Help! What's wrong with my Bubble coral?

[1Clown]

SG: 1.025
Alk: 8.75
Cal: 475
Mag: 1365
Nitrate: 5
Nitrite: 0.01
Phosphate: 0.03

Haven't changed anything including placement, waterflow, lighting etc.... it's been getting more scrunched up as the hours pass. None of my water parameters have fluctuated either.

It does come in contact with the hammer behind it but it always wins that fight by stinging the hammer and it stays full throughout so by previous experience I know it's unlikely to be that.

 

[prsnlty]

Could it be that it's giving up the fight? I would move it to rule that out 1st.

 

[1Clown]

Could it be that it's giving up the fight? I would move it to rule that out 1st.

Today I cut the hammer which was touching the bubble and relocated it so I hope it makes a difference otherwise I'm in limbo.

On another note my goni hasn't been looking it's normal self either, again not sure why. I'm 100% I don't have any bristle worms or anything I'm not aware of in the tank, this is how it's been looking for a few days now. The bottom right polyps are how all of them usually look, not sure what's going on.

 

[cloak]

The Bubble coral doesn't look all that bad IMO. It almost looks like it's eating something. Does it ever play host to the Clownfish? Sometimes this interaction will cause a coral to close up like that.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/4/corals

 

[1Clown]

The Bubble coral doesn't look all that bad IMO. It almost looks like it's eating something. Does it ever play host to the Clownfish? Sometimes this interaction will cause a coral to close up like that.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/4/corals

I've never seen the clownfish hosting or playing with it, it's been like that for 2 days now, usually it's super healthy and full.

 

[cloak]

If you haven't already you could try offering it a small piece of shrimp or perhaps some pellets. Just to see what kind of a response you'll get.

 

[prsnlty]

Have your parameters changed in any way? When did you do a wc last? Do you use a refractometer or a hydrometer? If you use a hydrometer soak in scalding hot water for about 20 minutes then rinse and then test your salinity. It's possible your salinity is too high.

 

[1Clown]

Have your parameters changed in any way? When did you do a wc last? Do you use a refractometer or a hydrometer? If you use a hydrometer soak in scalding hot water for about 20 minutes then rinse and then test your salinity. It's possible your salinity is too high.

18% WC on Sunday, I use a refractometer and actually checked a fresh batch of RO and it was reading spot on. Params have been consistent considering I'm dosing manually and the bubble coral has seemed quite hardy for me at least, I'm hoping moving 1 head of the hammer behind it would make the difference.

 

[prsnlty]

18% WC on Sunday, I use a refractometer and actually checked a fresh batch of RO and it was reading spot on. Params have been consistent considering I'm dosing manually and the bubble coral has seemed quite hardy for me at least, I'm hoping moving 1 head of the hammer behind it would make the difference.

Ok good. Just a thought as this is sometimes overlooked. Do you feed it mysis or any other meaty foods? Hopefully it was simply a problem with the hammer and moving it fixed the issue

 

[1Clown]

This is it today, still has not improved since moving the hammer, any thoughts? It's extremely disheartening, 1 day it's perfect and the next it's looking bad with no real explanation.

 

[prsnlty]

Do you spot feed it? Maybe it needs food? Too much flow and or light? Looks like you have leds... make sure it isn't under a direct beam of light. People often underestimate LEDs.

 

[1Clown]

Do you spot feed it? Maybe it needs food? Too much flow and or light? Looks like you have leds... make sure it isn't under a direct beam of light. People often underestimate LEDs.

It has been directly under my Kessil A360WE which doesn't exceed 30% intensity, all other corals looks fine. That spot and the front of the tank in general has low flow, it was perfectly fine 1 day and then the next just all shrivelled up.

 

[1Clown]

Just gave it a quick iodine dip to see if it makes a difference. Fingers crossed but expecting the worst as this hobby is very unforgiving and hurtful with no signs of why or how things happen sometimes.

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

Mine has closed up twice for no reason and then Reopened a few days later. No idea why mine did either since parameters were the norm. Give him a few days and try spot feeding meaty foods at night to see if you get a response. Maybe something irritated him like a snail or fish getting to close

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

I have a thread I started when mine closed. Maybe some advice in there. Check it out

 

[1Clown]

My bubble coral thankfully has made a full recover.

I dipped it in Seachem Reef Dip and then placed it back on the sand bed, where it opened up nicely, left it there for 2 days before putting it back in it's original place.

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

My bubble coral thankfully has made a full recover.

I dipped it in Seachem Reef Dip and then placed it back on the sand bed, where it opened up nicely, left it there for 2 days before putting it back in it's original place.

Great news! Beautiful