Droopy Torch Coral

[accel]

I am wondering why this Torch Coral is droopy compare to the other torch coral that I got from the same company which I got at the same day yesterday.

Droopy Torch coral:
https://ibb.co/gBwgmn

The other Torch looks okay:
https://ibb.co/kz7wmn

These were how they looked yesterday:
https://ibb.co/jLEbmn
https://ibb.co/c0dQe7


This morning I've tested my phosphate levels and according to the API kit it's at the yellow mark (meaning I'm at good levels. I'm aware it's not super accurate).

From what I read Hammer, Frogspawn, and Torch are basically from the same class. So by logic if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, moves like a duck then it must be a duck?

So if these Octospawn and Hammer corals are happy, why is that other Torch not so happy?

Octospawn (Frogspawn) and Hammer corals:
https://ibb.co/g7DSRn
https://ibb.co/mmmQCS
https://ibb.co/h3rQCS
https://ibb.co/ktOu6n

These were the frags when they were new (I got them last 3/28/2018)
https://ibb.co/dpA7Rn

The only difference I can see is that these other corals were already in my tank for 15 days now. But I'm pretty sure the following day these hammer corals and octospawn were already blooming. This is how they look the following day: https://ibb.co/mePdXS. So the behavior that I am getting from these Torch corals wasn't kinda the thing I am expecting or this is normal?

Tank is 1 month old officially today. I have copepods on my walls and sump if that even makes any difference. Salinity is 1.025. I didn't check the other params since I was busy with other things today.

This is the latest photo of the two Torch corals (The one on the left is the one that is droopy. Notice one of its head hasn't shown yet its polyps/tentacles) right before I post this question:
https://ibb.co/jeu1mn

 

[accel]

I woke up and that droopy torch coral has melted away. The other one seems fine. Well to be precise the other one has 5 heads where one head is still shy, the other one looks like it may melt because I am seeing brown strings on its crater, the other three heads are in good shape.

One theory I can think of here is that some species of frags aren't just really compatible with some tanks. Or the frags coming from some vendors aren't in good shape in the first place.

I had one vendor where the frogspawn and hammer corals just melted away the following day. I got them replaced and the replacements are doing great the following day. I can't imagine one day to three days span would make the tank better since the replacement came after.

My Zoans and LPS from WWC are still alive and kickin though with slow growth.

 

[accel]

Latest photos
https://ibb.co/cdSLgn
https://ibb.co/jSjY1n
https://ibb.co/enKoZ7
https://ibb.co/bz6D1n
https://ibb.co/d3PY1n

I am about to do water change in an hour and will be sifting the sand manually

 

[mcgyvr]

Its quite common from what I've seen for torch/hammer,etc... corals to be fine one day and not the next like that..
They can be quite finicky and sometimes just do that.. Getting them happy can be quite a task sometimes then once you do they seem to be quite easy to take care of but get it wrong and well..

Your other torch really doesn't look great either..

I really doubt its a water thing but more flow and light related..
I usually start them out in lower flow (as they can easily get tissue damage from their thin skin on their sharp skeleton,etc...)

I also don't think they do well in "newer tanks" either which yours still seem to be based on the brown sand,etc...

 

[Sk8r]

Brown Jelly Disease, maybe. Leave the sand alone this turn. http://aquariumcoraldiseases.weebly.com/brown-jelly-syndrome-bjs--brown-band-disease-brb.html Research this disease on the internet and be sure that's what you're dealing with. it may not be, and treatment could do damage.

 

[accel]

Thanks for the replies. I'd been hit with a brown jelly disease before and the replacement corals I got from the same vendor thrived with no issues (the octospawn and hammer photos you see here are the replacements). I am still at odds why the same setup fails for the same type of corals from the same vendor but replacements thrive fine.

Anyway I got the Torch refunded. I ordered a new set od Torch coral now from the a different vendor where I got my hammer and octo. It may sound cruel but I am considering this as an experiment. If these new batch don't melt, then I can safely say it's not my tank. Admittedly it's new so I guess there's huge swings happening.

To be honest I am at times disappointed and disheartened when things fail. But I know the best I can do is to keep trying and be diligent.

