Nursing a Bubble Coral in distress

[fishchef]

Any suggestions about returning a bubble back to health? I can answer questions as they're asked. Thanks in advance.

 

[golferbud101691]

Check parameters. Coral rx dip. Are there other corals near that could be stinging it? Any angels that could be doing damage?

 

[fishchef]

Its sort of a long story. Our NO3 was almost zero. I stopped using Poly BioMarine filter. Tried Seachem Matrix carbon. Have always used Purigen, still do and have added back Polyfilter. Got rid of the carbon. dKH is 10, CA is 500, Mg is 1500, and pH is 7.8 mid day. PO4 was .05 and I need to check it again. We use GFO. Have had this bubble for a year and the last time we had an issue, about 3 months ago, it responded well to higher nitrates and some fresh T 5's
No stinging corals near. Hoping the Poly does its thing. This bubble has been tough.

 

[fishchef]

So am I on the right track? No suggestions out there? The bubble is in moderate flow and since I slowly added new bulbs and put the Polyfilter back in, its showing a few bubbles. It has a long way to go and its amazing how fast this all happened! Some skeleton has been exposed, but since its so large, much is still intact. It was noted that since the Polyfilter is so dense it picks up very fine GFO which may be irritating it. The GFO barely tumbles, when I rinse the Poly it its very brown.

 

[homer1475]

Very well could be GFO particles floating around. I know fine GFO particulate can really irritate some corals. I had the same issue with my gorgonian, now I make sure to rinse the GFO out real well before putting in my reactor.

 

[golferbud101691]

Speaking from my experience, I mix brs carbon and gfo together. It sounds like you are on the right track with the bulbs though since it responded rather quickly. Your ph seems a little low though. If that's what it has always been I wouldn't be too concerned. I would double check the dt and make sure nothing died that could be populating nitrates. If there is, they wI'll hop back up after a water change. I've tried the seachem products and I keep going back to brs carbon. It's so much cheaper and simple.

 

[Reef Frog]

I've found bubbles to be some of the hungriest corals out there. Will it eat? That should help. Also a variable profile current like you can get with a Vortech or similar pump seems to be best for me.

 

[fishchef]

So am I on the right track? No suggestions out there? The bubble is in moderate flow and since I slowly added new bulbs and put the Polyfilter back in, its showing a few bubbles. It has a long way to go and its amazing how fast this all happened! Some skeleton has been exposed, but since its so large, much is still intact. It was noted that since the Polyfilter is so dense it picks up very fine GFO which may be irritating it. The GFO barely tumbles, when I rinse the Poly it its very brown.

This coral looks so bad. Its amazing how fast this happened. There are areas of skeletal exposure, but actually when the lights are low or off it looks like its going to make it. There's still about 75 percent coverage, just wish it would get more bubbles. It gets some throughout the day.