Blasto receding

[Bars]

Thought I'd wait this one out, but I'm getting worried now and feeling like my assumption isn't the right one...

Due to me not having a ton of time and being lazy/forgetful, I didn't check my parameters for a few weeks. I've been slowly adjusting my dosing pump according to the consumption for the last 2 months. Turns out my alk has dropped from 8.3 to 7.3 in that 3 week timespan of not testing. Calc and magnesium have dropped a bit as well, but nothing dramatic. I tested last friday and did a 15% water change right after, which has increased alk to about 7.6.

One of my Blastomussa has been a bit receded for the last 2 weeks, which I thought was caused by a change in flow patterns. Rearranged my pumps a couple of times to get better circulation throughout the tank. The flow near the blastos hasn't changed much as far as I can see. However, it is looking worse as 2 weeks ago and as of today some of its mouths are open as well. Didn't accept a reef roid paste though, it just sits there with its mouths open. This blasto has been in the tank for a year now and been in the same spot for months. I'm now thinking the alk swing is the culprit, but then again I'd expect more corals to react.

None of my other corals are doing worse than before. My torch was looking a bit sad a few days before the waterchange, but is back to normal already. Sps is still growing as usual, my other blasto is looking great and has baby heads that are growing very well.

Any ideas why this particular coral is suddenly doing so poorly? I'm planning to get some coral dip and give it a good dip tomorrow.

Edit: took this picture just now. The brown stuff on the heads is the reef roid paste. My profile picture is what it used to look like. Also, the CB hasn't been nipping, he's a model citizen.

 

[reef lover]

None of the other Lps can touch it with sweepers?

 

[Bars]

Not as far as I can see.
I've got a hammer and torch a few inches above it, duncan few inches next to it and the other blasto right in front. Never seen any sweeper tentacles either.

My LFS advised me to put it in an upside down cup with some holes in it. Put it in yesterday but is still looking pretty bad, keeping it in for a few more days though. Going to keep a good eye on the coral beauty and my other blasto this weekend.

 

[reef lover]

Ya I've used cut soda bottle tops before to protect lps while feeding. Let us know if he's being nipped on.

 

[Bars]

Will do.

In the meantime, anything else I can do to help this blasto recover? All its mouths are still open and I can see the shape of the skeleton near the edges. Would placing it in a low light area help?

 

[reef lover]

I would leave it in the lighting it was happy with before going downhill. Maybe try feeding again in a couple days.

 

[Bars]

Unfortunately, it won't eat. Mouths are still wide open, but it ignores everything I try to feed. I feel like he's looking worse every day. Moved him to a more shaded, low flow area. All other corals still doing fine, haven't seen my coral beauty nip at anything either...

 

[reef lover]

Bummer.....how have you made out with raising the alk??

 

[Ethan Zier]

I received a blasto Saturday and its looking worse for ware as they say. Its oral disk has a hole on the side and is also bleached. I had 10 frags shipped and this is the only one that isn't looking good.. Looking to see if anyone has any experience saving Blastos. The tips and tricks.

 

[Bars]

Bummer.....how have you made out with raising the alk??

Sorry, forgot to answer this question. I did a water change which raised alk from 7.3 to 7.6 and haven't done anything else to increase it. I'm just keeping it stable at that number now. Figured stability is more important now than raising it back to 8.3, ultimately causing even more swings.

Been a few days, seems like its mouths are a tiny bit more closed now since moving it to a shaded area. At least it's not looking worse than before. Going to give it a quick dip later to see if any pests come off.

 

[DHill6]

Agree with keeping all stable for now. I keep alk 7-7.2, have you tried frozen Reef Frenzy Nano, thaw and break up over water, turn pumps off 10-15 minutes and just let it float throughout water. All LPS including blastos react to this. I feed mine reef frenzy pellets through a piece of tubing, once a week. I also have started with KZ products including LPS, I've noticed a good reaction after adding 1 drop to a 34g tank.

 

[Bars]

Unfortunately reef frenzy isn't sold in my country. I feed a mix of flakes and pellets, frozen mysis, krill, black mosquito larvae, blood worms, chopped shrimp, chopped mussel, fish eggs and lobster eggs throughout the week though. Most of it is spot fed as well.

 

[Bars]

Quick update, mouths are closing even more now. It's even looking a tiny bit meatier than yesterday. I'll try feeding it again in a few days. Haven't dipped it yet and thinking it might be better if I just leave it for now, instead of taking it out and causing more stress.

 

[Bars]

Whites are off at the moment, but still wanted to give a quick update.

Most mouths are pretty much closed, just 1 that's still a bit gaping. I'm gonna try feeding it tomorrow



Edit: hmm, never took a pic when the mouths were gaping. It's looking more like the picture I first posted and that's a good thing

 

[reef lover]

Yay!

 

[Bars]

One more update
Moved it to a better lit spot this morning and fed it some mysis.

Although it still looks the same as 2 weeks ago, at least it's eating again! In the next weeks I'll slowly move it back to the original spot.