Help! Something is poking holes in my torch coral

[Msz3389]

Hello, 2 months ago noticed two heads died off suddenly but did not find a reason behind it so took the coral and hydrogen peroxide dipped it and put it back. 1 month later another 2 heads died off. Didn't respond and let it roll out and finally the remaining heads or semi closed and noticed something black growing on it's skeleton, any advice or should I just scrape and revive dip it? Should I be worried if it's somewhere else in the tank?

 

[officialreefbros]

What are your parameters and how old is your tank? Holes can show up front calcium dissolving back into the water. Your tank looks newer and looks like initial algae

 

[Msz3389]

Yes it's a new tank, still messing around with the red sea 4 part system.

Anyhow

S.G 1.025
Ca 480
Mg 1325
Nitrate 20
Phos 0.05
DKH 8

 

[ReneReef]

Hello,

I just build my 1000l tank with a 200l sump. It is my first time building an aquarium this big. Hopefully I succeed in this build. I would really appreciate your support into creating the image of having a piece of the ocean in my home.

Aquarium setup

1x Redsea skimmer 900
2x Redsea 160s LED
2x Redsea DC9000 pumps
2x Redsea wavemaker 45
1x Reefmat 1200

A quote from your build thread.
Is this info still accurate? If so, then too little light and too little flow are your main issues.

In the pictures of the torch I see a coral that is doing poorly in general and has been doing so for an extended period of time.

This means that the loss of polyps are not incidents, they are a signs of long term wasting away of the colony.

Hence, I looked for any info on the basics of your system, because that is where the underlying problem most likely was to be found.

 

[Msz3389]

A quote from your build thread.
If this is info is still accurate? If so, then too little light and too little flow are your main issues.

In the pictures of the torch I see a coral that is doing poorly in general and has been doing so for an extended period of time.

This means that the loss of polyps are not incidents, they are a signs of long term wasting away of the colony.

Hence, I looked for any info on the basics of your system, because that is where the underlying problem most likely was to be found.

Thanks for your input. I noticed I have few lights hence some dark spots in the tank. I'm running them only at 20% any higher, the corals closes up. I'll tackle the spots in due time. As for the flow I think it's enough not to cause the flesh to show turned down the pumped to 45% in a circular manner and wavemakers hitting the top and bottom at 70%. Maybe I will add an mp40 just to move some debris on the floor but that's just it.

 

[ReneReef]

Thanks for your input. I noticed I have few lights hence some dark spots in the tank. I'm running them only at 20% any higher, the corals closes up. I'll tackle the spots in due time. As for the flow I think it's enough not to cause the flesh to show turned down the pumped to 45% in a circular manner and wavemakers hitting the top and bottom at 70%. Maybe I will add an mp40 just to move some debris on the floor but that's just it.

You are keeping a reef tank. Right?
Reefs are exposed to the unimaginable forces of the ocean. They don't occur in stagnant puddles.
Flow for corals is like breathing for us.

Two RS160s on 100% (all channels) is too little to light a 1000L tank.
So running them on 20% means your entire tank is basically in the dark.
You're running a reef tank, not hosting a romantic candle light diner.

Due to a total lack of light, your torch is not getting the energy it needs to sustain its life and it is slowly withering away.

No dip, no waterparameter, nothing is going to save this coral other than providing the basic needs it is now lacking. Time to wake up and get real. Because, the "something poking holes in your torch coral" is you.

 

[vetteguy53081]

At night, use a flashlight and look for potential pests such as flatworms, coral boring spinoid worms as examples. Low flow would also allow this to happen

 

[Msz3389]

Your remark is noted, I'm asking does anybody know what are growing on the bases of the torch?

 

[Msz3389]

At night, use a flashlight and look for potential pests such as flatworms, coral boring spinoid worms as examples. Low flow would also allow this to happen

It does look like some type of fungus, I'll move it to a high flow area

 

[ReneReef]

It does look like some type of fungus, I'll move it to a high flow area

Your remark is noted, I'm asking does anybody know what are growing on the bases of the torch?

