Gorgoinian Coral dying? Can it be saved???!

[Tyler Tacy]

What causes a Gorgonian to do this? i had him for a couple months and he had looked great! I noticed this area start shrinking and other little patches look like there breaking down too? What can i do to save this coral? any help much appreciated thanks!
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This picture was taken right when I turned the light when so no polyp extension in picture. yesterday they were mostly extend so i fed it

 

[Tahoe61]

Do you know if the Gorgonian is photosynthetic? How much flow is the piece under?

 

[Tyler Tacy]

From what i heard this one isnt has true photosynthetic as most and doesnt require mulitple feeding each week.. guy told me once a week...i think i missed a week last week so that could have done it but not sure. Where this guy is there us plenty of flow mainly at the top where this occured

 

[DeniseAndy]

Looks to be shedding and receding in areas. Not a good sign. Make sure your parameters in water are good. I cannot tell from pictures, but looks like a leather nearby. These are the only corals that could effect the gorg much. Can you turn down the lights and feed a bit more. Try reef roids, gorg food by TLF or similar. It has big polyps, so oyster feast will work too. Make sure it is getting good turbulent flow.

 

[rosshamsandwich]

Make your arrangements

 

[mort]

From my experience what you are seeing is normally flow or light related. It's a photosynthetic species and if it were starving they shrink noticeably before you begin to see bare patches. They can take very strong flow, even enough to almost bend them over, but it takes time to be able to do that. The thing that's throwing that off is the fact you have had it for 2 months already as it's usually an acclimation thing, unless you have changed the flow or moved the coral recently?
Light has a similar effect and it does look like localised light bleaching from a direct source led. Again however this would only be an answer if you have recently changed lighting, the schedule or placement.

The other possible could be if you have any fish in the system that might be irritating, nipping or using the coral. I've seen bare patches occur where perching fish like hawkfish constantly sit or where coral gobies strip the flesh to lay eggs.

These are very hardy however and easy to frag should you see the area begin to spread. Just snip off in an area of still healthy tissue and with luck it should heal over and begin growing again quickly.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

Check around for cuts and possible damage

 

[Tyler Tacy]

From my experience what you are seeing is normally flow or light related. It's a photosynthetic species and if it were starving they shrink noticeably before you begin to see bare patches. They can take very strong flow, even enough to almost bend them over, but it takes time to be able to do that. The thing that's throwing that off is the fact you have had it for 2 months already as it's usually an acclimation thing, unless you have changed the flow or moved the coral recently?
Light has a similar effect and it does look like localised light bleaching from a direct source led. Again however this would only be an answer if you have recently changed lighting, the schedule or placement.

The other possible could be if you have any fish in the system that might be irritating, nipping or using the coral. I've seen bare patches occur where perching fish like hawkfish constantly sit or where coral gobies strip the flesh to lay eggs.

These are very hardy however and easy to frag should you see the area begin to spread. Just snip off in an area of still healthy tissue and with luck it should heal over and begin growing again quickly.

Thanks. Come to think of it ive had lower lighting than normal the past few weeks because im trying to light acclimate a large toadstool. Ive bumped the leds up this morning and will keep them normal. Not sure which is better. I do see some patchy spots around everywhere but not around the whole brance

 

[Tyler Tacy]

Check around for cuts and possible damage

I do see some patchy spots around everywhere but not around the whole brance not really a " scrape" though