Torch heads melting

[Lucas815]

Hi,

I have a holy grail torch colony that has been doing great so far.

Yesterday, I noticed dark mucus dripping from 2 of the heads, and they are fully retracted and kinda melting.

The rest of the colony is unchanged.

Anything I should be doing at this point?
I know these 2 heads are gonna die, but I just want to make sure this doesn't spread.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Hi,

I have a holy grail torch colony that has been doing great so far.

Yesterday, I noticed dark mucus dripping from 2 of the heads, and they are fully retracted and kinda melting.

The rest of the colony is unchanged.

Anything I should be doing at this point?
I know these 2 heads are gonna die, but I just want to make sure this doesn't spread.

I have found the best thing to do is to frag those dying heads off as soon as possible

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Then possibly dip the rest so if any of that brown jelly gets on the other heads it gets cleaned off before does any damage

 

[Lavey29]

That could be BJD and if so you need to remove and isolate that torch quick. It spreads fast and kills quick. Ciprofloaxin can stop the spread if you see other corals affected.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Do you have the ability to frag off the melting heads?

If so, I'd get that done asap. Looks like you have a lot more euphyllia in the background. The tissue on the dying head doesn't look receded. Have you had any recent swings in parameters?

 

[Lucas815]

Do you have the ability to frag off the melting heads?

If so, I'd get that done asap. Looks like you have a lot more euphyllia in the background. The tissue on the dying head doesn't look receded. Have you had any recent swings in parameters?

Yes I can frag these 2 heads. I'll do that right away.

I mostly have euphyllias in the tank, but nothing else seems affected so far.

 

[Lavey29]

Yes I can frag these 2 heads. I'll do that right away.

I mostly have euphyllias in the tank, but nothing else seems affected so far.

Put plastic bag over the diseased heads as you lift it out so nothing gets in the water column.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Yes I can frag these 2 heads. I'll do that right away.

I mostly have euphyllias in the tank, but nothing else seems affected so far.

Start praying to the coral gods !!! Don’t procrastinate and good luck

 

[((FORDTECH))]

I turn off all filtration and power heads and very slowly bring to top and then use container to scoop it out along with all the water around it

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I would turn off all flow and filtration in the entire tank and let it settle for a few moments. If it was my tank I would also grab my siphon, and start the siphon holding it over those two affected heads dumping into a bucket while I am slowly bringing the coral out of the water.

Watch The flesh like a hawk on the rest of the euphyllia in the tank. Quick tissue loss is often the first visible sign.

 

[Lavey29]

Also run a big bag of carbon in your sump while you determine if it starts to spread or is isolated on one coral if it is bacterial related.

 

[Lucas815]

I litterally sucked the flesh out of the head. It was a disgusting brown jelly and kinda disturbing how easy it was to suck it all in.

Cut both diseased heads and dipped the whole colony in fauna Marin The Dip.

Nothing else seems affected so far.

I'm also dosing Amin, MinS and Organic for extra help.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I litterally sucked the flesh out of the head. It was a disgusting brown jelly and kinda disturbing how easy it was to suck it all in.

Cut both diseased heads and dipped the whole colony in fauna Marin The Dip.

Nothing else seems affected so far.

I'm also dosing Amin, MinS and Organic for extra help.

Do you have ciprofloxacin on hand?

Assume it has already spread, but nothing else is showing symptoms yet. Be ready, Have a plan. Having Cipro on hand should be part of that plan.

 

[PeterC99]

Recently had a similar problem with my torch. Dipped in CoralRx and a number of ployclad flatworms came off. Put the torch back in the aquarium but still didn’t look better 5 days later. Took the torch out again and this time noticed tons of very small flatworm eggs on the side. Very difficult to see the eggs - need strong lights and reading glasses. These pics were taken using just day light. Very difficult to see under aquarium lights. Took a firm, small brush and about a 1/2 hour to get off. 3 days later, the torch looks great!

 

[Lavey29]

Also note, if in fact it is BJD which seems likely this develops when corals are stresses such as lack of nutrition, light, flow. Etc... you need to check all your parameters because if corals get to stressed their defensive immune systems fail and BJD sets in.

 

[Lucas815]

Do you have ciprofloxacin on hand?

Assume it has already spread, but nothing else is showing symptoms yet. Be ready, Have a plan. Having Cipro on hand should be part of that plan.

Unfortunately, im in Canada and pretty much all aquarium hobby meds are illegal and unavailable for purchase.

I checked my parameters and everything is as usual, so not sure what caused this.

Every other coral in the tank is doing fine, and I've been feeding as usual with mysis, phyto, and just started last week the Fauna Marin products for corals.

I'll keep a close eye on things for the next couple days and hope for the best.

 

[Shirak]

Are you able to get Chemiclean? Red slime remover is a broad spectrum antibiotic and some have reported positive results fighting BJD with it.

 

[Lucas815]

Are you able to get Chemiclean? Red slime remover is a broad spectrum antibiotic and some have reported positive results fighting BJD with it.

I do have some chemiclean.

So far so good though, nothing seems affected today.

I'll keep my hands off the tank for now, and keep a close eye on things.

 

[Lucas815]

After a bit over a week, here's an update.

So on the next day of my last post, I had another torch colony that started melting on one head. I quickly fragged the head, and started a chemiclean treatment.

I'm happy to report that there has been no other issue since then.

I'm touching wood, but it seems like this is the end of it.