piercho
New member
I've seen something sort of like this on a Porites, but the speed of recession was slower and the line of recession was more distinct. I also did not see any tissue slough off. I tried cutting the coral up well ahead of the recession line but was not able to stop it. During the year or so I was fighting it on the Porites I did not see it obviously spread to the few Acro, Stylos, Pocs, Montis or Birdsnest in the same tank.
Eric B. guessed UV damage as a outer jacket on a mogul bulb had broken some weeks earlier and burnt or bleached most of the SPS in the tank before I noticed, especially those higher up. But the Porites was at the bottom and showed no sign of damage right after. He said that it was possible for the coral to go a while before showing damage. But the recession continued from the more light and current exposed branches down onto the base of the coral. Maybe the UV damage start it but something else make it continue.
I'd be inclined to remove a coral just starting to show symptoms from the tank and try the antibiotic protocal suggested by Craig Bingham. In the system some change in husbandry to get nitrate and P down may help, IMHO. I'd be spooky about using organic carbon source (acetic acid, sugar, vodka) to get nitrate down but you have the powerful skimmer if a bloom breaks out and frankly at this point I don't see what you have to loose. Wish I could offer something more substantive or helpful.
Eric B. guessed UV damage as a outer jacket on a mogul bulb had broken some weeks earlier and burnt or bleached most of the SPS in the tank before I noticed, especially those higher up. But the Porites was at the bottom and showed no sign of damage right after. He said that it was possible for the coral to go a while before showing damage. But the recession continued from the more light and current exposed branches down onto the base of the coral. Maybe the UV damage start it but something else make it continue.
I'd be inclined to remove a coral just starting to show symptoms from the tank and try the antibiotic protocal suggested by Craig Bingham. In the system some change in husbandry to get nitrate and P down may help, IMHO. I'd be spooky about using organic carbon source (acetic acid, sugar, vodka) to get nitrate down but you have the powerful skimmer if a bloom breaks out and frankly at this point I don't see what you have to loose. Wish I could offer something more substantive or helpful.
