Coral physical recovery - help?

[karimwassef]

I had an accident that resulted in my salinity crashing to near fresh water for a week while I was traveling. My parameters have been back to normal for almost two months now.

Some have recovered completely. Some are still struggling. I'm looking for methods to speed up their recovery.

Before:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/53DAAED3-9D43-4730-8D16-3988BFDBB629_zpszxj7kpin.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/53DAAED3-9D43-4730-8D16-3988BFDBB629_zpszxj7kpin.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 53DAAED3-9D43-4730-8D16-3988BFDBB629_zpszxj7kpin.jpg"/></a>

After:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/Mobile%20Uploads/848FFFD2-7675-46C8-AB93-6C11BA9057A3_zpsnxha2ta0.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/Mobile%20Uploads/848FFFD2-7675-46C8-AB93-6C11BA9057A3_zpsnxha2ta0.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 848FFFD2-7675-46C8-AB93-6C11BA9057A3_zpsnxha2ta0.jpg"/></a>

Before:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/EDB03D10-AD54-4C32-A0C4-D4D0316090D8_zpsnq6suodb.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/EDB03D10-AD54-4C32-A0C4-D4D0316090D8_zpsnq6suodb.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo EDB03D10-AD54-4C32-A0C4-D4D0316090D8_zpsnq6suodb.jpg"/></a>

After:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/Mobile%20Uploads/3DC1A5E5-BAC6-478E-9E7A-D91C88A557E3_zpsompxa5gp.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/Mobile%20Uploads/3DC1A5E5-BAC6-478E-9E7A-D91C88A557E3_zpsompxa5gp.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 3DC1A5E5-BAC6-478E-9E7A-D91C88A557E3_zpsompxa5gp.jpg"/></a>

Before:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/98C56C30-2A9F-4331-B136-877FBD3D2C92_zpsdpqijzyo.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/98C56C30-2A9F-4331-B136-877FBD3D2C92_zpsdpqijzyo.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 98C56C30-2A9F-4331-B136-877FBD3D2C92_zpsdpqijzyo.jpg"/></a>

After:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/Mobile%20Uploads/C930EFB9-34D6-4843-A96F-00114B816A6D_zpsdt8brgx5.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/Mobile%20Uploads/C930EFB9-34D6-4843-A96F-00114B816A6D_zpsdt8brgx5.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo C930EFB9-34D6-4843-A96F-00114B816A6D_zpsdt8brgx5.jpg"/></a>

Before:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/690DA732-4457-4911-BBAD-9605BA1F794C_zpsedarehmn.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/690DA732-4457-4911-BBAD-9605BA1F794C_zpsedarehmn.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 690DA732-4457-4911-BBAD-9605BA1F794C_zpsedarehmn.jpg"/></a>

After:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/Mobile%20Uploads/9C9F293F-2B90-45B6-A99A-B7EBDDC5D9FF_zpsryjciw5a.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/Mobile%20Uploads/9C9F293F-2B90-45B6-A99A-B7EBDDC5D9FF_zpsryjciw5a.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 9C9F293F-2B90-45B6-A99A-B7EBDDC5D9FF_zpsryjciw5a.jpg"/></a>

Before:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/1E7DF051-0701-4D00-8DE1-A4D29849D430_zpshxkpm7ey.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/1E7DF051-0701-4D00-8DE1-A4D29849D430_zpshxkpm7ey.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 1E7DF051-0701-4D00-8DE1-A4D29849D430_zpshxkpm7ey.jpg"/></a>

After:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/Mobile%20Uploads/73353869-70EB-4FDD-A82E-E34E015CC702_zpsbn0dwl2k.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/Mobile%20Uploads/73353869-70EB-4FDD-A82E-E34E015CC702_zpsbn0dwl2k.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 73353869-70EB-4FDD-A82E-E34E015CC702_zpsbn0dwl2k.jpg"/></a>

 

[karimwassef]

Before:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/916D6679-4A2E-4493-BC81-396DF700DB3E_zpsjhrxjcib.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/916D6679-4A2E-4493-BC81-396DF700DB3E_zpsjhrxjcib.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 916D6679-4A2E-4493-BC81-396DF700DB3E_zpsjhrxjcib.jpg"/></a>

After:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/Mobile%20Uploads/5D5CF25E-3AC5-4493-8743-4453B0D4CA81_zpsx8nng8tg.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/Mobile%20Uploads/5D5CF25E-3AC5-4493-8743-4453B0D4CA81_zpsx8nng8tg.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 5D5CF25E-3AC5-4493-8743-4453B0D4CA81_zpsx8nng8tg.jpg"/></a>

Before:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/7FFC9CFF-B733-49FA-AEF8-E6E17E86EAA1_zpsssms8kq1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/7FFC9CFF-B733-49FA-AEF8-E6E17E86EAA1_zpsssms8kq1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 7FFC9CFF-B733-49FA-AEF8-E6E17E86EAA1_zpsssms8kq1.jpg"/></a>

After:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/Mobile%20Uploads/575EA708-4436-48D7-9BFC-B7297F399739_zps2lmi9dcc.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/Mobile%20Uploads/575EA708-4436-48D7-9BFC-B7297F399739_zps2lmi9dcc.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 575EA708-4436-48D7-9BFC-B7297F399739_zps2lmi9dcc.jpg"/></a>

Many died but I want to give these survivors the best chance for recovery.

