Help Please - Need to save a Chalice

[Michael B]

Hi Folks,

Please assist, was visiting my brothers place last night (we are both newbies to this great hobby) & saw his awesome Chalice, which now does not look awesome no more.

Lots of recession & skeleton showing (skeleton has some algae on) - Chalice was originally place high in the tank (4 x T5 lighting tubes - 2 x white, 1 purple & 1 blue). He has now moved it to the bottom of the tank, but I cannot see any progress.

I really want to help save this coral, is there anyhting I can do please (water parameters all in-line)

Michael B

 

[Friday Night]

pics?

 

[Michael B]

Will arrange to get a pic taken tonight

 

[bfam4t6]

Is it bleaching?

If so, it could be getting too much light and moving it to the bottom was a good call. I watched one of my LFS burn the hell out of several grand worth of chalices with some VHO lights before switching back to T-5. Overall the tank looks much better now, but some of the chalices which are placed higher up in the tank still show signs of not loving the light.

However, don't put it in a cave. Make sure it can still get some light, as I personally caused a chalice frag, which was taken from the LFS tank I just mentioned, to recede a little bit when I placed it at the bottom under a rock for shade. After I moved it out into the light it almost immediately showed signs of healing.

Also, make sure it gets at least moderate flow. The more water that runs over it, the better chance it has of catching some food which is vital for recovery. Believe it or not, I've seen chalices with sweeper tentacles that are several inches long. Those mouths aren't just for decoration.

Just be patient. Chalices grow veeeeery slowly...at least in my tank.

Edit: Also, once you find what you think will be a happy home for it, leave it. Moving corals around stresses them. Once it shows definite growth, then you can very slowly move it higher up in the tank.

 

[Michael B]

Thanks so much bfam4t6

Here is the pic of what it looks like - am very concerned about the algae on the skeleton?

What sould he do from here?

 

[Grant W]

also have they been fed?

 

[Michael B]

I know he does feed "Zooplanton" & Kent Marine Reef Snow into the water column (once a week on each)

What do you think is the next best course of action?

 

[footballdude2k3]

what are the parameters? could be bad alk or ca...

 

[bfam4t6]

Your brother has an awesome looking chalice! I love it! In fact there is one that looks very similar in my LFS, but it's more orange than red and only has one tone opposed to the two tone red I see here. The guy wants $300 something for the whole 5"x3" piece or $70 for a nice chunk that he could easily frag. It will end up in my tank one way or another

I wouldn't worry too much about the algae. The frag I formerly mentioned did the same thing when it receded while in the cave. It actually still has a small amount of growth on the edge of the skeleton still visible, but the flesh is slowly growing right back over it. It has also developed two new eyes/mouths.

I'd say feed it, and be very very careful with water parameters. It looks like he has a lot of coraline growth, so the water is probably okay. I can't really offer you quantitative measurements as to what your water should be, as I have yet to purchase any test kits. I just eyeball it ;-). But, I know from careful observation that high nitrates and phosphates upset chalices. And like footballdude said, it could also be calcium and or alkilinity.

The center looks healthy, so I think it will be okay in the long run. How long has it been in the tank? How long did he have it up high, and how long has it been down at the bottom now? It could still be adjusting to his water. That adjustment could easily take three weeks or more before the coral starts to grow again.

I hope it works out for him. You'll have to keep us updated with pictures.

 

[Michael B]

Thanks a million everyone (going to do full set of tests with him tomorrow to check EVERYTHING) - appreciate all the input.

Was at the top of the tank for a few weeks & only been at the bottom for just over a week, so could be just settling in?

 

[SammyJ916]

It still has full color and looms to be pretty healthy if you start seeing tissue slime off the
Be worried

 

[Michael B]

Sadly, he lost this coral - however we have both learnt so much because of this & am now very happy to report we are both keeping Chalice corals & they are doing great (pic below)

 

[victor escobar]

If the problem is not water quality then it is excesive lighting. What I would do is to eliminate the dead escheleton and put it in a much less lighten place. This chalice is similar to ane I have and it suffered from a direct HQI 150 Watts light. Now I have it with leads in an overhang without direct light and thrieving.

 

[Michael B]

Thanks so much for that victor (appreciate the feedback)

 

[miguelp19]

Sadly, he lost this coral - however we have both learnt so much because of this & am now very happy to report we are both keeping Chalice corals & they are doing great (pic below)

Michael what are you doing differently now than before when the other chalice didnt make it? Im also having a similar problem and would like to know what you did this time to keep this one successfully? TIA:wavehand:

 

[Michael B]

Michael what are you doing differently now than before when the other chalice didnt make it? Im also having a similar problem and would like to know what you did this time to keep this one successfully? TIA:wavehand:

Hi miguelp19, think it is alot to do with having a more mature system & also testing my water regularly and making sure the ca & alk is in range (I have added a doing pump which really helps)