Torch polyp bail out?

[MRRBW]

this past week both my torches have lost a head and I have 2 free floating heads, 1 from each torch. They look viable and quite intact, but I don't know why they have done this. Water parameters are all normal, maybe calcium is a little low at 360-380. Only other change is my temp has gone down from 79 to 77 over the last few weeks as I have less pumps in the tank giving off heat. Is this a known behavior or are the torches signalling on coming issues? Tank is a mixed reef with softies, lps, gorgonians and a sps. Noticed my sps piece is having issues too, but a water change has turned it around. Any tips/info would be welcome. Oh, and what do I do with the two heads of torch floating around?

 

[Zack K]

What are "Normal" Parameters? @melypr1985 @4FordFamily

 

[MRRBW]

Temp 77, salinity 1.0255, ph 8.0, ammonia, nitrite 0, nitrate and phosphate read 0, but there are some for sure as I have algae growth issues (albeit manageable), calcium 360, mg 1380,

 

[4FordFamily]

What are "Normal" Parameters? @melypr1985 @4FordFamily

I am not a coral expert by any means, let me tag some smarter than me in this realm!

I'm a fish, fish disease guy!

#reefsquad

 

[MaiReef]

I have had that happen and I gave it more light and flow and it popped up better than it was. glue those heads down and they may come back. What is the ALK in your tank? Torches do better with some Phos and Nitrate.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Do you have any peppermint shrimp in the tank?

 

[MRRBW]

I have had that happen and I gave it more light and flow and it popped up better than it was. glue those heads down and they may come back. What is the ALK in your tank? Torches do better with some Phos and Nitrate.

All is 8. I'm not convinced of my nitrate and phosphate as I grow algae pretty fast, but could be.

 

[MRRBW]

Do you have any peppermint shrimp in the tank?

No peppermint, skunk shrimp, but never touches any corals.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

No peppermint, skunk shrimp, but never touches any corals.

Even at night? My peppermint shrimp only terrorized Euphyllia at night. lol

 

[MRRBW]

Even at night? My peppermint shrimp only terrorized Euphyllia at night. lol

I've had one of the torches for almost 5 years, and this skunk for about 3-4 yrs, never been a problem. At night they all settle down into their preferred hiding spots and hit the snooze button. I added a nice leather recently that it likes to hang out on now, inseparable. It's a first having this problem with the heads being intact. I'll try to secure them to a place and hope they start new homes.

 

[melypr1985]

I've had this happen to a small elegance coral recently. It did wonderfully for a while until I changed the flow... all of a sudden the polyp bailed out on me. No idea why it happened except for the change in flow. Parameters were all the same, no other changes. The polyp lived in the sand (looked pretty good too) for a few weeks before being eaten by snails and hermits.

 

[MRRBW]

I've had this happen to a small elegance coral recently. It did wonderfully for a while until I changed the flow... all of a sudden the polyp bailed out on me. No idea why it happened except for the change in flow. Parameters were all the same, no other changes. The polyp lived in the sand (looked pretty good too) for a few weeks before being eaten by snails and hermits.

I did recently play with the flow, thought I was improving distribution, but I guess it was too much of a change. Interesting how a little change in flow makes such a drastic effect on these torches. The flow has been put back to how it was. Hopefully the polyps will make it. Should I cut off the dead stalks from the torches, worried about the good polyps tearing themselves on the sharp edges?

 

[iTread]

i am suffering with this now too...I bought a new powerhead (tunze 6105) and trialed it out for 3 hours!! just to see how it moved water. Next morning it started to lose one head and now looks like this. I am trying to glue it back on, but not really optimistic about this.