New Corals Going South

[CombatVet]

I have recently put in my 30 gallon tank a green torch coral with 6 heads and small hammer coral with 2 heads. They have lasted about 5 days and now seem to be dying. 2 heads gone on the green torch and both almost on the hammer. I have 30in corlife compact lighting that is putting about 4.5 watts per gallon, 65g protein skimmer, rio 800 powerhead for water movement and a 50g filter. My brain coral, xenia, polyps, and 3 fish seem to be doing fine. Any suggestions?

 

[theop]

If your other corals are ok, then I'd guess that they had a poor acclimation or had a problem in transport before you got them.

Where did you get them? Were they healthy looking before you put them in your tank? How did you acclimate them?

Do you know your water parameters vs. the water they came from (unlikely, I know)?

I'd test your water just to make sure. It's possible that you have a water parameter off and your other corals are ok because they adapted slowly.

 

[CombatVet]

They went in at the same time as the others. The water tested out good and confirmed it at local store. They looked good at time of purchase and opened up nicely within a few hours of being in the tank and also the day after. On about the third day one head on the torch was gummy and falling apart and the hammer was just not blooming out. Now the hammer is looking gummy and sure to be gone soon. I acclumated over about 30 min. The other heads on the torch look bloomed and nice but looks like one might be following the others.

 

[chrisstie]

When you say "gummy" what do you mean? Like a brown ooze maybe? Could be infection

 

[CombatVet]

I mean the meat of the coral turned like brown gummy, slimmy and slowly disengrated till the head clear and none of the coral was left.

 

[reefbuzz]

I've heard of a brown jelly infection. Never seen it though. Are your xenia pumping? They are great bio-indicators.

 

[CombatVet]

The xenia are not pulsing. They are fully extened though and waving back and forth.

 

[chrisstie]

Brown jelly infection is very much what you describe. I *think* it usually happens when there is damage to a corals flesh and unwanted bacteria etc get in and cause a ruckus (like a paper cut getting infected)

it IS contagious and could explain why other parts are going bad. The most common solution is to isolate the bad from the good so it wont spread to save your other corals.

I'd also do a water change to clear up any stress slime that has been put out.. LPS can be so slimey..

Hope this helps.. you could try to QT if there is anything left of the corals with the brown goo but chances are never good when they are at that stage

 

[CombatVet]

Thanks so much for the feed back. The hammer is completly gone now. The torch still has 4 heads. I hope it doesnt go to the rest of them. I will try the water change. You think 20% is good?