Candy Cane troubles and Coral QT

[EddieJ]

Need a little help here. I introduced a CC to my tank around a month and half ago. It appears to be doing very well for the most part. Problem is there is a growth that is taking over the coral. It is starting to squeeze the heads of the coral. I am afraid this will eventually kill the CC. I will provide some pics later today.

Will I need to QT this coral? if so, I don't have very good lighting for the QT tank as it is mainly for fish. I ALWAYS QT my fish for 4weeks prior to introducing them to my DT. I am just now moving into introducing more corals to my tank. So I guess my question is if you want to QT corals, should you provide light that is similar to your DT? Is QTing corals effective? I would never introduce a fish to my tank without the QT time to observe for disease/health and eating habits. But what do you look for in a coral?? Or is performing a DIP effective enough for the most part??

Some questions from a coral newbie...

Tank info:
90 gallon DT with 15 gallon sump / 30 gallon fuge
Light (2) MH 150w with (2) 130w PC actinic

Params:
PH 8.1 - 8.3
Temp- 78-80
MG 1275
Alk 9.3 dkh
Calc 390
Nitrate 0

 

[belgian_waffleman]

Hi,

could you post a picture?
"growth" is not very specific, could you give a detailed description? size shape color, texture etc..

Waffleman

 

[EddieJ]

I will post some pics when I get home from work today.

The growth is Brown and the texture is sort of bumpy (sort of like SPS acro texture).. I think it may be some kind of Algae/Plant as it seems my Tang likes to check it out from time to time. It is packed in between the heads growing off the skelton on the Candy..

 

[Myrddraal]

Could it be a sponge? If so, you can tweeze it out.

 

[EddieJ]

Pics

Pics

On this pic you can see some fuzzy stuffy on top to the left.

 

[jadeguppy]

Might be some type of algae since the tangs pick at it. My first suggestion would be to raise the colony up. It looks like most of it is down in the hole where water flow will be blocked. Try using a 1/2" drill bit or a little larger to drill a hole on the top of the rock so the cc stem will fit, but the colony will be up for water flow to touch it. You may try picking the algae out.

 

[EddieJ]

Update..Candy Cane looking bad

Update..Candy Cane looking bad

Ok, I removed all that nasty growth from the candy cane. I also moved it to another location in the tank, up about an inch. It now has very good flow. It looked GREAT for about a week. At the same time I introduced an umbrella leather. For a week and a half, the umbrella leather remained closed up. During this time the Candy Cane looked excellent, fed in the dark with cyclops and everything looked good. Then my leather opened up about 4 days ago.. Since then the Candy Cane appears to be fading in color big time. I was not running carbon but have since fired up some carbon (ROX.8 in a reactor). They are located about 8 inched from each other. Can the leather be nuking the candy cane?? The timing would suggest so. The CC is located about half way up a 24inch tank with 150mh light. That is not too much light for a CC is it?? Most research I do concludes they light moderate to high light with good flow. My water params have remained solid and stable. Only difference is I raised my MG to 1350 and the CA went up around 30ppm. Alk has remained steady.


Please advise