Candy Cane coral healthy?

[OsiViper]

Recently came back from a month away, had family feeding tank while I was gone. Came back to very low Alk, Cal and MG. And my corals didn't look really happy. I have been doing water changes to get them back up.

And so far my other corals seem to be doing fine, but my Trumpet/Candy cane doesn't look right..

Hasn't grown or done much except the green "head" seems to be receding. I didn't pay hugely close attention to it before but it seems like there is a lot more stem and less of the head showing than there was before.

There is also that thing sticking up in the middle and it also looks like it is tearing down the middle.

Just curious if something is wrong, if I should try to remove that middle growth or just wait and keep water parameters in check?

 

[OsiViper]

Anyone?

 

[rt67ghy]

First I'd try to ID that thing in the middle. If it's not a growth/ branch of the candy cane I'd get rid of it. I'd also target feed the candy cane it's favourite food to encourage growth if you're not already doing it.

 

[cloak]

That purple stick growing in the middle looks like a Vermetid snail. These things have been known to irritate corals.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rs/index.php

 

[Sk8r]

I'd remove it. It's not part of him. Then just keep him rock-steady and in good water. The more he expands his outer ring, the happier he is: tentacles will come back only when he's stabilized.

 

[OsiViper]

Well, I removed the center thing, it seemed hard like rock all the way down, but I removed it all.

Got the tank parameters back to close in check (still a little low on Ca+) and the coral over the last 2 days has started splitting. Both of the 2 heads on the left side are starting to split. Been feeding it Reef Roids every other day (wanna get some rods or PE Mysis), the top colored part has moved down a little bit and its colors better.

Only problem now is I think all the water changes stressed out my male clown fish. Hes normally always out and swimming around, and now he hides in the rockwork a lot. Doesn't have a problem eating though, If I feed hes out and eating like normal.

I've looked him over and I cant see any ich or any brook so gonna just go back to weekly WC and see if he comes around.

 

[rt67ghy]

Well, I removed the center thing, it seemed hard like rock all the way down.

Vermetids are like that. They're responsible for forming some of the live rock that comes from the ocean.