Drooping Large Bubble Coral

[fishchef]

This happened a few months ago and now its happening again. My large bubble just wasn't getting as big as usual. Its not retracted, just drooping. With my crazy schedule maybe my routine had affected it. A few days ago the CA 500+ Mg 1450 dKH 11 PO4 .05 NO3 zero
sort of like before and some T-5's getting old. I'm in the process of switching out some bulbs according to age. This coral has been around for about a year and is quite large...8X8. It responded well before to heavier feedings which raised the nitrates to 12.5 and I got the phosphates down to .03 with GFO.
Any thoughts out there or observations?

 

[rt67ghy]

I would lower the alk a little and change the position of the coral to give it a different flow and see what happens. Sometimes corals which are doing great for some time suddenly seem to decline for no apparent reason. Also, I'd stop feeding it for a time and see if it has any effect.

 

[fishchef]

Thanks for the input. My salt blend seems to have a high dKH value. Have been using the same brand for a long time...the life of this tank. Actually this reading is a little lower than usual, about 1-2 points. The Bubble was larger when I came home last night. We'll see.

 

[fishchef]

Just an update. The Bubble does seem to be hanging on. Our nitrate has gone up to about 10/12.5, but the coral hasn't fully expanded. It goes through this series of relaxing and tightening up periods. Color is good and no loss of tissue.

 

[Sk8r]

Take measures to lower the nitrate---also look to the bulbs. Bubble is one stony that actually likes to be a little lower light, and just as a wild guess, it might not like what happens to the spectrum as bulbs burn down. But I'm sure you know when you do replace them to break them in slowly, working up to full photoperiod over a period of days.

Also take a look at what's 'upwind' or above it. I had one start a feud with a birdsnest acropora, of all things: reached a sweeper straight up to attack it.

 

[fishchef]

Its just odd. Generally my nitrates tend to run a little high. When this coral a few months ago had an issue its when they were about zero. It seems to like them about 10/12.5 and it perked up the last time when I got them back up. So they were low again about a week ago and the bubble was not fully expanded again. It is in the proximity of a couple of large Toadstools. The bubble does brush the leather a bit sometimes.

 

[Sk8r]

I'd get the bubble upwind of the toadstools and out of reach. You might also run carbon. As with GFO, be sure to wash carbon before use---the problem being the dust, which can get into coral pores.