New Open Brain Tissue Recession - no aparent cause

[scolley]

I got a beautiful Blue and Red open brain from Divers Den a little over a week ago. I temp acclimated it, dipped in in Coral Rx for 5 minutes, and placed in the tank right next to two other open brains that were (and still are) the picture of LPS health and happiness. On the second day I had it, I saw tissue recession in two small spots. And while it is not what I would call bad, it has progressed a little. And it is not inflating. Never has. Hard as a rock.

What would cause this? Trouble in shipping? I got another open brain in that same shipment, which is doing fine. I'd like to see more inflation. But relatively speaking it looks ok.

I cannot believe it's flow or light, because it's in the middle of other healthy, happy open brains.

My water parameters should be OK, because if they were messed up, my other LPS should be upset. And I've got more than 40 SPS colonies, and they are all happy. Nice PE. But here goes anyway...

Temp - 78.2 degrees F (swings 0.5 degrees)
pH - 8.46 (ranges 8.38-8.48)
salinity - unknown. Have not measured in ages. But target 1.0255 for all new water
alk - 8.9, was 7.7 when the coral went in. is creeping up
cal - 400 when I got the coral, dipped down to 365 before I found a tube that fell out of the dosing jug, slowly back up to the current 395
mg - 1320
NO3 - unknown. Have not measured in ages due to it always being 0.1 or undetectable
PO4 - unknown. Have not tested in a while, but for many moons has been in the 0.02 - 0.04 range.
​

Any help or advice would be much appreciated. I'm all ears.

Thanks.

 

[scolley]

Here's a couple of pics. The brain in question is the blue/red one. The tissue recession is in two spots, both top right corner.

Sorry about the color. That's the way the iPhone saw it. It's really much more daylight like to the human eye. Here's an overhead.

And here's front on. You can see that there's nothing really near that could sting that corner. That Duncan looks close. But it's several inches away. Don't think that was it...

 

[scolley]

Bump. No one can offer an explanation?

I'd love to know if this is a problem that I need to worry about? If I need to pull the offending coral from my tank before it spreads.

Thanks.

 

[Rockster2599]

Well its not the same texture as the others because they are Trachys and the other isnt- it may be a symphyllia? Symphyllias arent as fleshy.
As to why its receding I dont know and TBH I doubt you will get a straight answer, Im experiencing something very similar:-

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2296523

The good news is that if you are experiencing the same as me, then it wont spread, you will just lose the affected piece. If you do get an answer could you let me know please:sad2:

 

[scolley]

Well its not the same texture as the others because they are Trachys and the other isnt- it may be a symphyllia? Symphyllias arent as fleshy.
As to why its receding I dont know and TBH I doubt you will get a straight answer, Im experiencing something very similar:-

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2296523

The good news is that if you are experiencing the same as me, then it wont spread, you will just lose the affected piece. If you do get an answer could you let me know please:sad2:

Indeed - you are correct. It is a Symphyllia. But I did not know they weren't as fleshy. I had one previously (injured in a tank move, and got brown jelly) that when it was healthy, seemed to inflate. Not a lot, but I thought it expanded a bit.

Good to know that it won't spread! Thank you. Assuming it's that same thing that's bothering yours...

And if I get a good answer, I'll definitely let you know. Thanks.

 

[Rockster2599]

Indeed - you are correct. It is a Symphyllia. But I did not know they weren't as fleshy. I had one previously (injured in a tank move, and got brown jelly) that when it was healthy, seemed to inflate. Not a lot, but I thought it expanded a bit.

I think Symphyllias are a mixed bag some being more fleshy than others but the one pictured looks like a less fleshy variety. My wilsoni is all flesh

 

[scolley]

I think Symphyllias are a mixed bag some being more fleshy than others but the one pictured looks like a less fleshy variety.

Cool. So I'll stress about the tissue recession, not about the fact that if feels like a rock.

But it IS one beautifully colored rock.

 

[scolley]

It's spreading. Not only is it slowly growing at the original locations... it's no on a spot on the opposite side of the coral. Do I need to be panicking? Removing it from my tank? Or might some type of dip slow this down?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Rockster2599]

IME its a goner so you may as well try any measures you can, i.e. dipping.
I dont think you need to remove it, ive just not found anything that will help, only slow progress.

