Is my torch's body shrinking?

[Picassoclown]

The torch is receeded. Many torch owners dont understand 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:
Temperature of about 78 degrees
Salinity 1.025
Ph around 8.2
Calcium level of about 400 - 440ppm.

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.
Also, 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.

Hi Vette. Thanks for responding. I did not know that about leathers . I was going to buy one actually, but since Euphyllia are my favorite corals, that won't be happening lol. My calcium at this very moment is reading 500 on the dot, pH 8.0, and alk is quite low at 5.7. There must had been something wrong with my first test of it. Any thoughts on how I could raise it as this might be the culprit?

I am not sure which to use: If I use soda ash, it would increase alk and increase pH (not nearly as much as kalkwasser), or do I use sodium bicarbonate and drop the pH a bit while increasing all? I have a 215 gallon DT with another 60 gallon sump.

 

[Lavey29]

Hi Vette. Thanks for responding. I did not know that about leathers . I was going to buy one actually, but since Euphyllia are my favorite corals, that won't be happening lol. My calcium at this very moment is reading 500 on the dot, pH 8.0, and alk is quite low at 5.7. There must had been something wrong with my first test of it. Any thoughts on how I could raise it as this might be the culprit?

I am not sure which to use: If I use soda ash, it would increase alk and increase pH (not nearly as much as kalkwasser), or do I use sodium bicarbonate and drop the pH a bit while increasing all? I have a 215 gallon DT with another 60 gallon sump.

I've got to good size leather corals in my mixed reef tank with no issues.

 

[Dburr1014]

I looked at many posts here with people having a very similar issue as mine and the majority of responses were that it is normal if it is splitting. I cannot quite tell if it is, but I wanna say that it may be receding just a tad.

Splitting and receding are definatly 2 seperate issues. A healthy torch does not recede to split.

 

[Lavey29]

Splitting and receding are definatly 2 seperate issues. A healthy torch does not recede to split.

Really? I would say mine tucked in a bit during the process like my hammer is doing now. I figured maybe they did that to help push the skeletal structure apart but I'm only guessing. Mine successfully did it multiple times now.

 

[Dburr1014]

Here's the rest of vettes cut and paste on torches from the original writer.

Torch coral care: best placement, feeding & light requirements

Do you have the right tank to keep the torch coral , Euphylia glabrescens? This large polyp stony coral comes from the Indo-pacific reefs. In a reef tank...

www.saltwateraquariumblog.com

 

[Dburr1014]

Really? I would say mine tucked in a bit during the process like my hammer is doing now. I figured maybe they did that to help push the skeletal structure apart but I'm only guessing. Mine successfully did it multiple times now.

It should just grow out with the flesh.
I can't find a pic of my hammer. After work I'll take one.

 

[Picassoclown]

As far as the alk, what do you all recommend I do?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi Vette. Thanks for responding. I did not know that about leathers . I was going to buy one actually, but since Euphyllia are my favorite corals, that won't be happening lol. My calcium at this very moment is reading 500 on the dot, pH 8.0, and alk is quite low at 5.7. There must had been something wrong with my first test of it. Any thoughts on how I could raise it as this might be the culprit?

I am not sure which to use: If I use soda ash, it would increase alk and increase pH (not nearly as much as kalkwasser), or do I use sodium bicarbonate and drop the pH a bit while increasing all? I have a 215 gallon DT with another 60 gallon sump.

For calcium, check alk. If low, add alk- IF LOW ONLY , and CA should drop
Do not add calcium also causing level to drop
For leather, simply add chemipure blue or high grade carbon which addresses toxins and allow you to enjoy leather
For me, I focus on light-flow- calcium levels with my euphyllia

 

[Picassoclown]

For calcium, check alk. If low, add alk- IF LOW ONLY , and CA should drop
Do not add calcium also causing level to drop
For leather, simply add chemipure blue or high grade carbon which addresses toxins and allow you to enjoy leather
For me, I focus on light-flow- calcium levels with my euphyllia

Hi Vette, sorry I was a bit confused by your first sentence. Can you explain a bit more? My calcium is not an issue, but I do not want to alter my ph that much. Is sodium bicarbonate the best route?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi Vette, sorry I was a bit confused by your first sentence. Can you explain a bit more? My calcium is not an issue, but I do not want to alter my ph that much. Is sodium bicarbonate the best route?

Ok, thought you had a calcium issue- I misunderstood

 

[Dburr1014]

As far as the alk, what do you all recommend I do?

Alk at 7.5 is not bad. Where do you normally run?

 

[Picassoclown]

No, my alk right now is at 5.7. So it has to get up, hence why I am asking which would be the best route. Kalkwasser would increase my calcium and ph to high, but if I use the sodium bicarbonate, ph would come down a bit. I think sacrificing a lower pH right now is worth getting alk back up. I can always do water changes to help balance the lower pH. You think this is a good plan?

 

[LeftyReefer]

start by dosing your ALK back up to at least NSW levels. I wouldn't worry too much about what it might do to your pH, it's just going to be temporary. Just get ALK back up to ocean levels, minimum.

I hardly ever worry about or even test pH. As long as its around 8, don't worry about it.

 

[Picassoclown]

Thank you very much everyone for your feedback, it is greatly appreciated! I will message back in this post when I get my alk up a little more!

 

[Dburr1014]

Not the best pic but it shows 2 heads all cover under 1 fleshy stalk. I think the flesh gets as long as can with the light.(and perfect water) We try and reproduce light but let's face it, we can't fully reproduce the sun in our homes.

 

[Picassoclown]

Not the best pic but it shows 2 heads all cover under 1 fleshy stalk. I think the flesh gets as long as can with the light.(and perfect water) We try and reproduce light but let's face it, we can't fully reproduce the sun in our homes.

Thanks for the pic! I see what you mean; that's a lot of fleshy growth on its skeleton! Nice blood shrimp by the way!

 

[Picassoclown]

Hello everyone! I wanted to update you all. After doing some experimenting, the torch is getting a lot better! Some of the tentacles that have retracted are starting to grow longer. I reduced the flow in the tank and I also moved it to a different location. In addition I started increasing the alk from 5.4 - to currently 6.4 (measured as of 10 mins ago. I started raising alk since Friday afternoon). A little bit left to go to get to 8.0 and I think it will do just fine! Thanks a lot for all your help!