Coral under attack

[YHSublime]

So I put a green pocillopora next to a colony of SPS that I don't know the name of, and I came out this morning and it was completely white, covered in what looks like spaghetti strands. My only conclusion is that there were coral wars last night, and I'm foolish for my placement.

 

It's retained a bit of color, but still coated in the noodles, is there a chance? Should I revive dip and hope for the best... or toss it? I'm not really sure what the protocol is here. If the strands get blown off, will they affect my other corals?

[sachabballi reef]

pic would really help

[YHSublime]

Making me work for answers. I feel like Cinderella!

 

Hows this?

 

[sachabballi reef]

it looks like it can come back if you isolate it and give it a rest from the attack...You may have to frag it apart though...get rid of the dead. Can you see any polyps at all on the white part?

[YHSublime]

I can see the polyps in some parts, it was so stupid of me to put the GP by it, I didn't think anything of it. It's still covered in strands, which I don't know if it's still eating at it/killing it more. It's a beautiful shape, and although it wasn't the prettiest, I liked the look of it, and it was really starting to come around.

 

I guess a revive dip wouldn't hurt? I've since moved the GP to a rock by itself. Even if it dies, I'll probably let it sit there until I find something I like to fill it's place. It'll be a monument to my carelessness.

[sachabballi reef]

i would just take a turkey baster to it and get the strands off...I personally wouldn't dip it, but others will chime in on what they do. I would just give it a chance to heal but move the other coral away

[YHSublime]

Other coral moved away this morning. I'll standby and see what the masses have to say. "I'd like to poll the audience, please."

[Jan]

Pocillopora is very hardy. Place it in an area of moderate flow and high light, away from other corals. It may come back. There's no need to dip it. Why stress it more? Definately get some flow on it.

Edited March 28, 2013 by Jans Natural Reef Foods

[YHSublime]

Pocillopora is very hardy. Place it in an area of moderate flow and high light, away from other corals. It may come back. There's no need to dip it. Why stress it more? Definately get some flow on it.

 

Thanks Jan! Just to be clear, the Pocillopora is the coral that did the attacking, and has since been moved. I'm not sure what the piece is above (pictured,) I'm still trying to learn names (and everything else.) There's an MP40 doing it's job right now

[sachabballi reef]

either way it looks like it will recover....what you may end up doing is fragging it though....which is a shame for sure...but the dead part will just turn into an algae magnet if you don't....either way leave it alone for a bit and let it heal...don't stress it out more.....

[YHSublime]

There is algae about anyways. I'm not terribly concerned with it, it's natural, and it exists. If I put any energy towards trying to keep my tank sterile, I would go insane!

 

I'll just let it be then. I'me fine with that, the rest of the tank is coming together great, IMO.

[zygote2k]

contrary to popular belief- that coral is toast.

feed it to the squirrels.

[surf&turf]

I'm with Rob on this one, I believe algae will take over before it can recover. What was it, looks like maybe a tricolor.

[sachabballi reef]

Then he should frag the parts he says still have color

 

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[Der ABT]

Looks like it was during before last might with the algae in back. I'd be surprised if any of it makes it but you never know

Also never seen a coral war destroy an entire piece lake that. A small spot on a branch yes but not an entire colony unless it was an LPs

I would be double checking params and looking for another cause

[trockafella]

Looks like it was during before last might with the algae in back. I'd be surprised if any of it makes it but you never know

Also never seen a coral war destroy an entire piece lake that. A small spot on a branch yes but not an entire colony unless it was an LPs

I would be double checking params and looking for another cause

 

+1... IMO no way a pocci did all that in one night.

[rocko918]

where did you move it from? different system? different lights? Looks like RTN to me.

 

Also looks like some of it was already dead, the green algea on it does not look like it died last night.

Edited March 28, 2013 by rocko918

[GraffitiSpotCorals]

Poculipora will not kill that acro, something else happened. I agree it doesn't look like it died over night.

[trockafella]

I also wouldnt keep a cluster of Palys next to it either for future reference.

[GraffitiSpotCorals]

Things I would check... Test water for instability and bad parameters, make sure flow and light are correct, make sure equipment is working correctly, and check for pests like aefw and redbugs.

[YHSublime]

contrary to popular belief- that coral is toast.

feed it to the squirrels.