 

[karimwassef]

It's a 380g DT with total volume of ~600g
Conditions are
salinity 33-35ppm
Alk 8.5-9.5dKH
Ca 450-500ppm
Mg 1470-1500ppm
pH 8.2-8.3
Temp 76-78
No measurable ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate
No nuisance algae. Heavy on the green coralline.
DT has concrete rock, live rock and sand.
3x400W MH 12K
2x200W LED blue (under rework now)
Skimmer off 6hrs a day
Sump with chaeto lit 6hrs a day (reverse cycle)
Sump DSB
GFO
Kalk reactor on Apex to balance pH
UV sterilizer 40W
Active drive surge 2x20g

I feed frozen food, flake food, cyclops, reefbugs, phyto, coral frenzy with Selcon and garlic xtreme twice or three times a week (not many fish left).

 

[Royce7586]

I think all you can really do is keep things as stable as possible

 

[karimwassef]

There's no dip or food to stimulate recovery? How about special lighting or maybe cut back on something I'm doing now like UV? More live rock? Add pods? Add fresh sand? Raise the temp to 85? Reduce or increase flow?

 

[CuzzA]

I would frag away all of the dead to stop any possible infection from spreading and dip what's left in iodine to clean the good frags. Iodine also acts as a healer, so to speak. Many people including myself and LFS dip fresh cuts in iodine to prevent a possible infection.

As far as everything else, just get it back to normal and hope they can pull though. Sorry to hear about this. I'm assuming your ATO malfunctioned drastically lowering your SG.

 

[karimwassef]

Thanks. Yes. ATO, skimmer and kalk reactor - perfect storm.

So frag and iodine dip. What concentration iodine? How long?

 

[CuzzA]

Yes, I believe it's 10 drops per gallon for 10-15 minutes. I would just read the label. Since you're not specifically trying to kill a pest, perhaps cut the time in half as more of a precautionary antiseptic treatment. Be sure to rinse the frag with tank water before putting it back in your system.

Btw, The frogspawn looks fine to me. I wouldn't do anything to it.

 

[karimwassef]

Frogspawn and mushrooms actually look better after the disaster. They didn't on day 1 - everything was scrunched up and miserable.

 

[julie180]

They are already stressed enough. I would not suggest changing anything, just keep your tank as stable as possible and hope for the best. Fragging away dead is a good idea.

 

[PhaneSoul]

stability, feeding and cleanings. your nutrients prolly skyrocketed, which could be a reason why your frogspawn and mushrooms look great.

 

[karimwassef]

I have zero nutrients. Nothing measurable and no algae except for coralline.

 

[das75]

Feel for you and sorry can't offer further suggestions but gives an idea by what survived could be recommended for those starting

 

[tmz]

Since the problem comes from an salinity issue I would not assume infection though it's possible. I usually frag off dead areas and sometimes dip but wouldn't do either in this case at least not until I saw decline progressing further in better slainity. Lesening the light a bit for a week or so might help them survive. You can always frag away ussightly dead skeleton later when the corals are stronger and likely able to tolerate the handling better.

Sorry, for your troubles.

 

[karimwassef]

Not sure I understood your comment, Das

 

[karimwassef]

I went back through the events and I think that there were two types of damage to the corals. The first is due to the salinity drop. The second was due to a chemical burn from a thick sludge of Kalk.

Some are recovering better than others but I think the recovery is being impeded by bacteria and little tufts of algae locally irritating the healthy tissue and feeding on the early dead tissue.

Here's a couple of pics that I think show this:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/CCBCA0BD-7738-4A28-8331-2719EF56F381_zps2txr8tfg.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/CCBCA0BD-7738-4A28-8331-2719EF56F381_zps2txr8tfg.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo CCBCA0BD-7738-4A28-8331-2719EF56F381_zps2txr8tfg.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/44F9F8FC-22D6-4B3C-8607-292B79B7F0BC_zpsemtdvoga.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/44F9F8FC-22D6-4B3C-8607-292B79B7F0BC_zpsemtdvoga.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 44F9F8FC-22D6-4B3C-8607-292B79B7F0BC_zpsemtdvoga.jpg"/></a>

 

[karimwassef]

In the other hand, some polyps look to be recording and expanding better

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/9E0A816F-BD4A-4F19-BA01-F035075FCFD0_zpstgf0ti0p.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/9E0A816F-BD4A-4F19-BA01-F035075FCFD0_zpstgf0ti0p.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 9E0A816F-BD4A-4F19-BA01-F035075FCFD0_zpstgf0ti0p.jpg"/></a>

 

[CuzzA]

It's unfortunate. A bacterial infection usually sets in when the coral is weakend from alk burn, drastic temp change, salinity, etc. And of course algae growth as it's feeding on the localized area of decomposing tissue. Thus my suggestion of dipping.

In fact it was recently discovered necrosis is in fact caused by a bacterial infection and a 6 day treatment of ampicillin (outside of the display) will kill the bacteria and halt the necrosis.

 

[karimwassef]

I really don't want to remove them. I have a pretty large tank, so how about localized spraying/injection of peroxide or iodine?

I can cut flow to a minimum for 15-30 mins and then allow it to return.

 

[CuzzA]

Honestly I wouldn't do it in the tank, especially iodine. I'm sure you have much more invested that a couple $20 frags. Not worth the risk.