SPS "Skin" flaking off - dying? !? !?!

[Sikryd]

I re-aquascaped my tank yesterday. While doing so a few corals touched, which was a bumber.
Today I noticed about 10 pieces that have died, the "skin" flakes off, then they are white. These are all thin branched ones - tenius, plana, and some others. I knew a few touched, but didn't think they many did!!!
I also added some sand.
All parameters are good.

I am wondering if this is normal after they touch - or if something was possibly contaminated. ie. copper or something else.
I changed my carbon out and did a 20% h20 change.
All my chalices, montis, RBTA, RainbowBTA, clams, zoo's, and everything seems okay for now.
Any suggestions if it gets worse by morning?

 

[Ladipyg]

Sounds like a case of RTN...rapid tissue necrosis...lots of theories on it but once it starts your only hope is to frag well above the area of skin loss, dip and hope for the best. Even that's not guaranteed. Could have been the sand...were they out of the tank a long time in a separate container that wasn't heated to match the tank. I find that SPS can lose skin when they are shocked by temperature changes. Once the skin is gone, they are pretty much dead...just skeletons.
On the off chance that there may be a polyp lurking deep inside, put them in your sump and see if anything recovers. I had a totally stung to death chalice that has made a remarkable recovery after spending months in my sump.

 

[reefboy]

shouldnt have wiped out coral imwondering if somthing was released when you moved your rock around that would cause the RTN

 

[pakora]

I hope your corals recover :-\

 

[revaltion131]

shouldnt have wiped out coral imwondering if somthing was released when you moved your rock around that would cause the RTN

I'm in agreeance with this, though I would think the 'nems might look pretty peeved if this happened as well. I am also wondering about Lady's idea with being in a separate container and undergoing temp changes. Just being stung should not cause RTN, IME.

 

[steve99999]

One thing i have found out the hard way with sps is they dont like to be in water with out very high current....if you take them out i just but a piece of wet newpaper over them but if you stack them in a pale of water they will bale out......most sps are exposed at low tide....they take being out of the water better then being in bad water.....only birdnest seem to need to be in water at all times.....

 

[Sikryd]

One thing i have found out the hard way with sps is they dont like to be in water with out very high current....if you take them out i just but a piece of wet newpaper over them but if you stack them in a pale of water they will bale out......most sps are exposed at low tide....they take being out of the water better then being in bad water.....only birdnest seem to need to be in water at all times.....

Thanks Bro. Yeah I do like you too after I picked up those frags from you and saw you doing it. It made sense, and I haven't had a problem so far.

All are in QT tanks with good flow now. I seperated my collection into two tanks to lessen the chance I would loose the rest of my collection in one swoop.

 

[I-K@ndY]

U ready to drive 4 hrs lol

 

[Sikryd]

U ready to drive 4 hrs lol

Not yet!!!
I hurt my back too when moving some water. So I have to take it easy for the next few days - otherwise it'll probably get to where I can't walk again.

Can't wait to make it up to your place though. Goodies....


Tank should be back to normal in a couple weeks. I dose brightwell and have been watching the ammonia level and adding microbac and carbon source to get it to come back if I lost any in the spike. Inverts and all look good though.
They molted of course, but are looking good now. They eat like pigs in my tank so most are healthy...