Losing my Meat Coral!!

[wolfpatrol]

My meat coral is starting to recede. All the others are doing fine. Any ideas?

 

[Lavey29]

Like with my trachy I think sometimes they get bacterial infection assuming all your parameters are stable.

 

[Uncle99]

There looks like GHA populates a small area.

 

[Lavey29]

There looks like GHA populates a small area.

Great observation

 

[exnisstech]

Can these be dipped?

 

[Uncle99]

Sorry.
It’s why the coral is suffering.
Difficult to treat.

 

[Uncle99]

Can these be dipped?

Depends on the dip? Standard coral dip sure but that’s not going to remove the green.
Hydrogen peroxide on a soft toothbrush, be very careful.
Wherever there’s Skelton without flesh, algae can take hold.
I believe the procedure is in the stickies.

 

[vetteguy53081]

One reason I despise them on sand bottom as sand irritates them if it gets on them, But Not the cause. My suspect is either:
Lack of water flow (especially if changed)
high phosphates
High salinity
temperature too warm
Alk or calcium too high

For the GHA, chiton snail, small carribean blue leg hermit or astrea snails would be the ones to help without causing damage

 

[exnisstech]

Ok. I asked becuase I have a pretty large one that is actually the most expensive piece I have ever bought but it is doing well so far. Mine is in bare bottom so hopefully will stay healthy

 

[Lavey29]

Ok. I asked becuase I have a pretty large one that is actually the most expensive piece I have ever bought but it is doing well so far. Mine is in bare bottom so hopefully will stay healthy

Everyone will ask but complete parameters? Lighting? Age of the tank? Etc....

 

[Lavey29]

Ok. I asked becuase I have a pretty large one that is actually the most expensive piece I have ever bought but it is doing well so far. Mine is in bare bottom so hopefully will stay healthy

Sorry I thought you were the OP

 

[Chrisv.]

Given that it is likely toast anyway, I will spitball here and suggest that you look up some of the iodine followed by Cipro dips that people do for bacterial infections in lps. There was a person who tried this a few weeks ago with an elegance coral. It didn't work, but honestly it seemed like a very reasonable idea to me. Worth a shot. It's what I would do.

 

[Lavey29]

Given that it is likely toast anyway, I will spitball here and suggest that you look up some of the iodine followed by Cipro dips that people do for bacterial infections in lps. There was a person who tried this a few weeks ago with an elegance coral. It didn't work, but honestly it seemed like a very reasonable idea to me. Worth a shot. It's what I would do.

I just did this with a suspected bacteria infection in a big trachy. So far seems to be holding on. May try a second treatment.

 

[wolfpatrol]

There looks like GHA populates a small area.

There is a piece on it.

 

[wolfpatrol]

Everyone will ask but complete parameters? Lighting? Age of the tank? Etc....

Dkh 9
Cal 479
Mag 1360
Po4 0.06
Nirtrate 0

 

[wolfpatrol]

Dkh 9
Cal 479
Mag 1360
Po4 0.06
Nirtrate 0

Lights are G5. Par about 260

 

[wolfpatrol]

One reason I despise them on sand bottom as sand irritates them if it gets on them, But Not the cause. My suspect is either:
Lack of water flow (especially if changed)
high phosphates
High salinity
temperature too warm
Alk or calcium too high

For the GHA, chiton snail, small carribean blue leg hermit or astrea snails would be the ones to help without causing damage

When you say lack of flow. Do these like a ton of flow?

 

[Lavey29]

Dkh 9
Cal 479
Mag 1360
Po4 0.06
Nirtrate 0

Well there's one of your problems. With 0 nitrates your corals are starving. Lights probably to high for them also. So this leads to stress and a weakened immune system.

 

[Chrisv.]

Well there's one of your problems. With 0 nitrates your corals are starving. Lights probably to high for them also. So this leads to stress and a weakened immune system.

These are good points, but it would also help to know if the coral was being fed directly. If so, I doubt the low NO3 was a problem. We kept these for like two decades in low nutrient tanks and they thrived when fed (even things like mysis, lol).

I agree that if it's in high light, the coral should get less light, especially given it's compromised state.

Either way, there looks to be a bacterial issue now. Probably worth trying to treat it for the bacteria and in the meantime consider the possiblity of raising nutrients. (Honestly if the rest of the tank is thriving I would be careful with changes.)

OP, my experience is that these do NOT like a lot of flow. (Edit: that is based on sps standards, not jaw breaker mushroom standards. I guess that means medium flow)

Second edit: 260 par is quite high for this coral. You're probably sizzling it. Does it look crispy?

 

[vetteguy53081]

When you say lack of flow. Do these like a ton of flow?

Moderate flow- no dead spots. Same with light- moderate