Help with torch

[mosertree]

Okay so this is not my tank, it’s my moms. 16gal Biocube it’s been running for 5 or 6 years. She placed this coral (torch) in the tank about 2 months ago. My niece takes care of it whenever moms away for work, today when she came home it was like this. My niece says it just looked like that one morning this past week. Any thoughts? Should I move it? Is it dead?
I should add that I know there are lots of other coral skeletons and empty frag plugs - moms tank froze last winter during a long power outage and she sadly lost everything (fish coral cuc- everything)

 

[vetteguy53081]

It needs to be elevated off the sand and in a location where there is moderate light and water flow.
For starters, If you have leather corals, this may be part of the issue. Many leather coral species produce and release toxic chemicals, called terpenes, into the water to protect themselves and to stunt the growth of other species. One of the biggest problems I have seen beginner hobbyists have is failing to account for the calcium demand for these corals. If there is insufficient calcium in your aquarium water, these corals will not be able to make their coral skeleton. You should also never lift a torch coral out of the water if you can avoid it. You could tear the polyps, and torn polyps are prone to infection followed by necrosis
Torch require typical parameters including a temperature around 78 degrees, a specific gravity of about 1.025, ph of about 8.2, and a calcium level of about 400 ppm. Like most large polyp stony corals, a torch coral benefits from moderate water flow. The polyps will remain retracted and under-inflated if the water current is too fast because the large flowing polyps are prone to rip and tear in high or ultra-high current environments.
The torch coral is a photosynthetic coral, meaning it has a relationship with symbiotic zooxanthellae (single-cell photosynthetic organisms) that live inside its tissues that converts the light energy into sugar. In exchange for a home inside the coral, the zooxanthellae split their harvest and feed the coral. Therefore, it is possible to keep the Torch coral without any feeding at all. However, all corals are animals, and animals are meant to eat.
The best placement for a torch coral is in a location that gets moderate water flow and moderate-intensity lighting.

 

[Goaway]

I believe what I am seeing is polyp bail out, it' will die in a few weeks. I have not seen any cases of "torches" rebuilding a skeleton. Or any follow ups of those attempting.

 

[mosertree]

I believe what I am seeing is polyp bail out, it' will die in a few weeks. I have not seen any cases of "torches" rebuilding a skeleton. Or any follow ups of those attempting.

That is so sad. Why would it do that?

 

[Goaway]

That is so sad. Why would it do that?

There's too many things to bring into factor. Lights, water quality, water flow. Maybe it just couldn't be made happy . Sometimes it gets like that. Corals can be difficult to understand.