Monti cap battling damage/algae

Calm Blue Ocean · May 30, 2021

I got this frag about a month ago. I think I got too hasty with the light acclimation and we had a wreck. Pulled it off the rocks a few days ago and put it back on a frag plug but now I'm not sure how to proceed. We still have polyps but they are surrounded by algae and past experience tells me that once algae sets in we're in trouble. I find the straight line between the section of "I'm dying" and "everything's fine" to be really weird. Part of me just wants to saw off the healthy part in case the sick part decides to spread but it would be nice to find a way to save the whole thing instead. Help!

tbrown · May 30, 2021

Have you looked into H2O2? Might try spot treating especially since it's on a plug.

Calm Blue Ocean · May 30, 2021

I haven't been able to find much about using H2O2 on SPS, most of the cases seem to be with zoas. Might be worth testing a small spot. I'm definitely edging into panic mode and feeling like doing nothing is worse than trying something.

Ef4life · May 30, 2021

I wouldn’t be too worried yet, if your tank has an active herbivore and no out of control algae issues and all your parameters are inline it should recover. I’ve grown montis back from tiny pieces smaller than a dime.

if it doesn’t recover, try and find a local reefer with some they might just give it to you. Once montis take hold they can become almost invasive in an established tank

Nick Steele · May 30, 2021

Yeah if you have any hermits or snails I’m sure they will find it sooner or later. I have a starburst cap that had died 30-40% of the way and would be covered with algae all the time. When I did a water change I tried to get as much as I could off but really my hermits and trochus snails did the work. It took a few months to recover but it’s back to normal now with a small spot still recovering.
The first picture (Jan 28th) isn’t even the worst of it.

Calm Blue Ocean · May 30, 2021

Nick Steele said:
Yeah if you have any hermits or snails I’m sure they will find it sooner or later. I have a starburst cap that had died 30-40% of the way and would be covered with algae all the time. When I did a water change I tried to get as much as I could off but really my hermits and trochus snails did the work. It took a few months to recover but it’s back to normal now with a small spot still recovering.
The first picture (Jan 28th) isn’t even the worst of it.

The first monti cap that I ever had was a Starburst. It got annihilated when I had dinos. Ended up growing it back from a single polyp. That takes some serious patience! Yours looks like it's doing great now! Very encouraging.

Funny, I just moved this frag off the frag rack and put it on the sand last night so my conch might stop at the buffet. He did park himself under it to have his nap this morning. It's a start!

At least the part that's healthy looks really good so I'm hoping that's a good sign.