birds nest turning white

[A Canfield]

I just got this coral 2 weeks ago and it is starting to turn white. I did discover a small crab on it that seemed to be eating alot of the outer layer, I removed him. That area was definitly white but it seems to me that the white is spreading. It is placed in the upper half of my tank. I have 2 95w 10,000k and 2 95w actinic. Water quality is where it should be.....salinity 1.026 temp 80 I know my calcium levels are a little high, about 500.....
The coral is directly under the piece of glass that is part of the structure on 55 gallon tanks. Not sure if that would affect the lighting at all?
Any thoughts................thanks

 

[Hendersonracing]

sounds like RTN..Id be cutting the good off before it spreads.....I have small crabs in most my SPS they are harmless unless they are a hairt carb.,..what I have been told!!

what kinda lighting?

 

[papagimp]

I'll second that, frag off a good piece in hopes that you don't loose the entire colony. Even with the crab gone , the damage is done and even though the colony may make a recovery, there's still a good chance it may not.

 

[A Canfield]

Mmmm.......ok
Is the easiest way to do that is to just break of a good piece and super glue it to a rock? I have several small rocks sitting on the bottom I could use.

 

[Hendersonracing]

YES ....make sure you wear gloves ,,,any oil from your hand could damage the rest of the good frags.....I use bone cutter to cut the frags off the colony....you can pull the rock out put some super glue GEL on the rock let it set about 10 seconds and then put the frag on the rock....this can be done out of the tank....make sure you put the frag back in a high lighted high flow are for it can make a full recovery..IMO

 

[A Canfield]

Sounds good..........it'll be my first "fragging" experience. Can't wait to get off work and give it a try.
Thanks for the help!

 

[JER-Z]

let the frag recover from the cut a week or two before you glue it.

 

[JER-Z]

ps: the SPS forum would be a better place to ask

 

[A Canfield]

to let the frag recovery, should I prop it up on a rock?

 

[papagimp]

I'd glue it down right away. The super glue will coterize (however it's spelled) the wound.

 

[A Canfield]

I know what you mean........
Maybe I'll try the glue right away and also let another frag sit for a week. A little comparison test.

 

[Justin/TiV]

the crab was prolly not the cause of the tissue damage...it was prolly just eating the affected areas...

 

[Hendersonracing]

I glue mine right away and have no issues at all...