Kenya Tree Diseased?

[fsn77]

There's two Kenya tree corals in our tank. Last week, I noticed the base of one of them had a brown area on it near the base and now the last two days the brown area is larger, plus it is all closed up. It is very unusual for it to be closed up, as it has always opened up once the lights come on. During the last couple of days, I've noticed the second one has something similar starting at the base. It is still opens up at this point. There are other corals in the tank -- 2 types of Xenia, a toadstool leather, small favia brain, some zoas, some mushrooms, a wall hammer, a bubble coral, and a couple of trumpet / candy cane corals. None of the other corals are close enough to touch the Kenya trees, especially not at the base. In fact the LPS corals are much lower or on the other end of the tank.

The lighting is 4x96w PC w/ an additional 4x40w NO. Tank parameters have been fine lately -- NO3 hasn't ever been higher than 10 ppm, and has recently fallen to 0 - 5 ppm. The only thing that might be of concern was the temp got up to 85F a couple of weeks ago, as the normal temp is between 81 - 83F. I'd like the tank to be cooler, but even with a fan on the sump I can't get it any cooler without investing in a chiller as it's been too hot and humid this summer for the house A/C to do any better than 78F in our older home.

Closed up one -- notice the dark area on the stalk that runs most the way up the stalk. It may look like a shadow in the pic, but it honestly isn't.

Other one -- brown area is only on the side of part of the base and is shrunken in.

Is there anything I can do? Should I cut a frag off the second one before it gets worse?

 

[OrangeKoi]

Since it appears no one has responded since you posted this I will. I only have very limited experience with this.

I hope you left the little guy alone. My kenya tree coral has always had that "darkened " area at the base. I got mine as a hitch hicker when it was very small.

It stood about 1 inch high when fully expanded. It had two branches. Now it is about 5 inches in diameter and waves so many beautiful branches about 3.5 inches high.

A couple weeks ago, in fact, right about the date of your post, mine closed up and hugged itself into a very tight little gray ball which looked destined for death. It stayed that way for three full days. The next day it opened back up. The color was so intense. It was beautiful. It is such a surprise and I'm so glad I didn't do anything.

How is yours?

 

[fsn77]

Thank you for the reply. I sort of let this post go because the one that was closed up end up being fine about 4 days later. (I did decide to leave it alone.) Once it opened back up, much like yours, it was better than ever. So, I'm not sure what happened, but apparently it worked itself out. The second one still looks the same, with the dark indentation near the base, but it keeps opening up. I, too, am glad that I didn't do anything.

 

[David Grigor]

If your in doubt, give it a little rub. The bases do tend to be a little harder than the rest but it when you rub it, it starts to fall apart then yes it's in trouble. If it doesn't likely it's just fine. As they grow it is not too uncommon for the base to bet thicker/tougher and not necessary the same color but shouldn't desintigrate when your gently rub it. In that case, it's in trouble and will require fragging of the portions that are still nice and rubbery or it will take the whole coral out.

 

[OrangeKoi]

This picture gives you a pretty good idea of what mine is up to. I do not think the coloration on your base is the same as mine but I'm glad they are doing well.

Do be careful of touching corals though. The human touch does kill some of them. I don't know which and I don't know why, but I'm pretty sure it's true.