Chalices Receding...

screefer · Dec 23, 2012

Trying to figure this out. I have chalices just randomly receding. Some are losing tissue from the rim while others just have a spot in the middle where the skeleton is showing. I have started dipping the injured corals in Reef Dip (iodine.) My SPS, Acans, Blastos, Euphyllias are all doing great. It is only a few chalices which are not sitting near each other. They injured chalices are not close to anything that could sting them. My parameters are:
PH:8.3
Sal: 1.024
Temp:78.5F
Ca:440
KH:8.568
Mag:1380
NO3:0
NO2:0
NH4:0
P04:0-0.02

Any ideas? I've lost some pretty pricey stuff in the last few days and I am trying to stop the damage.
Thanks

jcdeng · Dec 23, 2012

could be bacteria infection or do you have any fish or inverts that have a taste for chalices?

screefer · Dec 23, 2012

jcdeng said:
could be bacteria infection or do you have any fish or inverts that have a taste for chalices?

Possibly an infection. Hopefully the dips will help. As for fish, I have not seen any bother chalices. The tank has only tangs and a pair of clowns all that seem to behave. Thanks for the input.

Catra2030 · Dec 23, 2012

Any chance they're sitting under anything like a return line or edge of the tank that salt creep could have dropped on them? What do you use to check your salinity. I only ask because I had the same issue for 6-7 months and lost a ton of great chalices. I did the dips, tested, retested and retested day after day, even nukedt my tank with interceptor to kill any mysterious critters/flatworms/pods, racked my brain for months only to find out my salinity was high and my means of testing it were inaccurate. All my corals were doing well except my chalices. But I do agree that if these are not the case probably a bacterial issue. I would also move to a low to medium flow low light area after the dips to see if the tissue regrows over the next few days.

SC reefer · Dec 23, 2012

Make sure your water is not too clean

JMSKI333 · Dec 23, 2012

Catra2030 said:
Any chance they're sitting under anything like a return line or edge of the tank that salt creep could have dropped on them?

I was thinking the same thing!

caudill187 · Dec 23, 2012

I also vote salt burn or bacterial infection. Dips should help. Great advice my fellow reef 2 reefers!!

Mr. D · Dec 23, 2012

SC reefer said:
Make sure your water is not too clean

+1 to that. Had a skimmer rated for 100 gallons on a ~27 gallon system. Once I took it off everything actually acted happier. Been this way for a month now.

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riksreef · Dec 24, 2012

I have found that feeding powder zooplankton and oyster feast with NO skimmer has kept my chalices super healthy....they like to live in not so perfect tanks.....not bacterial infections or any other problems, called they are not eating enough....

EXOTICAQUATIX · Dec 24, 2012

i agree either too low nutrients or salt burn

screefer · Dec 24, 2012

Im thinking its too low nutrients. Im have a 120g running an pretty big alpha cone skimmer and do frequent water changes. I am a little OCD on the salt creep so there isn't usually enough around long enough to fall back into the tank. I will continue to dip the corals and maybe start feeding more and cut back on the water changes. Think that will help? Thanks for all the feedback!

kuyatwo · Dec 24, 2012

make sure your not having wide temp swings also

mcarroll · Dec 24, 2012

Sagging can indicate more than one thing as you have read, so infection is not a safe assumption, IMO. Both moving and dipping increase stress on the coral - not helpful in many cases. If it's infection as posited by a few, then there's a more important question. Why? Corals dont just get infections. (You are looking at a symptom...so dips will not be a cure, IMO)

My guess is that the root cause is starvation. Try feeding more IF you can get them to take macro food. Stirring up detritus into the water column (from sump and display if possible) a few times a day or whatever you can manage for them might be even better and easier for them to feed on.

Also, while your cited alk number isn't bad, it's too close for comfort depending on if that's your high, your low or somewhere between. Hopefully you're about to add a dose to bring it up to around 10 or even 11, which is your preferred alkalinity target. This gives you more leeway/safety/stability (which is the main idea when keeping stony coral) and also matches your Ca number better.

-Matt

Pappy · Dec 24, 2012

Something stinging it?

guichi1210 · Dec 24, 2012

similar to a recent experience. I added carbon and hoped they didn't die all the way. checked params and all good as well as the other corals. Eventually the stop receeding and healed but lost about 40% of size on some.

screefer · Dec 24, 2012

My KH typically stays between 8.5-9. I figured stability was key but may try to raise it up some. There is/was atleast 4-5" between all corals so I have not observed stinging.