Open brain problems

[sethd12]

I have a red and green open brain that is starting to look poor in areas. He has full color in 98% of his tissue but that 2% started to get pale and as of today I see white Skeleton. He fully inflates during the day. I've kept LPS for the last 10 years and never an issue. I would rarely test, etc and they have always thrived. I have recently started testing routinely and water changes to be able to keep sps which are now thriving. This coral was purchased about 3 weeks ago. Would you guys recommend I dip him? Also if so in what?

Thanks

Will try to post a picture shortly.

 

[Phildirt]

Not sure about dipping but I have read tissue can recede from these if they haven't been fed.

 

[deaddat]

This might be a stretch, but mixed reefs don't occur in nature. I have seen plenty of mixed reefs in aquariums...Maybe you're just catering too much to the SPS and depleting the nutrient rich water that the LPS needs.

 

[cloak]

You could try dipping the coral in Revive or something similar and see how it does. Also, if your sps corals are doing really well, then perhaps the brain corals are receiving too much light. Maybe try moving them to an area where the lighting is somewhat subdued for a week or so and see how they respond. GL.

 

[Reef Frog]

Could you post some more details about your aquarium and where this coral is located & what it's immediate environment?

Light levels, flow, big 3 test levels, nutrient levels, etc.

Have you ruled out stings from near by LPS or a pest, parasites or a bite from a fish or invert? Is the recession in the middle of the colony or at the margins, where tissue might be touching the sand bed?

 

[sethd12]

I don't think that it is too much light as the 150 cube is lit by one kessil 360 tuna blue pendant. Nutrient levels are relatively low as I only have 6 fish, with all of them under 3" except for a yellow tang. I have him places in the sand bed about 3-4" away from my plate coral. I tried to feed him tonight and nothing. My parameters are as follows. Calcium: 420, alk:9, nitrate:5, magnesium:1350. Something I'm just thinking about is maybe not enough light? I haven't added any corals in the last 7-8 months and the tank has just been on cruise control.

 

[sethd12]

Here it is from last night. It has receded a little bit more since then.

 

[sethd12]

I dipped him this morning and so far he hasn't inflated much at all today and seems to have receded a little more. I also moved him to a little less flow and not so much light. Any other recommendations?

 

[Tankssy]

Have you checked around its base to make sure it doesn't have anything happening there?

 

[sethd12]

Everything looks normal from what I can see.

 

[Reef Frog]

You might find some helpful ideas on the "Rescue Coral" thread on this forum. People have reversed tissue recession before. I did it once on an ailing Scoly by elevating it off the sand bed by an inch, and spot treating exposed skeleton with peroxide (keep it off the tissue) and some Seachem iodine dip. Then I fed it well. 100% recovery & new tissue grew over the patch of bare skeleton.

I have a theory that sometimes sand somehow provides a vector for unknown problems if LPS tissue is touching or very close to the sand. It may also have something to do with low flow in that particular area of your tank. Flow around coral tissue is important as it removes old cellular material & allows new material to replace it. Maybe try hiking it up a bit off the sand with a flat piece of LR or similar. GL.

 

[sushistevek4]

more light leave him on the bottom of the tank but make sure he's getting direct light