Duncan BJD?

[BSej]

Hello,

I noticed my Duncan hadn't opened in a couple weeks (all heads used to fully open). Occasionally it'll show some life, and one head seems to do alright. Recently I noticed some purple-ish slime build-up on the closed heads. It looks the same as this purple slime that built up on my Xenia the day I got it. I was told to blast the slime away, but maybe the slime spread to the Duncan this way? The Xenia melted away within a couple days. I don't want the same to happen to the Duncan. Any help appreciated!

I just dipped in reef dip (realized probably won't do anything but oh well).

All of the the other corals seem to be doing well.

Calcium - 430
Alk - 10.1
pH - 8.15
Salinity 35.5

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Can you post some pics in white light?

Doubtful to be brown jelly, it kills the coral very fast, like overnight. So if the duncan has been closed for weeks, something is bothering it.

 

[BSej]

The pic where it's receding is after the dip.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

How old is the tank? Do you know the nitrate and phosphate levels?

 

[BSej]

How old is the tank? What are the nitrate and phosphate levels?

it was a fish only tank for roughly 2 years. Been converting to reef since December. Nitrates using color strip are ~20. Phosphate using seachem ~0.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I have no idea's so far, sorry. What type of lighting and flow do you have in the tank?

 

[jmoney7]

My Duncan closes occasionally when it’s growing but never for weeks either a fish is messing with it or a param is off.

 

[BSej]

My Duncan closes occasionally when it’s growing but never for weeks either a fish is messing with it or a param is off.

I don't see any fish messing with it. Here is my list:

4 x Clown fish	1 x Blue damsal	1 x Foxface
1 x Sailfin tang	1 x Chocolate tang	1 x Red dragonnette goby
	1 x Formosa wrasse	2 x Anthias
	1 x striped fang Blenny	1 x Bluejaw trigger
2 x Fire fish	1 x pixie hawk
1 x Scopas tang	1 x neon dottyback

 

[BSej]

I have no idea's so far, sorry. What type of lighting and flow do you have in the tank?

I've got a photon v2 pro, and a couple LED bars. Quite a unique/odd setup. Should be sitting in 50-100 PAR range. For flow I have a reefwave 45.

 

[BSej]

How old is the tank? Do you know the nitrate and phosphate levels?

I just tested phosphate again, looks like .2-.5

 

[jmoney7]

How big is your tank?

 

[BSej]

How big is your tank?

150gal

 

[jmoney7]

I know clownfish are known for being hosted by Duncan corals but sometimes the Duncan doesn’t like it and closes up could this be the case?

 

[jmoney7]

I just tested phosphate again, looks like .2-.5

phosphates are higher than I like in my tank but I’m also dealing with algae rn. However ik Duncan’s don’t mind a little nutrients so that really shouldn’t be the problem.

 

[jmoney7]

Has there been a big change in parameters they are very sensitive to big changes.

 

[BSej]

Has there been a big change in parameters they are very sensitive to big changes.

I increased the salinity pretty quickly, but this was 3ish weeks ago. Not much has been changed since.

 

[BSej]

I know clownfish are known for being hosted by Duncan corals but sometimes the Duncan doesn’t like it and closes up could this be the case?

No. I don't see any of the fish go near it.

 

[jmoney7]

That could def be it. A quick salinity swing could cause a Duncan to close up to adjust to the new salinity. I do agree it is weird that’s it’s been closed up for so long. Is it getting blasted by flow? I had a torch in high flow in front of the Reef wave in my tank and he was never fully open. I don’t think he’s getting too much light.

 

[jmoney7]

Could need more light because they need closer to 150 par I keep mine about mid way up in my tank.

 

[BSej]

That could def be it. A quick salinity swing could cause a Duncan to close up to adjust to the new salinity. I do agree it is weird that’s it’s been closed up for so long. Is it getting blasted by flow? I had a torch in high flow in front of the Reef wave in my tank and he was never fully open. I don’t think he’s getting too much light.

Not getting blasted, flowing nicely.