Kryptonite Candy Cane Issues

[rjallen]

I have the K. Candy Cane in the far left, rear, upper corner of my rocks in my 120. There has been some growth but two of the polyps have always been a shade lighter and have slowly diminished in size. I have repeatedly cleared the areas around these shrinking polyps as algae has gotten a foothold. Astrea stars will go after the algae but don't seem to bother the polyps. This coral is epoxied to the reef and cannot be moved without a great deal of force.

I was advised to cut out the problem polyps to prevent spread of any infection. The other polyps are doing just fine.

However, I have another problem with this piece. Apparently there was some type of soft coral hitch hiker. This coral- if it is a coral, is attached to the stem of the candy cane. I took a photo, link below, that shows the candy cane and the hitch hiker. see below There does not seem to be any chemical warfare going on but this intruder is not very good looking. Should I cut it off, or should I try to frag this interloper? Can anyone identify it. I will have a very hard time doing anything precise where this piece is located.

I would appreciate any help or suggestions. I think it will be hard to move the candy cane without damaging it due to the epoxy.

http://s1335.photobucket.com/albums...=view&current=20140503_191612_zpsd7c68b21.jpg

I seem not to be able to get photos to post with photo bucket. Sorry of the photo but, since the tank is in the corner of the room, this is the best angle to get a good look at the hitch hiker coral.

Thanks in advance

RJA

 

[rjallen]

PS

The tank is a a mixed reef with montis, an aussie alcan, favid brain. All are doing OK to fantastic.
Temp constant 77-78 degrees
1.025 sp
Ammonia & Nitrite= 0
Nitrate= 8 to 12
PO= 0 to .02
CA= 380 to 420 Having a hard time keeping it above 400
Alk= 8.5 to 9.5
Mag=1250

Photo period is 10 hours with 2 hours in am & pm of increasing or dimming actinics. Lights LED.

RJA

 

[rjallen]

A lot of views and no help. Perhaps I should explain the photo better. When you view the candy cane you will see a dark coral directly behind the C.C. That is the hitch hiker soft coral, I think its a coral. It is growing out of the C.C. itself. I am sure its NOT part of the C.C. It is an ugly dark chocolate brown or black.
I need some help folks. Please comment

 

[blu_devl_06]

cant tell by the picture. If the hitchiker is a coral of some type, you may have some chem war going on. I think a more clear picture would help with ID.

 

[GoingPostal]

Looks like some xenia or similar coral, you could try injecting it with something like you would an aiptasia, or epoxying over it but fragging it off likely you'll still end up with some left over to grow back. Those shrinking candy cane heads will just die off, as long as they don't develop brown jelly disease it won't make any difference to the rest of the colony. Not sure why they are dying off though.

 

[droth335]

It does look like Xenia. Sometimes you can get them to release their foot by grabbing them by hand (if large enough) or with a fragging tweezers and apply consistent pressure until they let go. If it rips off instead of releasing then cover the stump(s) with kalk paste and it should take care of it. This should work. Good luck!

 

[Jack5746]

Yes that is Xenia. I have a Candy Cane just like that and it died off, the entire colony but just a little bit of flesh was left, now it is beginning to grow back.

 

[triggreef]

RJA

If that hiker pulses it's xenia, if not it is anthelia. Either way it doesn't look like its even close to the problem polyps as they look to only be on the backside. Also the closest cc had to that hitch hiker seems better than the two front ones.

I would venture a guess more in line with parameters or lights or flow. Mine always seem happy wherever I put them, but have always been in lower light. Since jan I went from 2 heads to a dozen.

A little confused with your alk test. That's a while dkh difference you listed. If it swings that much that could be your problem. Find a way to stabilize that& everything will thank you for it. Honestly. Mine generally does not venture any more from 8.4 to 8.7

Another issue could be the algae you said was creeping up on it. How long is your photo period? Any more than six hours is a waste. If you need more time than that to look at your corals find a source of light that you can start and end your day with that is less intense & that will take care of algae issues indefinitely. I only run leds & they are at max intensity for 6hrs a day. 3 hours on either side of that they are only at 20 percent or less so I can see but no photo synthesis is happening.