Chalices Receding

[Duncan Tse]

Need some help trying to identify and fix my chalice stning. It starts at the base and is slowly losing flesh. Most of these chalices I've had for around 1-6 months. As far as parameters, everything has been stable. I've seen my peppermint shrimp and emerald crab picking on it at night but I'm not sure if they are just picking the dead flesh or is actually irritating it.

35 gallon mixed reef
150 par for the chalices
10% weekly water changes with IO salt and RODI 0 TDS water
Alk 8.85
Cal 434
Mag 1324
Salinity 1.026
Temp 79

 

[Retro Reefer]

Those are amazing! I would say peppermint shrimp with almost 100% certainty is your problem.

 

[AkaZa]

is the same true for cleaner/fire shrimp / emerald crabs?

 

[Retro Reefer]

is the same true for cleaner/fire shrimp / emerald crabs?

Any of them can potentially cause problems but my number one suspect would be the peppermint followed by the emerald. I have never had problems with fire shrimp.

 

[Duncan Tse]

Those are amazing! I would say peppermint shrimp with almost 100% certainty is your problem.

Thank you!

I will most likely remove both of them as they already helped with my aiptasia and bubble algae problem and I don't want to take the risk if they actually are picking at my chalices.

Do you recommend any sort of dip for them to heal? I have coralrx and lugols iodine on hand but not sure if it'll stress the corals out even more.

 

[Retro Reefer]

Thank you!

I will most likely remove both of them as they already helped with my aiptasia and bubble algae problem and I don't want to take the risk if they actually are picking at my chalices.

Do you recommend any sort of dip for them to heal? I have coralrx and lugols iodine on hand but not sure if it'll stress the corals out even more.

I would give them some time after removing the potential culprits before taking any drastic action, the dips would be more for pest or infections.

 

[Scorpius]

You didn't mention nitrates or phosphates. If either of these is remotely low you can kiss those chalices goodbye.

 

[Duncan Tse]

You didn't mention nitrates or phosphates. If either of these is remotely low you can kiss those chalices goodbye.

Totally forgot to post nutrient levels

PO4: 0.05 using hanna ulr chcker
NO3: 25 using salifert

I target feed with reef roids once a week

 

[Duncan Tse]

So I had some time off to take some clearer pictures today

Flesh starts receding from the bottom and is making its way towards the top

Do you think these frags may be getting too much flow as it is right up against the glass where the flow will bounce off of. I am running a jebao sow 8 and 4 in a 35 gallon tank

I have now turned down the flow, removed the peppermint shrimp, and will space them apart and hope they will get better.

Thanks for everyone's feedback!

 

[Duncan Tse]

Just an update : flesh is still receding and it seems to be only affecting my chalice and favias

I have spaced everything more than 3" apart so I don't think sweeper tentacles will be stinging each other

Just puzzles me how my acros, montis, torches, hammers, gonis, zoas are all thriving but not chalices or favias

One thing I noticed is that when I put my hands in hte water today I felt and heard a zap. Could this be due to stray voltage and would it affect my favias/chalice?

Which reminds me that I have to install a gfci outlet.

Would something like this that plugs into the wall outlet work?

 

[DJ H]

I would change the placement I would but them mid to high level

 

[Double monti 61]

To quote little shop of horrors Feed Me!

 

[Double monti 61]

No reef hemroiods pe mysis is much better!

 

[DonDrummond]

Having the same problem- did u ever figure out you’re chalice/favia issue?

 

[Duncan Tse]

Having the same problem- did u ever figure out you’re chalice/favia issue?

Just an update the corals are doing better and are growing in the past few months.

I haven't changed anything and I think it could be just due to shipping stress

 

[Pistol Peet]

Those are some absolutely amazing chalice corals NES shrimp in general cleaner shrimp peppermint shrimp exedra like to dig in and on Coral trying to pick up food causing damage from there poke spiny little legs

 

[Duncan Tse]

Those are some absolutely amazing chalice corals NES shrimp in general cleaner shrimp peppermint shrimp exedra like to dig in and on Coral trying to pick up food causing damage from there poke spiny little legs

Thank you!

And yes I actually forgot that I removed the peppermint shrimp and emerald crab and the chalices are doing good now.

I'm not sure if it's a coincidence or not

 

[Pistol Peet]

Thank you!

And yes I actually forgot that I removed the peppermint shrimp and emerald crab and the chalices are doing good now.

I'm not sure if it's a coincidence or not

Probably not i don't keep shrimp because of this exact reason.

 

[Rjukan]

Yeah not coincidence, the shrimp are bad news for corals.

 

[DonDrummond]

Glad to hear they're doing better.