Is my plate in trouble?

[Jason604]

Just got a plate coral for the first time for a week now. It's starting to get some brown spots on its body and the corner of its mouth. It's still eating. All I see is skeleton and no tentacles until about 12am-1am ish Is when it starts to inflate a tiny bit and very tiny tentacles come out. I have it on my sand bed but my sand sifter fish always drops sand on it and my scoly. Does the sand on it harm them?
I have to blast sand off them constantly.

 

[wnppmy]

I'll follow the info as Im new to plate coral. Mines placed on rock, usually in sand is suggested.

Hope yours is ok.

 

[Reef Frog]

They can get rid of sand if needed but living with sand sifting gobies could indeed be problematic if they are as sloppy as I've read about. A never ending barrage of sand can't be a good thing.

You might build a small stand out of PVC or plastic to elevate it over the sand.

I'm hoping that is not a bacterial infection. I often equate brown with bacteria. A dip in a iodide perpetration could POSSIBLY be beneficial but I hesitate to actually recommend it on some stressed corals like plates. Its a long shot. I've never dipped a plate except on a healthy one upon first introduction to a tank. So don't take my word for it and proceed with caution. I hope it recovers for you as it's very attractive. Are the spots loosely attached? if so try blowing it off with a turkey baster as that could provide relief. If it dies don't toss it as many have seen babies grow back from the bare skeleton. Good luck. Keep us posted.

 

[Jason604]

They can get rid of sand if needed but living with sand sifting gobies could indeed be problematic if they are as sloppy as I've read about. A never ending barrage of sand can't be a good thing.

You might build a small stand out of PVC or plastic to elevate it over the sand.

I'm hoping that is not a bacterial infection. I often equate brown with bacteria. A dip in a iodide perpetration could POSSIBLY be beneficial but I hesitate to actually recommend it on some stressed corals like plates. Its a long shot. I've never dipped a plate except on a healthy one upon first introduction to a tank. So don't take my word for it and proceed with caution. I hope it recovers for you as it's very attractive. Are the spots loosely attached? if so try blowing it off with a turkey baster as that could provide relief. If it dies don't toss it as many have seen babies grow back from the bare skeleton. Good luck. Keep us posted.

The brown is its body. I would have to elevate about 6 inches or so above sand if I don't want my sifter making a mess. That would make it look so bad tho =(. Should I try revive coral dip on it? Has any1 ever successfully nurse a browning plate back to good health? Please help I don't want this beauty to die =(

 

[fishcraze_1]

Use Coral Revive, and make sure its eating. Should bounce back.

 

[fishcraze_1]

Some of mine.

 

[Jason604]

Some of mine.

Beautiful! How often do u feed them? I feed mysis 2x a week with some phytoplankton and reef roids mixed in it

 

[fishcraze_1]

At least 1 time a week, sometimes twice.

Doing Rods food and Fauna Marin LPS Grow