Chalice Problem?

Mr.Eeks

New member
Hey guys/gals. I have a problem with a chalice coral. Not sure what to do about it. I think I've had this coral (and my zoas and 2nd chalice) for about 4 months. My frogspawn I've had not quite a year. My question is if anyone can tell me what is up with it, it hasn't gotten bigger, and while I haven't counted the eyes there doesn't appear to be more of them, less if anything, because it looks like the tissue is receding or calcifying maybe? Zoas appear to be doing well, they are bigger (not much but a few more heads) than when I got them, the frogspawn is larger than a year ago but doesn't appear to be getting any larger recently, and the other smaller chalice seems unchanged from when I got it.

Tank Info:
55gal with this filtration
In the baskets I have nothing in the bottom, Chemi-Pure Elite in the middle, and Kent's Nitrate Sponge in the top, which I clean out with PWC. Every layer is also separated by filter floss.
2x Hydor Koralia 600's facing opposite each other seen in the first image below
These are my lights
Other organisms are a clown (was two will be again one just died), a fairy wrasse, some snails, and a sand sifting star
I do not dose with anything, I feed every other day or two, and what I feed is consumed by my two fish in 10-15 seconds
Anything you want to know please ask :D

Now on to the pictures! I will include them as links to imgur, so they can be seen in their full resolution.
1. General set-up of my tank. What appears to be cyano on the sand is no longer present in my tank, this is an older photo. TANK
2. My frogspawn, is usually more open than this but I have been at class all day and the lights are not on timers. FROGSPAWN
3. My fire and ice zoas. ZOAS
4. Small chalice
5. Larger chalice

TL : DR I think there is something wrong with my chalice, do you know what it is?
Thanks for any help or advice!
 
Also I have been reading through the other threads and forums, nothing I have found yet looks like it's been receding like my larger chalice.
 
Keep your mag levels up. Not sure what your parameters are at. I had the same problem awhile back and kept up with with my mag levels and it's growing like crazy
 
Do you dose with anything or just very regular WC? I use Kent Reef Salt and is supposed to have good mag levels. I have stretch this last water change lately though maybe that is the cause. I will get some parameters posted after the holidays here. Thanks for the advice!
 
Did a PWC on Friday. My parameters after it were good. I don't have a mag test though.
NO3 - 0.0
PO4 - 0.25 (it wasn't quite that color but it was very slightly darker than 0.0)
pH - a hair lighter than 8.2 so maybe 8.1
dKH - 8
Ca - 460
I'll get another picture later today, but I shaded him a little from the lights, doesn't seem to be the cause. But today the maroon tissue is less than what it is in the above picture. My other corals are all still perfectly happy. Even the smaller chalice. I did pick up a coral food, and I can see the smaller chalice eat when I target feed it a little, hard to tell but looks like the larger chalice might be eating some too.
Thanks again!
 
Ran to the LFS today and picked up the only coral dip they had Seachem Dip
http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/ReefDip.html
Put some aquarium water in a cup splashed in a little of this, dunked my coral and left it for about 15 minutes. Rinsed it off with aquarium water and placed in back in my tank. I placed the coral slightly lower then before and under shade, as well as sheltered from some more flow. LFS basically said I could try the dip, move it lower, or try and break off a good chunk and glue to a plug and hope it works. He also mentioned feeding it lots. So will see how it does for the next couple days and if it looks like it is getting worse, I'll probably try and frag it.
Here is a picture, looks a little green but its not, more of an off-white/tan color.
 
Have you been target feeding it? Mine grew much quicker once I started feeding. I mix up a slurry of dry coral food and Selcon, then after the fish are fed, with the pumps still off, I target this paste onto the coral. Leave it on the Chalice face about 20 min or so. After 10 minutes you will be able to see if it's eating. If it is eating, the eyes will be sucking up the paste. It's a very slow process. After 30 or 40 minutes the Chalice should have finished it. Flush off any remaining food. Don't leave it on the coral to rot.
Basically if you feed the chalice like this every other day, and keep your Ca and Mg and Alk in range, you should start to see growth.
 
I have just recently started target feeding it. It's not that it isn't growing though, its that even though my other corals are doing fine (as evidenced by growth or not losing tissue), and it is rapidly losing tissue. However thank you for the advice, I'm sure my other corals will appreciate it :D
However, after dipping the coral, and moving the coral completely away from direct light, and more sheltered from the flow, he continues to lose the maroon tissue and eyes, so tomorrow I think I'm going to remove him from the tank, break off a chunk of maroon tissue while doing my best to not get any dead tissue, and glue him to a plug and see if that helps any.
 
Fragged the coral today. Got a chunk about the size of a dime left, maybe a bit smaller. I think there were 2 eyes on the piece. Glued in to the frag and have it somewhat near the other chalice that seems to be doing well. It is secreting its protective film so hopefully it isn't completely dead yet. Only time will tell I suppose.
 
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