Trachyphyllia tissue dying?

[Reflective]

It looks like a section of the coral is starting to show the skeleton? In the pictures it's the part in the upper left. Any idea what's causing it or if it's reversible?
It had two lighter/bleached spots on the tissue when I bought it a couple weeks ago, but it's definitely gotten worse.

I feed it mysis or parts of LRS reef food mixed with phytoplankton and oyster feast every couple of days. It's under LED/T5 lighting. It's mounted on the rock I bought it on in the sand. My tank is 24" tall and the lighting is mounted 15" above the tank.

Water Parameters:
SG - 1.025
pH - 7.90-8.2
Temp - 77.5-79
Nitrate - 5 ppm
Phosphate - 0-0.03
Calcium - 420
Alk - 8
Mag - 1200

 

[Shep]

Hmm if everything else is doing well I might just give it a little more time, you could also take it out and inspect it for pests.

 

[Reflective]

What kind of pests would I be looking for? I do remember there being a big red worm that fell off ( the bad ones) when I dipped it. Would it hurt anything to dip it again?

 

[arman]

One of my tank feature is that i just buy the corals mostly doughnuts and ... in low prices and sell them in higher when they got better.
May be it doesnt like your lightning or water parameters.

 

[kireek]

It looks like something is irritating it for sure.I would move it away from the rock for starters.In my experience these corals prefer to spread out and want a open space.Another dip may also be helpful.Good luck and be sure to keep us updated!

 

[Reflective]

It looks like something is irritating it for sure.I would move it away from the rock for starters.In my experience these corals prefer to spread out and want a open space.Another dip may also be helpful.Good luck and be sure to keep us updated!

Ok I'll try dipping and moving it. Thanks!

 

[Tropical lionfish]

I had a similar case many months back due to accidental bumping it against a rubble. Got in touch with Wet Web Media and they suggested adding some extra iodine. Did so and while the lost tissue never fully recovered it at least arrested the tissue shrinkage. Hence my belief that iodine helped the case...could be wrong though ! Normally for LPS corals I believe that if it eats well not much is wrong. May be allow some more time?
Do you have any hermit crabs that could be bothering the coral ? They often tend to irritate fleshly LPSs by walking over them at night...

 

[miyags]

I would do an iodine dip. watch for anthropodes,they like to get in the bad spots and eat away. I feed mine 1/4 in piece of raw shrimp. every 3 to 5 days.

 

[miyags]

they also start to receed when the ALK gets low 6/7, but your alk at 8 is ok. maybe try and raise it to 9/10 for now. You could also add 1 drop of iodine per 30gal of tank water.

 

[Reflective]

So I dipped it and moved it into a shaded part of my tank. It already looks better. The tissue is still white but it's all plumped up again. Hopefully it's all better.

 

[kireek]

What kind of pests would I be looking for? I do remember there being a big red worm that fell off ( the bad ones) when I dipped it. Would it hurt anything to dip it again?

Flat worms mainly.These usually look like little brown freckles on the flesh.Also keep a eye on the rocks for bristle worms or stomatella snails that may be irritating nearby corals.

So I dipped it and moved it into a shaded part of my tank. It already looks better. The tissue is still white but it's all plumped up again. Hopefully it's all better.

Sound good to me.It may remain white for awhile,but if it is all intact it should be fine.

 

[Reflective]

Happy to report it is doing great. All the white spots are 95% gone. The "hole" is mostly closed over as well. And I thought it was opening well before when I first got it, but it definitely looks much more puffy now.
Thanks for the help!