Unexplained Issues with Pectinia Coral - PLEASE HELP

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roibenami

roibenami

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So I have this pectinia for about 2 months now and it's driving me crazy... It grew really fast the first few weeks but then it started to have a hole in it. I figured the hole would have healed with time but it didn't... it didn't grow any bigger either it just stays like that.

I figured fine since I did notice it was growing (more slowly but still) but lately I've been seeing some tissue receding from the coral at the tips.

It started a couple weeks ago (I think my alk dipped from 9.2 to 8.0 and it was stable at 9.2 for a long time.. I've slowly raised it back to 9.0). It looked very skinny for a few days and then I noticed the recession at one spot...

A few days later I've noticed it is slowly puffing up more but still another spot of recession, and eventually another. And it still isn't as puffy as it used to be.

I'm really at a lost here... I've tried multiple locations and I'm pretty convinced it likes that spot... I thought about dipping it, or maybe cutting off the exposed skeletons (coz there is already algae on them) but i thought i should ask advice from you guys first...

So please anyone with some insight on this would help me a lot as this is driving me crazy for some time now...

S. Gravity : 1.025
PH: 8.2
Temp: 78-79
Calcium: 430
Alkalinity: 9.0
Magnesium: 1330
Nitrate: 3 ppm
Phosphate : 0.04 ppm

Here's a video of my tank and some shots of the pectinia coral:


1.jpg
 
Chewy.com
WWC
I think you have a Gall Crab that makes himself a home.
 
roibenami said:
So I have this pectinia for about 2 months now and it's driving me crazy... It grew really fast the first few weeks but then it started to have a hole in it. I figured the hole would have healed with time but it didn't... it didn't grow any bigger either it just stays like that.

I figured fine since I did notice it was growing (more slowly but still) but lately I've been seeing some tissue receding from the coral at the tips.

It started a couple weeks ago (I think my alk dipped from 9.2 to 8.0 and it was stable at 9.2 for a long time.. I've slowly raised it back to 9.0). It looked very skinny for a few days and then I noticed the recession at one spot...

A few days later I've noticed it is slowly puffing up more but still another spot of recession, and eventually another. And it still isn't as puffy as it used to be.

I'm really at a lost here... I've tried multiple locations and I'm pretty convinced it likes that spot... I thought about dipping it, or maybe cutting off the exposed skeletons (coz there is already algae on them) but i thought i should ask advice from you guys first...

So please anyone with some insight on this would help me a lot as this is driving me crazy for some time now...

S. Gravity : 1.025
PH: 8.2
Temp: 78-79
Calcium: 430
Alkalinity: 9.0
Magnesium: 1330
Nitrate: 3 ppm
Phosphate : 0.04 ppm

Here's a video of my tank and some shots of the pectinia coral:


1.jpg
Click to expand...
Looks fine to me, sometimes pectinia will break skin and grow algae like this, maybe it just got damaged. Its good to be concerned, but id pay close attention to see if the skin keeps receding from that cement rock its on. Also just to toss this in, alot of chalices and corals alike, from what ive seen react very poorly to a drop in alk. Its very possible that was the reason why it got upset.
 
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Sabellafella said:
Looks fine to me, sometimes pectinia will break skin and grow algae like this, maybe it just got damaged. Its good to be concerned, but id pay close attention to see if the skin keeps receding from that cement rock its on. Also just to toss this in, alot of chalices and corals alike, from what ive seen react very poorly to a drop in alk. Its very possible that was the reason why it got upset.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot for the comment. Actually the skin recession from the base has been the same since I got it... hasn't receded more and hasn't encrusted more...

So do you think I should do something? (cut away the exposed skeleton, iodine dip, some magic bullet I haven't thought about that solves all of my problems...) or just leave it alone...?

As for the Gall Crab, I doubt it because I watch that hole like an episode of game of thrones... If there's something there i would have seen it. Although I have a couple in my maze brain coral for sure...
 
roibenami said:
Thanks a lot for the comment. Actually the skin recession from the base has been the same since I got it... hasn't receded more and hasn't encrusted more...

So do you think I should do something? (cut away the exposed skeleton, iodine dip, some magic bullet I haven't thought about that solves all of my problems...) or just leave it alone...?

As for the Gall Crab, I doubt it because I watch that hole like an episode of game of thrones... If there's something there i would have seen it. Although I have a couple in my maze brain coral for sure...
Click to expand...
Sure a short iodine dip, would be for the best! As for the magic bullet, keep a close eye for any changes, otherwise i hope it recovers!
 
I'd cut back the exposed skeleton to prevent algae growth which will outcompete the pectinia.

The drop in ALK may have stressed it but I've found low that ALK (7-8) + high (er) phosphates can stress corals very quickly. My space invaders, which I would consider to be bulletproof, took a beating when my ALK dropped and phosphates spiked. Once my chemistry was stable, I cut off the exposed skeleton where I could. Those spots look great now. Where I couldn't cut it back/off, it has recovered much more slowly.
 
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Thanks everyone for your replies... Today it actually looks even skinnier and there's another point of tissue recession at another tip.

I'm going to give it an iodine dip and cut off the exposed areas...

I think I'll probably do it tomorrow because I've added another fish yesterday (filamented flasherwrasse) and I don't want to add to the stress anymore...

Also... I know corals use more alk when they are healing... Should I add additional alk maybe to make sure I don't have another Alk dip after I cut and dip the coral?
 
Last edited:
www.dinkinsaquaticgardens.com
LbulletM said:
I was unaware what kind of site this is. What does "lp" stand for? ;)
Click to expand...

Large Polyp Sex... I think we just beat rule #34.

Anyway, to update on the Pectinia... I cut off the exposed skeleton and gave it an Iodine dip.. that was about a couple of days ago and it looks like things aren't improving...

One of the branches fell off and now I see even more points of exposed skeleton...

I think I might have to cut off that fallen branch piece and then I'll probably just leave it alone... what do you guys think ?

It's really weird because all the other corals in the tank are doing fine... and there were no changes to parameters...

pectinia2.jpg
 
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