*Urgent* brain tissue dying

[Purple Platapus]

Hello everyone, I have a trachy brain that has been in my tank for eight months now. Up until last week, it was doing fine, but I noticed two days ago that its tissues have been dying. What could be the causes of this? I have lots of other lps and softies, and they are all doing fine. It is not near any other coral so it shouldn't be stung. What could be the cause of this and what can I do to fix it? I really hope it makes it, this is my favourite coral by far and I'd be really sad if there's nothing I can do. The pic is from yesterday and it has gotten a lot worse.

 

[Elementalj]

Hello everyone, I have a trachy brain that has been in my tank for eight months now. Up until last week, it was doing fine, but I noticed two days ago that its tissues have been dying. What could be the causes of this? I have lots of other lps and softies, and they are all doing fine. It is not near any other coral so it shouldn't be stung. What could be the cause of this and what can I do to fix it? I really hope it makes it, this is my favourite coral by far and I'd be really sad if there's nothing I can do. The pic is from yesterday and it has gotten a lot worse.

Oh STN!!! #REEFSQUAD

 

[melypr1985]

What are the water parameters? Including Alk, Mg, and Ca? got any fish that like to pile sand near it? Angels or filefish in the tank?

 

[Purple Platapus]

What are the water parameters? Including Alk, Mg, and Ca? got any fish that like to pile sand near it? Angels or filefish in the tank?

I don't know the exact parameters, but I can say that I doubt that the problem is with the water, since I have many other lps and other corals, and none of them are affected at all. I will get readings as soon as I can, though.

As for fish, I don't have any, but I do have blue legged hermit crabs in there. I doubt that it is any of them, since they have been in the tank since forever and this problem only recently came up.

 

[melypr1985]

I don't know the exact parameters, but I can say that I doubt that the problem is with the water, since I have many other lps and other corals, and none of them are affected at all. I will get readings as soon as I can, though..

You never know. Anybody who can help will always ask about water parameters first along with lighting and inhabitants. having the full picture will help diagnose the problem. You've already got a call out the squad, so you'll get help no problem. But try to give them all the info you have access to so they have more to work with. Oh and i love your screen name.

 

[Purple Platapus]

Yes, I forgot, the brain received med-low lighting and is in med-low flow. The lighting is a Current Orbit Marine LED fixture, turned on 60%, water depth at roughly 40cm. No inhabitants other than some snails and blue legged hermits that have been in the tank way before I got the brain, so I doubt that it would be them.

 

[Elementalj]

Dial back the intensity a little and see if the recession stops.

 

[john.m.cole3]

Parameters including nutrients, light, and flow will be what governs your tank. I suspect lighting first. It is the easiest to modify typically. I've addressed many complaints about coral die off. Most common is LED lighting is turneds up to be suitable to the eye, but not suitable for the coral. Get a LUX meter to measure your lights intensity. It is cheap and it will give you an idea where you stand lighting wise w/o taking the PAR meter dive. They have free LUX meters for your phone if you want to try that first. My friends @mcarroll and @saltyfilmfolks will chime in with their thoughts and can prob help you more than me. Beautiful coral btw... it needs saving!

 

[mcarroll]

@Purple Platapus
Starvation? Contaminants? Any changes to light, flow or nutrients in the last month or two? Other changes?

And yes, your current tank parameters as well as the history would both be potentially useful, if available. Current tests will be too.

Can we get a full tank shot?

I don't know the exact parameters, but I can say that I doubt that the problem is with the water, since I have many other lps and other corals, and none of them are affected at all.

As Mel said, you never know. This coral is fairly susceptible to this – are your others? This coral is at the bottom of the tank – are your others?

This is speculation, but: If this one is in a borderline lighting or flow situation, and nutrients are near-zero (see below) then it may be consuming itself to stay alive.

As for fish, I don't have any

Take a sample to the LFS or run a round of tests ASAP. Low nutrients is not going to be this coral's strong suit IMO...

but I do have blue legged hermit crabs in there. I doubt that it is any of them, since they have been in the tank since forever and this problem only recently came up.

You don't know hermit crabs all that well yet. Unless you can perform a few 24 hour stakeouts (at last one) to watch this coral all night, you really have to suspect the hermits. Especially if they are also living in a low nutrient tank.

A starving hermit will eat anything everything it can touch.