 

At this stage, yep.

 

I'm with Rob on this one, I believe algae will take over before it can recover. What was it, looks like maybe a tricolor.

 

Unknown, it's been "recovering" since day 1. Truth be told, I probably shouldn't have had it in my system, this is how we learn, eh?

 

Looks like it was during before last might with the algae in back. I'd be surprised if any of it makes it but you never know

Also never seen a coral war destroy an entire piece lake that. A small spot on a branch yes but not an entire colony unless it was an LPs

I would be double checking params and looking for another cause

 

My action plan is to sit back and wait. If it's gone, it's gone, I've come to terms with that. It was whitening up from the bottom, but that was taking weeks, and it's my firm belief that that was from lack of light on the bottom of the colony. This thing was riddled with spaghetti strands ALL over it, 75% of that colony was destroyed over night. I'll check the water tonight, but the only major differences I've made in the past week have been 1.) added another heater (keeping at 78 F now, my temps were lower by a couple degrees.) 2.) 5 gallon water change 3.) Took my skimmer off last week for testing. Other corals appear to be doing fine across the board, SPS and LPS.

 

where did you move it from? different system? different lights? Looks like RTN to me.

 

Also looks like some of it was already dead, the green algea on it does not look like it died last night.

 

It's been in my tank for about a month now, under 250W metal halide. I can assure you that the change in coloration happened overnight. Everything else appears to be OK, and this colony was covered in what appeared to be spaghetti, or spider web strands. I will get some parameter readings tonight. The only thing I can say is from what I observed, it was a 24 hour change.

 

Poculipora will not kill that acro, something else happened. I agree it doesn't look like it died over night.

 

Like I said above.

 

I also wouldnt keep a cluster of Palys next to it either for future reference.

 

The palys actually look a lot closer to that in the picture than they really are, but noted, thanks!

 

Things I would check... Test water for instability and bad parameters, make sure flow and light are correct, make sure equipment is working correctly, and check for pests like aefw and redbugs.

 

I just went through my equipment Sunday night when I rewired everything outside and around the corner from the tank. I will check for bad parameters tonight. Flow has slightly changed (added an MP40) and lights have stayed the same. I have regularly checked for pests since I have started dipping my corals prior to adding them to my system.

 

I know that removing my skimmer, changing flow, and a 5 gallon water change are all HUGE factors, my water tests tonight will really narrow this down, but I'm having trouble believing that this colony, that was covered in strands of, I'll call it "attack juice" because I don't really know what it is, isn't completly because of my placment of the Pocillopora.

 

It just seems to me like all the evidence is there, "It was the Pocillopora, in the library, with the candlestick!"

I know that's an easy answer... but why is it so hard to believe?

[surf&turf]

It just seems to me like all the evidence is there, "It was the Pocillopora, in the library, with the candlestick!"

I know that's an easy answer... but why is it so hard to believe?

 

Poci or SPS for that matter don't have long sweeper tentacles as do LPS. Not saying they won't battle, but like Evan said, should only get a small section, unless it was laying right on top of this coral.

[YHSublime]

It just seems to me like all the evidence is there, "It was the Pocillopora, in the library, with the candlestick!"

I know that's an easy answer... but why is it so hard to believe?

 

Poci or SPS for that matter don't have long sweeper tentacles as do LPS. Not saying they won't battle, but like Evan said, should only get a small section, unless it was laying right on top of this coral.

 

Thanks, thank makes sense. I'm still sticking with my hypothesis based on the evidence, the colony was already recovering, Poci placed right by it, everything else is thriving. OH, I did think of one other change I made, I did start spot feeding Reef Roids in the past 4 days.

[trockafella]

IMO you probably shouldnt go feeding crazy without a skimmer. Its not that hard to pollute a yound tank like yours. Not saying thats the reason for the coral death, but be careful without a skimmer. Personally I think that coral has been dieing for some time. I said that in your other thread with the possible AEFW. It was an already weak coral thrown into an unstable new system, perfect recipe for coral death, especially acros. I think the Pocci had ZERO to do with the death of the acro. The stringy stuff on it was probably mucus from either that coral or another, but again not the COD. Im sure that acro will make a great paper weight though.

[YHSublime]

Im sure that acro will make a great paper weight though.

 

It would look nice on my desk, forget the squirrels.

 

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