chalice help

ReefQueen · Feb 21, 2016

Hey guys. So I got a chalice yesterday that had some feather dusters on it. After I put it in the tank my peppermint shrimp immediately descended on it and started to rip the feather dusters to shreds. In the process he must have also got some of the chalice and this morning some of the skeleton was showing. It seems to be getting worse throughout the day. Is there anything I can do for it? Would RTN destroyer help? Or is it best to let it get settled and hope it grows back on its own?

ReefQueen · Feb 21, 2016

Sorry bad pic, my phone wouldn't focus for some reason.

duke4130 · Feb 21, 2016

Do an iodine dip with it...... Get a container with some of you water and put a few drops of lugols in there and let the chalice sit for 10 minutes.... Put it back in but you have to be careful with those peppermint shrimps.... They get a taste for corals sometimes

Shep · Feb 21, 2016

Honestly just let it settle first, if it is stressed out, dipping it will likely just make it worse. Chalices are pretty tough corals, give it some time before you decide on what to do.

ReefQueen · Feb 21, 2016

Oh boy, conflicting advice lol. I think for now I will wait until tomorrow and if it looks worse I'll do a dip. I think I will order some RTN destroyer anyway though because I heard it's amazing and I'd like to have some on hand in case of emergencies.

ReefQueen · Feb 21, 2016

Oh and I don't think he meant to do it, and now that the dusters are gone he hasn't gone near it. If he decides to be bad again though I will banish him to the sump. Although it is getting a little full down there with naughty creatures lol.

Reefrookie220 · Feb 21, 2016

I agree with @Shep , give it a few days and see how it's looking then.

duke4130 · Feb 21, 2016

Give it a few days and then try the dip..... The only reason i said to dip it is because you mentioned that it looked like it was getting worse

Shep · Feb 21, 2016

I have never heard of RTN destroyer, [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG] opinions on it?

hybridazn · Feb 21, 2016

Let it settle for a few days. It's obviously stressed and dipping it now will only make it worse. Keep your water parameters good and it will heal. After it settles down you can cut off the exposed skeleton to promote proper growth.

I've heard of rtn destroyer, it was being sold by a vendor but I can't remember who. But until I see it actually work it's just another snake oil to me.

Z-man · Feb 21, 2016

Do you have actinic or blue lights? Look at it with only the blues and see if the rim glows. That will help determine if it is receding more or has started to recover.

ReefQueen · Feb 21, 2016

Ok I'll give it a few days. I have personally seen RTN destroyer work in a friends tank. It's magic! I'm having a hard time remembering who makes it though so I'll have to ask her. My params are all good and I did a water change the night before I got it so hopefully it doesn't recede anymore.

gamedog53 · Feb 22, 2016

RTN Destroyer is made by Reef Grow

Bbaz123456 · Feb 23, 2016

Stupid peppermints!!
That chalice looks very familiar...haha. I meant to warn you about the feather dusters in there just in case you were not aware of what they were, but it sounds like you were. For some reason that plug was covered with them.
I would leave it alone for now. I prefer to not dip chalices.
If it does not make it, let me know. Not sure if you are local but I can get you another.

ReefQueen · Feb 23, 2016

Bbaz123456 said:
Stupid peppermints!!
That chalice looks very familiar...haha. I meant to warn you about the feather dusters in there just in case you were not aware of what they were, but it sounds like you were. For some reason that plug was covered with them.
I would leave it alone for now. I prefer to not dip chalices.
If it does not make it, let me know. Not sure if you are local but I can get you another.

Haha does not now? It is gorgeous and I love it, thank you! I really hope it pulls through because it's my favorite coral in my tank so far! And thank you for the offer, but I am in Pittsburgh, so not exactly local lol. I have not dipped it, but I did move it lower in my tank because I worried it was getting too much light. What did you keep it under by the way?

ReefQueen · Feb 23, 2016

Also has anyone else had peppermint shrimp completely annihilate feather dusters like that? I don't recall any others ever doing this.

Bbaz123456 · Feb 23, 2016

I kept it under medium leds. Around 50% on ocean revive but have moved that chalice many times under different lighting with no I'll effects. More importantly I would keep it out of high flow for now with the damage to the skin. It is very prone to peeling off after being fragged or damaged.
Peppermints are good at destroying many different things. In my opinion the only thing they are good for is a tasty little snack for my fish.
Also, I wouldn't feed any chalices with peppermints in the tank. They will rip open the eyes to get the food out.

ReefQueen · Feb 23, 2016

Bbaz123456 said:
I kept it under medium leds. Around 50% on ocean revive but have moved that chalice many times under different lighting with no I'll effects. More importantly I would keep it out of high flow for now with the damage to the skin. It is very prone to peeling off after being fragged or damaged.
Peppermints are good at destroying many different things. In my opinion the only thing they are good for is a tasty little snack for my fish.
Also, I wouldn't feed any chalices with peppermints in the tank. They will rip open the eyes to get the food out.

The spot I moved it to is less flowy lol. And so far he hasn't messed with anything while feeding, but I make sure he has some food to keep him occupied. I hope he continues to be a good boy, I have had him over a year and have grown very attached lol.