Elegance problems, not opening but not dying - confused

[RFRMDNESS]

Hi Reefers,

I've been having a strange problem with my Aussie Elegance Coral. I've read how temperamental they can be, but this behavior is just strange. I picked it up at my LFS 2 months ago. Always have good experience with their coral. It expanded and was enormous the first month. 2nd month the right head started contracting, I was in the uh-oh phase and monitored closely. A few weeks went by and it still didn't open, but didn't recede into the skeleton at all. Then the left side started contracting and is not opening. Now both heads do not open, but there is no sign of it dying or receding into it's skeleton. I'm so confused. Everything else in my tank is doing great and so was the Elegance until it started to mysteriously not like things. I tried moving it to a different spot as well to see if it didn't like the flow or it didn't like to touch the rock. I also have it with its backside anchored into the sandbed as I read they may like that more.

Salinity: 1.26
Temp 78.5
Alk: 8.5-9.0
pH: 8.2
Calcium: 418
Magnesium: 1300ppm

My parameters don't swing much.

Elegance 2 months ago: Elegance 1 month ago: Elegance today:

 

[Mal11224]

Looks like it's extended but closed. Also looks like you may have moved it. It is best to leave it where it is used to. May need to make sure that the flow in its current position is not too high. I have one opposite one of my powerheads and it seems to be doing well there. Hopefully it does not bail.

 

[RFRMDNESS]

Yeah the right head has been closed for a month and now the left for the last 2 weeks. It started to close in the old spot it was in, so I figured I'd try and move it.

 

[RFRMDNESS]

Elegance coral is still not dead, no skeletal receding, but not opening. LFS owner said maybe there is some chemical warfare going on in the tank? I do have a good amount of zoa's but nothing it bothering them and they look healthy. Really confused here, I just want my extended Elegance back!

 

[Denisk]

From your last video that I took a look at, I think it has too much flow. Elegance corals love their light but I don't recommend them having a lot of flow.

I would recommend moving it where it will have very little flow but also let it finally acclimate there. Sometimes the less you try to do, the better.

Best of luck!!!

 

[RFRMDNESS]

@Denisk I did move it several times in different flow areas. I do have a Fiji Yellow Leather, I hear about the toxicity of those corals and them being prone to chemical warfare. I'm wondering now if thats the reason why.

 

[Denisk]

@Denisk I did move it several times in different flow areas. I do have a Fiji Yellow Leather, I hear about the toxicity of those corals and them being prone to chemical warfare. I'm wondering now if thats the reason why.

It could be. When I had a tank full of lps and softies, I ran carbon and that helped. Don't run too much or it'll strip the water.