Forest Fire Digitata Turning White

[madadium]

I've had this frag for about a month and a half, the tank is about 3 months old. All other SPS (2 other monti's, a green acro, chalice, and birds nest) are all doing great and growing really fast. Water parameters look good but I noticed my magnesium was quite low after picking up a kit today (it's 1120 ppm, gradually bringing it back up).

The guy I got it from said it never really took off for him. When I first put it in the tank I noticed decent growth but it never turned green like some photos of forest fires I've seen.

Last week I noticed these white patches forming (see pics) and they're getting larger. Do you think this is the magnesium levels? Do you notice any parasites? I'm wondering if these white patches will ever regress or if I better off to frag it to save the healthy portions.

Any advice appreciated, thanks!

 

[Reefer40b]

If things turn around it will regrow over the dead white spots. I would be checking with a flash light at night to see if you have any monti eating nudi's?

 

[HB AL]

If I had to guess as I’ve dealt with Monti eating nudis in the past I don’t think that is the issue. Looks more like it’s slowly dying for some reason. I think if it was a pest issue the coral would still have its colors on the unaffected portions but your is looking pretty paled out. Sounds like it wasn’t colored up even when you got it, maybe it’s some kind of infection. Fragging has worked many times for me but in this case the whole coral looks unhealthy so it’s not like your saving a section that’s colored up and looking good. Have you tried dipping it in an iodine based dip? If not I would do that asap, it has worked for me really well in the past when I have a coral where the whole thing looks sick.

 

[Reefer40b]

I second the iodine based dip as it does look like its infected.

 

[madadium]

Thanks for the great replies guys. I used ReVive when I put it in the tank but it sounds like an iodine based dip would be best. Thanks!

 

[ReefNerd]

I am no SPS expert, however I have a frag of forest fire digi that I bought off a local reefer near me who has an amazing collection of SPS hes kept long term. He specifically told me that the forest fire digi was sensitive to low magnesium and to make sure I keep it stable or slightly high at least 1300ppm+

Based on what he told me, and your low Magnesium I would recommend getting your mag higher

 

[markalot]

I don't dip SPS unless it's in Bayer. Don't stress it out more IMO.

Something happened, maybe Mg but I doubt it. You say your parameters look good but looking good is not good enough. Different SPS react differently to parameter swings. This looks like a KH swing to me, or a rapid PO4 drop. More sensitive corals will react first, then over the next month others might show signs of stress even if the problem has been fixed.

Get the Mg back up and make triply sure your KH is in a good range and stable day to day. Also double check salinity and make sure it hasn't drifted to high. Make all changes slowly.

 

[HB AL]

Just a question for those with a Forrest fire digi, I have the regular red digi and it grows like a weed, nothing seems to phase it, so is the forest fire that much more touchy?

 

[Softhammer]

I have had forest fire for about ten years. I can’t kill the things. They grow like weeds. You may have gotten a bum frag to begin with. If you lived near by I could set you up with a few colonies. I’ve given away a few dozen over the years. I will say they need lower, very blue lighting levels to get the good green color going in them otherwise they look more orange. I also would definitely not go and chase parameters. You have one sick coral, why jeopardize all the healthy ones? Keep it simple, correct things with a proper water change.

 

[Saintnovakai]

I have had forest fire for about ten years. I can’t kill the things. They grow like weeds. You may have gotten a bum frag to begin with. If you lived near by I could set you up with a few colonies. I’ve given away a few dozen over the years. I will say they need lower, very blue lighting levels to get the good green color going in them otherwise they look more orange. I also would definitely not go and chase parameters. You have one sick coral, why jeopardize all the healthy ones? Keep it simple, correct things with a proper water change.

I know this thread is old but how do you pull out the green?

 

[007Reefer]

Thanks for the great replies guys. I used ReVive when I put it in the tank but it sounds like an iodine based dip would be best. Thanks!

How did it go eventually? Did you save it? I’m literally dealing with same exact issue and your pic looks similar to mine. I’m thinking about iodine dip too. What do you think was the issue?

 

[EMeyer]

Mg. In my experience all montis are bizarrely sensitive to Mg and prefer elevated levels (>1300).

That said, I havent seen salinity or alkalinity numbers yet. Those kill more corals than anything else IMO.

 

[Joedubyk]

Kind of looks like it's starving. I would check your no3/po4 right away. The others are doing well now, but if they're starving too, it's only a matter of time before they pale out and die as well

 

[Graffiti Spot]

I have seen montipora have issues when mag and or potassium is low.