bought a highlighter torch from WWC. It’s sllloowwllllyyyyyyy splitting into three heads and easily one of my favorite corals. I came home today and noticed one of the heads is very happy, and the other two are showing skeleton.. I don’t know if I should wait or if I should move the torch to a different spot. What should I do?

 

[Sosuke]

Pictures? Could be a number of things

 

[AmaleeC]

I just moved it to a low flow area. It seemed to be doing okay.. What do I do now? Is it a goner?

 

[Sosuke]

Doesn't seem to be doing great from the pic, can you spot any brown jelly on it?

 

[Sosuke]

Also what are your params

 

[AmaleeC]

Ammonia - 0
Nitrate - 0
pH - 8.3
Phosphate - 0
Salinity is 1.025

I can check Alk, mag, and calcium. But the tank is about 3 weeks old, and all of my frags are small so I think those will check out fine. The only change I made recently was turning up the flow where the torch was. Now I’m really regretting it.. In this photo, I’ve marked where it looks like the skeleton isn’t attached at all anymore.

 

[AmaleeC]

Here’s the photo without any markings.

So what should I do now? I don’t really have any dips or anything besides the Seachem Reef Dip.

 

[AmaleeC]

On the bright side, I don’t see any brown jelly. However, it’s important to note that it was in a high flow area so there could’ve been brown jelly at one point && it just got blown off.

 

[Sosuke]

That might be possible, keep it in low flow for now, your nitrates and phos are actually better at Nitrates 1-5 ppm and phos a bit higher than 0 but thats the only thing I could see

 

[Sosuke]

Do you test these weekly?

 

[AmaleeC]

At least once a week, yes. I test with the Salifert less frequently. But it’s worth it.

 

[Sosuke]

Do the levels stay the same weekly?

 

[AmaleeC]

Do the levels stay the same weekly?

Ph & nitrates have been consistent. However, ammonia was up last week. As a quick resolution, I added some Seachem prime, dosed some bacteria in a bottle, and then did a water change.

 

[Dilan Patel]

sounds like ur staving the coral. raise up po4 and nitrate to detectable levels.

 

[KTrevino]

I wouldn't freak just lower the flow back to what it was and place it in the original spot. Too much moving around to different lighting a flow my be throwing it off. The tank is also newer and the coral is newer may just be a little upset. What light are you running and did you dip the coral?

 

[Sosuke]

That might have done it ammonia should always be 0 in a tank, sometimes changes like that could cause brown jelly disease (happened to my torch coral) and it withered away

 

[AmaleeC]

I wouldn't freak just lower the flow back to what it was and place it in the original spot. Too much moving around to different lighting a flow my be throwing it off. The tank is also newer and the coral is newer may just be a little upset. What light are you running and did you dip the coral?

I’m running Viparspectras. Whites are at 5 and blues are at 20. I haven’t dipped recently, but I did when I first got it a week ago. WWC is great, but I don’t want to find out wether or not they have pests.

That might have done it ammonia should always be 0 in a tank, sometimes changes like that could cause brown jelly disease (happened to my torch coral) and it withered away

yikes... I guess I’ll have to keep a close eye on the little guy and see how he does. I’d hate to lose him

sounds like ur staving the coral. raise up po4 and nitrate to detectable levels.

I keep my nitrates and phosphates low because it’s a newer tank and there’s just too much room for unwanted guests. In turn, I feed all my LPS 3 - 4 times a week with reef roids and Coralvue pellets in addition to the lots of “food” their getting from my fish.

 

[Sosuke]

Don't get too worried though it might be able to pull through if you give it proper and stable parameters as it doesn't look as bad as mine did. What other animals do you have that may be ticking it off?

 

[AmaleeC]

Don't get too worried though it might be able to pull through if you give it proper and stable parameters as it doesn't look as bad as mine did. What other animals do you have that may be ticking it off?

The only one I can think of is my melanarus wrasse. She picks at everything that looks like food, and any pests that may be - even when her stomach is literally BULGING full from food. Not sure wether I appreciate her or hate her

 

[AmaleeC]

Lost the torch. Came home yesterday and there was brown jelly on it. Poor baby.

Tank is going through a massive algae bloom and all of my euphyllia is pretty p*ssed minus this baseball sized wall hammer I have in there. It’s going to be very aggravating if I lose some of my other pieces, but I guess I’ll just have to wait and see... I’ve been cleaning my filter sock every two days, if not everyday. Running carbon, purigen, and a 5 watt UV sterilizer from my old tank. I have a 13 watt UV sterilizer on the way too, that should help speed this up a little.

I have a purple tip torch in there that I got for $30 and I’m really hoping not to lose it in addition to the one I lost. Besides the fact that I enjoy the look of the torch, you don’t really find torches for $30... There’s a purple tip green stem hammer + a teal hammer, both with two heads and both very upset. About $150 of coral that’s upset rn. Just a waiting game now.. On the bright side, my soft corals, other LPS and even my anemone seem to be doing okay.