Elegance coral worry

[Thespammailaccount]

Is it similar to how other euphyllia react when growing? All of my torches do the exact same thing when growing new heads still freaks me out to see them in that state. I’d leave and not touch it, monitor it for a few days. Should be fine... have you tried feeding it amino?

I am not sure but that is a good question

 

[Snorkelsteve]

It doesn't look like there is receding along the skeleton so it should come around. As others have said, there are times they just do this. Keep an eye on it and I am sure it will come around.

Also having the cone bottom doesn't mean its from indo necessarily, I have three cone bottom elegance that are all aussie. Also since you bought it last may I would assume its aussie unless the store you purchased it from had it for a long time since indo was shutdown at that point.

 

[Thespammailaccount]

It doesn't look like there is receding along the skeleton so it should come around. As others have said, there are times they just do this. Keep an eye on it and I am sure it will come around.

Also having the cone bottom doesn't mean its from indo necessarily, I have three cone bottom elegance that are all aussie. Also since you bought it last may I would assume its aussie unless the store you purchased it from had it for a long time since indo was shutdown at that point.

Yes I agree if it was bought last year it is almost certainly an aussie

 

[mcshams]

We have two very large elegance corals, and they occasionally do this. However, have you checked all your tank inhabitants... such as snails (like you could inventory those) or small fish. We've had our smaller elegance catch.. yes.. catch and EAT a firefish...was amazing (and disappointing) and got extremely small for several days. Our biggest elegance is a consumer of snails and will often shrink after a larger meal.

I agree with everyone's assessment here in that I would not overthink and/or worry as of yet. I would change very little to nothing at all and just watch.

 

[Jimbhoy13]

Well since you have already had it for a year now it does not make sense that the problem is related to too much light. Do you know what your current nitrate and phosphate levels are? Is the red algae on the sand bed new?

Tested this morning. Nitrate is 10 and phosphate is 0.03. Both been same for a while. The only thing that has crept up over last 2 tests is calcium. Usually within range but has been creeping up 360 (28th February) 385 (7/3) 410 (23/3) 460 (4/4) 455 (13/4) 490 (21/4). Dropped the calcium dosage now.
yes the macro algae is new but I presume you mean the patches on the sand surface and on the rocks. I’ve been trying to clear that for a couple of months now it’s had two doses of Blue Life Cyano RX and one of Blue Life Phosphate RX. Not at the same time though.

 

[Jimbhoy13]

Yes I agree if it was bought last year it is almost certainly an aussie

The store I bought it from has a good reputation and I’ve bought a few corals from them.

 

[Jimbhoy13]

We have two very large elegance corals, and they occasionally do this. However, have you checked all your tank inhabitants... such as snails (like you could inventory those) or small fish. We've had our smaller elegance catch.. yes.. catch and EAT a firefish...was amazing (and disappointing) and got extremely small for several days. Our biggest elegance is a consumer of snails and will often shrink after a larger meal.

I agree with everyone's assessment here in that I would not overthink and/or worry as of yet. I would change very little to nothing at all and just watch.

Thanks for reassuring me. I don’t have any snails at the moment. I think red legged hermits saw them off. Don’t see hermits very often. Maybe two left. Saw one today.

 

[Jimbhoy13]

I am not sure but that is a good question

No fed amino. I have frozen coral food cubes but don’t feed them very often.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ive had mine for a LONG time and never has it closed.
Assure not too much sudden flow.
Assure also that salinity hasn't gotten high and youre getting a false reading.
PH range of 8.1-8.3 and temperature of 78-79 deg.
Verify your nitrate and ammonia readings also.
For a second opinion, take a water sample to a trusted LFS and have them test and compare with your readings

This is mine:

 

[Jimbhoy13]

Once every few months my elegance will do the same thing I have yet to figure out why but it always bounces back. I wouldn’t worry to much unless it continues especially since you have had it so long. Hopefully something just irritated it I’ve had crabs mess with it before and even had a clown try to host it. It might have even caught a hermit or something. If you start making changes you might stress it further and actually create issues.

The clown fish hosts the hammer coral

 

[Jimbhoy13]

Ive had mine for a LONG time and never has it closed.
Assure not too much sudden flow.
Assure also that salinity hasn't gotten high and youre getting a false reading.
PH range of 8.1-8.3 and temperature of 78-79 deg.
Verify your nitrate and ammonia readings also.
For a second opinion, take a water sample to a trusted LFS and have them test and compare with your readings

This is mine:

Nice coral. The LFS I use is about 30 mile away. Not sure if it is open during the crisis but we are not allowed to travel that far at the moment. Only local for essentials.

 

[Jimbhoy13]

Thanks everyone for your advice and reassurance. It’s my favourite (and most expensive) coral. I would hate to lose it but that’s life with reefing. Good to chat with everyone it’s a credit to R2R and the support given here.

 

[Thespammailaccount]

Tested this morning. Nitrate is 10 and phosphate is 0.03. Both been same for a while. The only thing that has crept up over last 2 tests is calcium. Usually within range but has been creeping up 360 (28th February) 385 (7/3) 410 (23/3) 460 (4/4) 455 (13/4) 490 (21/4). Dropped the calcium dosage now.
yes the macro algae is new but I presume you mean the patches on the sand surface and on the rocks. I’ve been trying to clear that for a couple of months now it’s had two doses of Blue Life Cyano RX and one of Blue Life Phosphate RX. Not at the same time though.

Numbers look good I bet a snail fell from the glass or now reading your previous post hopefully it is enjoying a hermit and it is still enjoying a large meal. Like others stated I would give it a little time

 

[Thespammailaccount]

Nice coral. The LFS I use is about 30 mile away. Not sure if it is open during the crisis but we are not allowed to travel that far at the moment. Only local for essentials.

I am sorry to hear that. Luckily we can still travel and most LFS are still open with restrictions and a few have even started to deliver

 

[scardall]

I bought it in May 2019 so almost a year. It has grown a lot and covers a large area when open. I can’t believe it is so small now when closed up. At night it usually gets smaller but not like it is now.
my other corals seem ok. My tank is only 40 gallon so not a lot of space on sand bed when it spreads out fully.
Not sure what type the corals are in last picture. That was one coral that I bought and it grew and split apart. Both seem to be growing ok.

cyno will irritate your elegance.

 

[dwest]

I’ve had mine for about 20 years. It’s been through a lot. In the past, before I put in a AWC, mine would close when I needed a water change. It would always come back after that. I agree to double check salinity as well.

 

[Mal11224]

Elegance can be tough. I’ve had mine for about 3 years now and it does great in my tank and is similar Aussie type as yours. It never closes really. I would check flow and lighting just to be sure but it is likely something in the tank is messing with it or fell on it.

 

[miyags]

Did this happen when you added the cyano remover? I added Ultra life slime remover to one of my tanks,and my mushroom corals all shrank. They were the size of a dinner plate. 3 of them split.Still not happy 4 weeks later.

 

[Lunardogz]

Mine does that sometimes. Doesn’t like too much direct flow.

 

[miyags]

If it's been in the same spot for a year.I doubt its light or flow.