Brown stuff growing on Goniopora

[T-MIKE]

Hello,

Does anyone know what is wrong with my Goniopora? There is brown stuff growing on it and most of the polys aren’t coming out. I just changed lighting so I thought it was because of that but then I noticed the brown spots are spreading. I’m reef dipping it right now for 20 minutes.

This morning:

Now:

 

[Saltyreef]

Its melting. Have you checked your parameters?
Cal, alk and mag?
I would guess low alk.
Post full parameters.

 

[T-MIKE]

pH: 7.8
Total Ammonia: 0 or 0.25 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 5 ppm
Calcium: 450 ppm
Magnesium: 1500 ppm
Alkalinity: 11 dKh

It was odd because it was fine 2 days ago and I turkey basted all the rocks in my tank and of course the Giniopora would shrink when I do that. After that, it never really came out again. I also changed the light that same day from a DIY light that was 30W to a 165W light that's turned down to roughly 30% brighness.

 

[hart24601]

Sadly looks like brown jelly. I have not been able to save a coral that had it unless was a branching colony. Tried peroxide dips on a goni and slowed it but still happened.

Seems like physical damage generally causes it.

 

[T-MIKE]

Sadly looks like brown jelly. I have not been able to save a coral that had it unless was a branching colony. Tried peroxide dips on a goni and slowed it but still happened.

Seems like physical damage generally causes it.

About 3 weeks ago I spot fed it reef phytoplankton which was a mistake, I didn't know you're not supposed to do that so i lost a spot in the middle where I fed it. Maybe I was too rough with the turkey baster? I was actually using a very narrow version so the tube is much narrower which produced a jet like water column instead of like a turkey baster which has a bigger opening.

 

[hart24601]

It's hard to tell but it might have been it. Sometimes it's other livestock too. Wish I had more useful information for sure. Let us know how it does!

 

[Enucleate]

Ph is low as well.

 

[tehmadreefer]

It's a goni being a goni. Best left for experts and better just to leave em in the ocean, as the majority die in aquariums.

 

[T-MIKE]

Ph is low as well.

I've read people have that low of PH and it was fine but it might be a problem also.

 

[T-MIKE]

It's a goni being a goni. Best left for experts and better just to leave em in the ocean, as the majority die in aquariums.

I've heard the were hard to keep, it was on sale so I got one to try. It was doing really well until I started help(messing) with it, should have just left it alone.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ph low and needs to be buffered up and also may be start of hair algae but hard to tell in pics,

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Ph low and needs to be buffered up and also may be start of hair algae but hard to tell in pics,

Isn't 7.8 within acceptable range?
Aren't ph buffers advised against for various reasons?
Alk is already 11 I would assume proper way to raise ph is better gas exchange, fuge, etc?

Not a knock just asking for my own knowledge as well

 

[vetteguy53081]

Isn't 7.8 within acceptable range?
Aren't ph buffers advised against for various reasons?
Alk is already 11 I would assume proper way to raise ph is better gas exchange, fuge, etc?

Not a knock just asking for my own knowledge as well

My tank is always at 7.8 to 7.88. Buffers not my favorite but can be accomplished with baking soda, pickling salt and other alternatives and mixed in with water when adding to tank. Gas exchange very positive with use of circulation of air

 

[Saltyreef]

Isn't 7.8 within acceptable range?
Aren't ph buffers advised against for various reasons?
Alk is already 11 I would assume proper way to raise ph is better gas exchange, fuge, etc?

Not a knock just asking for my own knowledge as well

Agreed and if alk is that high the 7.8ph is within an acceptable range anyways.
RHF's pH article in reefkeeping touches base with that.
Higher alk mitigates the difficulty for corals to obtain sufficent carbonate to deposit skeletons in a lower PH enviornment.

did i miss if the OP is dosing anything?
Or just water changes?

 

[Saltyreef]

Those parameters, if only performing water changes, seem a bit high. What salt mix are you using and what are you using to test salinity?

 

[BeejReef]

FWIW, a 165w black box, even only at 30%, is a huge step up from the lights you were running. You may well be a good bit over 100 par on the sandbed. You might try giving that coral some shade.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

FWIW, a 165w black box, even only at 30%, is a huge step up from the lights you were running. You may well be a good bit over 100 par on the sandbed. You might try giving that coral some shade.

I was thinking same thing. Without a par meter really no way to be sure you are matching intensity as well as spectrum. Maybe a coral acclimation period may be helpful. Are the other corals reacting differently than before light swap. If everyone else in tank is doing good, then I agree with Goni gonna be goni. They can be kept long term successfully, but similarly many see them die 7 or so months to a year for no reason.