Hammer not looking good!

[Reef Devils]

I have had a hammer that has not been looking good the past week. I a previous post we talked about it not haveing any white tissue on the base of the coral. I woke up this morning to my shrimp picking away at my coral and little white flakes were coming off. I don’t think the coral is dead yet but it does not look good. On the back side of the coral I see some brown stuff but I can’t get a good picture. Is that brown jelly disease? When a coral dies what does it to to you water quality? I am working on getting nitrates and phosphate up.

This coral has been in my tank for 1 month and was opening so good until the past week. I know that I need to get phosphate up and that could be one of my problems. When a coral is dying will brown jelly occur?

Parameters:
Salinity 1.024
Calcium 460
Magnesium 1350
Alk 8.9
Nitrate 6
Phosphate 0

 

[Troylee]

Hard to tell from that photo if it is brown jelly or algae.. I’m sure your nutrients are higher than your test are showing because you have algae on the surface of the rocks… what test kit are using?
By the way if it brown jelly cut that head off before it spreads to the rest of them.

 

[Reef Devils]

Hard to tell from that photo if it is brown jelly or algae.. I’m sure your nutrients are higher than your test are showing because you have algae on the surface of the rocks… what test kit are using?
By the way if it brown jelly cut that head off before it spreads to the rest of them.

I am using Hanna checker. What do I use to cut a head off? I can try and to that tonight.

 

[Troylee]

I am using Hanna checker. What do I use to cut a head off? I can try and to that tonight.

Preferably a band saw but not everyone has one.. a dremel with a small diamond cutting wheel works, or worst case scenario some bone cutters.

 

[Reef Devils]

Preferably a band saw but not everyone has one.. a dremel with a small diamond cutting wheel works, or worst case scenario some bone cutters.

I don’t have any of those tools I have a hand saw but that is probably not a good idea. I am at school and can’t cut it until 8:00 pm

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Brown jelly spreads through the coral super fast, if it really is brown jelly, then it will have moved on to the rest of the coral, and its probably already too late to save it

If the coral looks the same when you get home, then likely not brown jelly and probably don't need to cut the head.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

For the most part shrimp will go after dead tissues. 8p will be to late to save. I would pull that coral and throw it away i know its hard to do but remember our conversation b4. You will lose some. And that is hard but a part of the game unfortunately. Just keep on reefin on and use this as a lesson learned. This hobby with corals is a patience game. And with experience comes knowledge. A young tank wont thrive until the biome is matured. Start with beginner coral and gain confidence with parameter stability and go from there.

 

[Reef Devils]

Brown jelly spreads through the coral super fast, if it really is brown jelly, then it will have moved on to the rest of the coral, and its probably already too late to save it

If the coral looks the same when you get home, then likely not brown jelly and probably don't need to cut the head.

Ok so if it looks the same that is a good thing. Why would the brown jelly be gone when i get home? If it is gone do you think I should just get rid of the coral?

 

[c4haskett]

You need to get it out of your tank pretty fast. You can try to cut it and then dip it with some antibiotics and keep in quarantine. I had brown jelly wipe out about 10 euphyillia before I knew what BJD was.... I know now.

 

[Reef Devils]

You need to get it out of your tank pretty fast. You can try to cut it and then dip it with some antibiotics and keep in quarantine. I had brown jelly wipe out about 10 euphyillia before I knew what BJD was.... I know now.

I don’t have a quarantine setup. Should I put the coral in the trash tonight. I have like 5 other euphillia in my tank. If it is BJD which I am not sure if it really is would the other corals already have it?

 

[c4haskett]

I don’t have a quarantine setup. Should I put the coral in the trash tonight. I have like 5 other euphillia in my tank. If it is BJD which I am not sure if it really is would the other corals already have it?

Not necessarily. Personally, I would can it.

 

[Reef Devils]

Not necessarily. Personally, I would can it.

What do you mean by can it

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

What do you mean by can it

throw it in the can, lol get rid of it. If it is brown jelly, it will be infected to the point of no return by the time you get home.

 

[Reef Devils]

throw it in the can, lol get rid of it. If it is brown jelly, it will be infected to the point of no return by the time you get home.

Ok I will do that when I get home.

 

[Reef Devils]

throw it in the can, lol get rid of it. If it is brown jelly, it will be infected to the point of no return by the time you get home.

I don’t think any other corals have the brown jelly yet. That was the only one I saw this morning. Do you think it will spread? Should I do a 5 gallon water change?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I don’t think any other corals have the brown jelly yet. That was the only one I saw this morning. Do you think it will spread? Should I do a 5 gallon water change?

It affects only unhappy or sick corals. I've had it 4 times before and it never jumped to other corals. In your pic, there is nothing close to it, I don't think you need to worry.

 

[Troylee]

I don’t think any other corals have the brown jelly yet. That was the only one I saw this morning. Do you think it will spread? Should I do a 5 gallon water change?

Don’t panic… if it is brown jelly and it’s spread toss the whole thing.. if it’s brown jelly and the other heads look fine try to cut that head off and it should be fine.. if it’s not brown jelly just leave it be… that’s always worked for me..

 

[Reef Devils]

It affects only unhappy or sick corals. I've had it 4 times before and it never jumped to other corals. In your pic, there is nothing close to it, I don't think you need to worry.

Ok well most of the other corals look good. There is one small coral next to the one with brown jelly. I will have to keep and eye on that one.

 

[Reef Devils]

Don’t panic… if it is brown jelly and it’s spread toss the whole thing.. if it’s brown jelly and the other heads look fine try to cut that head off and it should be fine.. if it’s not brown jelly just leave it be… that’s always worked for me..

I don’t have anything to cut it so the only option is the toss it. I am not 100% sure if it is brown jelly but I am not going to take any chances

 

[Troylee]

I don’t have anything to cut it so the only option is the toss it. I am not 100% sure if it is brown jelly but I am not going to take any chances

Use your hacksaw and just rinse it well in a bowl of tank water before putting it back in the tank… you’re cutting through a bone structure that’s fairly hollow it will be fine.. a pair of scissors would get the job done if you’re careful not to cut yourself lol.. I’ve used wire cutters that are rusty and all inside my tank there’s no issues.