 

[scolley]

Thanks Rockster. Diver's Den has extended my period for a return. So knowing that it won't spread, I'm leaving it as is - undipped - until they have a chance to research the problem, as they said they would. It was NOT an inexpensive coral. So if they say "Dip", I'm dipping. Or visa versa.

Thanks for the feedback. It's watch and wait now, and wait for direction from DD.

 

[Rockster2599]

Thanks Rockster. Diver's Den has extended my period for a return. So knowing that it won't spread, I'm leaving it as is - undipped - until they have a chance to research the problem, as they said they would. It was NOT an inexpensive coral. So if they say "Dip", I'm dipping. Or visa versa.

Thanks for the feedback. It's watch and wait now, and wait for direction from DD.

Post up what they say, I'm interested:thumbsup:

 

[Scutterborn]

Nothing to add in regards to the request for advice but I feel I must congratulate you on an un mentioned beauty I spied. That's a stunning Lithophyllon undulatum.


-Ben-

 

[scolley]

That's a stunning Lithophyllon undulatum.

Thanks Ben! Good catch.

Yes, that's one of my favorite corals. I got that when I started reefing 4-5 years ago, and it's been with me through thick and thin. Actually that's just a small piece of the original. It got too big for my nano and I had to frag it. In fact I've got a few frags on a frag rack now, and will be distributing them local reefers - shipping is just crazy expensive, so I'm just giving them out locally.

But that IMO is one tough, awesome coral. Thanks for the kind words!

 

[Scutterborn]

Groovy! Don't sweat the distribution. I picked up my lil guy at Macna 2012. He's doubled in size since but still a lil guy! Here's an old pic.

-Ben-

 

[scolley]

Got an email from Drs. F&S recommending that I dip the coral in Revive. That plus cautioning me that my water has to be pristine.

Well, I've got Revive and did the dip. Lot's more tissue loss around the edges evident. And as for the water... ask my SPS. It's polyp extension all around. And all my other open brain type LPS (many next to the sick one) are all big and puffy. I don't even need to test to know the water is good. One look at the tank tells the story.

 

[Rockster2599]

You'll probably have to do the tests to prove it as they will always try to put it down to water quality.
I wont buy another symphyllia (unless its a wilsoni which are fleshier) as some just shred over several months.

 

[scolley]

Good to know about the symphyllia - if a little late for me. But thanks for sharing that, I believe I'll follow your lead.

I don't mind doing the testing. I'm a nut for testing - I do it very regularly. It's how things STAY stable. I guess my point is that I could lie to Drs. F&S about my numbers - they'd never know. But if I take a picture of the tank - with their corals in it - and they can see the PE and inflated LPS... that's something I can't lie about AND demonstrates suitable water.

 

[Rockster2599]

Good to know about the symphyllia - if a little late for me. But thanks for sharing that, I believe I'll follow your lead.

I don't mind doing the testing. I'm a nut for testing - I do it very regularly. It's how things STAY stable. I guess my point is that I could lie to Drs. F&S about my numbers - they'd never know. But if I take a picture of the tank - with their corals in it - and they can see the PE and inflated LPS... that's something I can't lie about AND demonstrates suitable water.

True, I hope it picks up after the revive dips. CoralRX dips didn't work for me.

 

[scolley]

The Revive dip has not stopped the progression. And I did do the testing, just to make Dr. F&S happy. Results? N03 present, but lower than the Salifert kit's lowest reading of 0.2 PPM. So something less than that. And PO4? 0.04 PPM according to my Hanna checker. Rockin' good numbers. (I knew they were good... )

With my extended warranty time almost up, I contacted Dr. Foster and Smith. And they agreed to credit my charge card for the amount of the coral. I didn't pay shipping on that order, so that did not apply.

So I'm good financially. I'm just bummed about the coral. I've seen no evidence of it spreading to other LPS, but I don't want a sick coral in my tank either. So I'll be giving it away.

Thanks for the help, and great info/advice Rockster.

 

[Rockster2599]

Sorry I couldn't offer better advice, yours followed exactly the same path as mine.
I just wish we coul find a reason or a treatment:sad1: