I have a chalice that I've had for years and it has grown quite large. All of a sudden some tissue has started dying off. I see no bugs, no parameter issues, so I don't know whats up. In an attempt to save it can I hack off the the dead parts and hope the rest survives? Is there a specific way to go at it or should I just get the dremel out?
Chalice dying...can I save it??
- Thread starter talon4x4
- Start date
PufferNut
New member
can you show some pics? is the tissue dying just on the edge or all over it? Chalices are quite resilient. I nuked my tank with a kalk experiment gone wrong but the chalice had only a few mouths left, it grew back and is now huge. I hear that cutting out the dead parts can help because its easier for them to grow new skeleton than to recolonize existing dead area.
BuffaloReef
New member
Are those anemones on either side of the chalice? They could be stinging it. They're actually able to send out projectile nematocysts so even if it doesn't look like they're touching the coral they may be on he attack. I've never experienced aggression from a ricordia but I have heard yumas can be aggressive too. I'd try moving the chalice. Good luck whatever option you chose!
Dnastynice
New member
i was about to say the same thing those nems are evil i say!!
Tissue loss seems spread all over ,so I don't htink fragging it is pracitcal. I have done that with a dremmel a few times though with sucess. One large chalice gave me one small frag and a couple of years later it's back to bout 3 inches. I'd move that one away from other animals check the NO3 and PO4 and give it some low flow and a bit of shade for a while. Ifthe recission has stopped I wouldn't frag it ; at least not until it was healthier.
The sand is a problem too. It has to spend energy creating slime to move it off.
The sand is a problem too. It has to spend energy creating slime to move it off.
I would have thought the anemone as well but the anemone had actually been in contact with the chalice for months. The anemone had snuck in behind the chalice and I didn't even notice. When I finally caught a glimpse of the anemone I was surprised to see no issues with the chalice, so I left it and they have been in that position for at least a couple months. When I noticed the tissue loss it wasn't at the spot where the anemone was touching, it was all over the entire piece.
I have cleaned off the sand now and changed out my GFO/carbon. I have moved the chalice away from everything, just in case. And as Tom suggested, I will not be cutting.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
I have cleaned off the sand now and changed out my GFO/carbon. I have moved the chalice away from everything, just in case. And as Tom suggested, I will not be cutting.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
the anemones and/or Ricordea aren't causing that tissue loss.
What are water parameters?
What kind of chalice coral is that?
What are water parameters?
What kind of chalice coral is that?
Temp: 80-81
pH : 7.9-8.1
Salinity:1.024 (which is .002 lower than what I normally keep it at, not sure how that happened)
Calcium: 450
dKH: 8
PO4: Doesn't seem to be detectible
Nitrate: 5<
Everything appears normal other than the salinity drop. Other than a ridiculous HA problem that I can't get under control no matter what, everything else is fine.
Not sure on the chalice. I'm pretty sure its one I got from Jeff a couple years back, maybe he knows.
pH : 7.9-8.1
Salinity:1.024 (which is .002 lower than what I normally keep it at, not sure how that happened)
Calcium: 450
dKH: 8
PO4: Doesn't seem to be detectible
Nitrate: 5<
Everything appears normal other than the salinity drop. Other than a ridiculous HA problem that I can't get under control no matter what, everything else is fine.
Not sure on the chalice. I'm pretty sure its one I got from Jeff a couple years back, maybe he knows.
I've seen stings and irritations get out of control on some. I would have thought PO4/NO3 possibly but apparently not. They don't like sand and stings , either can lead to infections and then spreading necrosis,ime. If it has stopped receding, let it rest away from irritation with moderate light. If it contiumes to recover and doesn't reclaim lost skeleton and you want to trim it up wait a few months. If it continues to recede now , frag it a quarter inch into good tissue and take your chances.
A dremel diamond wheel can give a clean precise cut.However, If you don't use the cable extender accessory , the salty spray and argonite dust won't take long to kill the motor. I've learned to wear a mask when using mine too. Lots of nasty dust and tissue can blow up your nose otherwise.
Looking at it again and discounting the sand ,I'd be termpted to frag off the lower left quarter of it. Some of the dead areas look white and fresh ,ie, new death.
I'd also save the rest to see if it would recover too.
A dremel diamond wheel can give a clean precise cut.However, If you don't use the cable extender accessory , the salty spray and argonite dust won't take long to kill the motor. I've learned to wear a mask when using mine too. Lots of nasty dust and tissue can blow up your nose otherwise.
Looking at it again and discounting the sand ,I'd be termpted to frag off the lower left quarter of it. Some of the dead areas look white and fresh ,ie, new death.
I'd also save the rest to see if it would recover too.
I've seen this happen for the reasons above in addition to some invisible force that can be treated with interceptor. Personal experience has been cutting ALL of the receded skeleton away about an 1/8" into fresh tissue. Fragging does cause stress, when I have "hung in there" to see a turn around it's been hit or miss. only lost one chalice to fragging.
See if someone nearby you has a coral safe bandsaw to use, much easier and safer than a dremel. I tried the dremel once and it was not pretty.
See if someone nearby you has a coral safe bandsaw to use, much easier and safer than a dremel. I tried the dremel once and it was not pretty.
