Finger Leather Coral Damage

OctoPunk · Oct 28, 2013

I have a Finger Leather Coral I have had for like four or five months. It has been thriving in my tank since I got it. No issue until now and it has even been growing by leaps and bounds.
At the base of each finger (on the inside - where the fingers meet the base of the coral) there appears to be multiple white craters. These craters started appearing about a month ago and the are becoming more prevalent as the days go by. Besides the craters nothing else
seems to be wrong. The corals polyps come out like normal. It fully expands frequently and appears quite healthy expect for the craters white are getting larger and more frequent.
I have a Green Clown Goby who has taken up residence in it, but I really cannot see him eating this coral. That seems far fetched to me but What do you all think?
I also have a Starry Blenny who likes to dump sand on top of it, so every so often i have to blow off sand that collects in the base of the Finger Leather. Pretty much right were the craters are appearing, which I thought might be related? Thoughts?
Attached are the pictures of the coral and craters. Some said it could be the coral reproducing via division, but they did not elaborate on that or explain why they think that. Do ya'll think its that simple?

matty0206 · Oct 28, 2013

How long is the sand sitting there before it gets blown off? The clown gobies usually eat coral polyps, this looks more like bleaching.

3Twinklets · Oct 28, 2013

What that looks like to me, is where detritus has settled. If you see anything settling just blow it off with a turkey baster.

OctoPunk · Oct 29, 2013

I have been, but neither sand nor detritus is sitting there very long. I check it twice a day and remove whatever is there and the issue is only getting worse. not slowing down or getting better. I do not believe the sand or detritus is of any consequence to this issue. Could it be the coral is dividing/reproducing. Someone said it may be bleaching, however I was unware that creating an indentation or crater in the coral was part of that process. I can see where people may think that because it is turning white in these areas, but the truly disturbing part is the loss of tissue associated with the crater. Someone also stated that it may be dying. no explanation past that of course.

TJ's Reef · Oct 29, 2013

Look very closely in immediate surrounding area for any small jelly like patches (egss) as this looks like damage caused by a Nudibranch. If you have any Coral Dip use it. Melefix, Coral R/X or others will help stop bacterial infection as well as dislodge and/or kill the Nudi's if present. Iodine (Lugols) dips will help with bacterial infection and stain the eggs for easy identification. Aiming a circulation pump towards it also will be of benefit to its health.

Cheers, Todd

TJ's Reef · Oct 29, 2013

Look very closely in immediate surrounding area for any small jelly like patches (egss) as this looks like damage caused by a Nudibranch. If you have any Coral Dip use it. Melefix, Coral R/X or others will help stop bacterial infection as well as dislodge and/or kill the Nudi's if present. Iodine (Lugols) dips will help with bacterial infection and stain the eggs for easy identification. Aiming a circulation pump towards it also will be of benefit to its health.  Cheers,  Todd

TJ's Reef · Oct 29, 2013

Oops! tried to edit ^above^ was going to add that you could check the coral out an hour or two after lights out to see if there are any pests on those areas.

Cheers, Todd