Chalices all receding

DonDrummond · Oct 11, 2020

I’m having a edge recession problem w chalices that had been growing and colored up beautifully for the last year and a half. Introduced a favia frag that started losing tissue after a month or so and I think that’s the culprit. I’m guessing it’s a bacterial thing that came in on the favites?
Spot feed everyone with reef roids every week. No crabs,shrimp or pickers. Had an alk spike up to 11 when I’m usually around 9 but all the acros are fine which if the jump was bad they’d be the first to show.
Should I pop all the chalice off (all frags that have encrusted off the plugs at this point) and dip them in something or just hold the course? Sux cuz they were doing so well.

Daddy-o · Oct 12, 2020

A picture is worth a thousand words

DonDrummond · Oct 13, 2020

I’ll take some pics after work but all you’ll see are chalices that are receding from the edges inward. Is there something else you’d like to see or just the chalices? There’s no fuzz or bacterial look on them just slowly exposed skeleton or rock. Just wasn’t sure if people have seen this before where all the chalice start receding at the same time and only chalice or favites. Acros, hammer, nepthea, zoas all look perfect

JorgeS · Jan 12, 2021

DonDrummond said:
I’ll take some pics after work but all you’ll see are chalices that are receding from the edges inward. Is there something else you’d like to see or just the chalices? There’s no fuzz or bacterial look on them just slowly exposed skeleton or rock. Just wasn’t sure if people have seen this before where all the chalice start receding at the same time and only chalice or favites. Acros, hammer, nepthea, zoas all look perfect

Hi, did you ever find out what the problem was? I’m having a similar problem with one raja rampage that was growing fine and three favias that were growing extremely well and suddenly some skeleton is showing in the favias and the chalice has the kind of recession you mention.

DonDrummond · Jan 13, 2021

Ah man- my raja was the first to show signs and I loved that coral. Unfortunately no- I never figured it out and lost most everything in the end- chalices, favites, acans. Checked for rusty magnet, impellers etc. I’ve been reefing for decades- mostly acros until last couple years. Downsized to an “easy” LPS tank and almost lost everything lol- never had a tank crash before. Was ready to leave the hobby but am now in the on the fence zone. Anyway- sorry I don’t have any answers- it wasn’t alk rollercoastering or anything obvious. I’ll pray to the reef gods for u not to lose that raja- or anything else for that matter. Things like this can be so disheartening- hang in there.

JorgeS · Jan 13, 2021

DonDrummond said:
Ah man- my raja was the first to show signs and I loved that coral. Unfortunately no- I never figured it out and lost most everything in the end- chalices, favites, acans. Checked for rusty magnet, impellers etc. I’ve been reefing for decades- mostly acros until last couple years. Downsized to an “easy” LPS tank and almost lost everything lol- never had a tank crash before. Was ready to leave the hobby but am now in the on the fence zone. Anyway- sorry I don’t have any answers- it wasn’t alk rollercoastering or anything obvious. I’ll pray to the reef gods for u not to lose that raja- or anything else for that matter. Things like this can be so disheartening- hang in there.

Yes it’s tough! Thank you. I will try dipping them and increase the direct feeding. Thank you very much!