 

[Uncle99]

You say your tank is officially one month old......it was completely cycled right?
As mentioned, these types of corals can be a bit of a challenge in the beginning, you indicate a test for salinity and phosphate, but what about ammonia or nitrate?
My concern here is that in a month, is your water stable enough to support these?
When water reflects NSW parameters, the tank has been stable for more than 6 months, appropriate light in the correct spectrum is provided, rarely have I had any coral retract or die.

 

[Sk8r]

Also, keep them at least 6" apart. They can harm each other.

 

[accel]

You say your tank is officially one month old......it was completely cycled right?
As mentioned, these types of corals can be a bit of a challenge in the beginning, you indicate a test for salinity and phosphate, but what about ammonia or nitrate?
My concern here is that in a month, is your water stable enough to support these?
When water reflects NSW parameters, the tank has been stable for more than 6 months, appropriate light in the correct spectrum is provided, rarely have I had any coral retract or die.

Ok I did another round of test. I am confident my Ammonia is 0 even before the test. I have doubts on my Nitrate levels though.

However after the test, I am surprised with the Nitrate results. I measured twice. According to the API test kit it's on the yellow mark which means 0 Nitrate in their manual. I asked my wife to verify again. We're both keen with colors since we work in the makeup and photography industry. I used a daylight light to ensure that the color is indeed yellow. I took a break and returned back and the reading is still showing 0.

The Ammonia reading is 0 as well according to the API test kit. I have two Seachen Ammonia badge test as well in the sump and in the DT. Both are reading 0 ammonia so I am very very confident on the Ammonia levels.

The Nitrate though is a surprise but it's a welcome result. I have Chaeto reactor, red Ogo algae in my Sump, Purigen and Polyfilters plus GFO if that helps.

I had been diligent with my Prodibio dosing with the Reef kit and BioDigest. Yes it's cycled using Prodibio Startup. I used the product 4x on 4 tanks with no issues.

I guess the only factor that's left is I have a "young tank" but it still doesn't explain why the other Euphyllia corals are doing fine for 14 days now.

Tank has 1 clownfish, 3 Pajama Cardinals, Watchman Goby, Tailspot Blenny, 3 shrimps and a bunch of snails on a 40G with 20G sump.

 

[accel]

Also some readings I took this morning again with the API kit:

Dkh at 9.
Phosphate at 0.
Calcium at 420.

Salinity at 1.025 using Refractrometer

 

[Uncle99]

If all is in order then in the short term I can see no reason why the environment is the problem, however with nitrate at zero, this will starve your Corals over time. I keep nitrate at 3-5 ppm and phosphate at .02-03, these are foods they will consume....

 

[accel]

Ok so I ordered two more torches from two different vendors. I did this because I hypothesize the issue is not my tank or water parameters because my other Euphellia corals are doing great.

I was right. The new torch that I got and has been sitting for a week now and the tentacles are perked up. The ones that I reported were not even close (droopy and you can sense some unhappiness in it). The second new torch I got just popped up within the first 30 mins and flowing along with the flow. It looks way better than the ones I reported. I expect this one to look even better after a week.

In my opinion I can't just automatically blame my tank. It's possible the way the corals were fragged, shipped, or handled was not ideal in the first place. I think a second opinion (second order from another vendor) does help to see things in another perspective.

 

[Uncle99]

Good point!
I am lucky because I can visit my corals before I buy and can put them on hold for a week.
It never occurred to me that many are shipped direct and each time we ship, we add stress.
Duh!
We have a dozen good stores and three specialists in corals only, all in under an hour...
I am glad you solved this

 

[accel]

Just a follow-up here are some recent pics of my two torches. I got a Apogee 510 PAR meter now. At 90% intensity I am reading about 100 to 180 at the upper level torch and 70 to 160 at the lower level torch (the readings fluctuate every second).

They look happy to me. Correct me if I am wrong.

https://ibb.co/fkJJon
https://ibb.co/mQ0ng7
https://ibb.co/f9DUuS
https://ibb.co/mNvaZS

 

[Uncle99]

All look real happy to me!