Likely small tuffs of algae. They’re on your rocks as well.
It’s not killing your torch.

 

[MnFish1]

Yes it's a new tank, still messing around with the red sea 4 part system.

Anyhow

S.G 1.025
Ca 480
Mg 1325
Nitrate 20
Phos 0.05
DKH 8

Actually - given the questions about light and flow - a video of your tank might help? I might consider that the 'messing around' with your system - is altering the parameters to the point that it's not thriving? Your Nitrate is a little high - but certainly not dangerously. Mg is fine - what tests are you using? Stability for most corals is key - constantly adjusting parameters (which I'm assuming you meant - if not apologies) - is something that should be done before adding coral.

 

[Msz3389]

Actually - given the questions about light and flow - a video of your tank might help? I might consider that the 'messing around' with your system - is altering the parameters to the point that it's not thriving? Your Nitrate is a little high - but certainly not dangerously. Mg is fine - what tests are you using? Stability for most corals is key - constantly adjusting parameters (which I'm assuming you meant - if not apologies) - is something that should be done before adding coral.

I'll post a video shortly. The red sea four parts has been complicated for the part adjusting on based on calcium, had magnesium issues and had to dose separately until stabilised, it's in discussion on another post. I'm using Hanna checkers. I agree on doing it before adding anything, tha I did it, on recommended settings had

Ca 650
Mg 1400
DKH 14

Tuned it down and then as I mentioned had low Mg around 1100~1200 as Ca was around 450 (part 1 contains Calcium and magnesium together)

 

[VintageReefer]

The red sea four parts has been complicated

Then stop using it.

Easier to manually adjust each thing individually based on test results

Alkalinity can be corrected with baking soda mixed with rodi

Calcium and mag have tons of easy products out there.

The torch stem is basically bone. Those algae patches are eyesores but not affecting the torch. Your tank is affecting it. This didn’t happen overnight

Get a par meter to validate the lights
Settings. $120 on Amazon I can get you a link if you want one

 

[VintageReefer]

Or use all for reef and have calcium alk magnesium + trace all
In one product

 

[Msz3389]

Actually - given the questions about light and flow - a video of your tank might help? I might consider that the 'messing around' with your system - is altering the parameters to the point that it's not thriving? Your Nitrate is a little high - but certainly not dangerously. Mg is fine - what tests are you using? Stability for most corals is key - constantly adjusting parameters (which I'm assuming you meant - if not apologies) - is something that should be done before adding coral.

Had some issues uploading it from mobile but using pc for forums gave me back good memories

 

[Msz3389]

Likely small tuffs of algae. They’re on your rocks as well.
It’s not killing your torch.

Went on to frag it and placed it in high flow area, mid light range.

 

[VintageReefer]

Had some issues uploading it from mobile but using pc for forums gave me back good memories

Right?! I used a laptop for the forum yesterday for the first time and felt all nostalgic lol

I was like everything’s so big!!

And - for video - the mobile site is not video friendly. Half of us the videos never work. You’re video above. I can’t see it. I have to go on a laptop and then it will work fine.

I’ve narrowed it down to a phone os / mobile browser incompatibility. Nobody on apple phones can see attached videos

 

[Msz3389]

Get a par meter to validate the lights
Settings. $120 on Amazon I can get you a link if you want one

I bought the MQ-200 and didn't know how to use it correctly. Read on it that you have to add 20% on the reading you get, that deterred me from using it but i'll look into it

Or use all for reef and have calcium alk magnesium + trace all
In one product

I have it and used it on another tank and gave me cyano + not able to control that much is scary + expensive

 

[VintageReefer]

I bought the MQ-200 and didn't know how to use it correctly. Read on it that you have to add 20% on the reading you get, that deterred me from using it but i'll look into it

I have it and used it on another tank and gave me cyano + not able to control that much is scary + expensive

Amazon.com

$122 and no correction / multiplier needed

 

[Hats_]

Light and flow is the issue, nothing more nothing less. I have more light in wattage and more flow than you do and my tank is less than a 3rd of the size...