Saving My Torch Coral

[kleach]

Hi everyone,

I've had my Golden Torch coral for almost 2 years now, but not its not looking so hot. I also have 8-10 heads of frogspawn coral, and a bunch of other LPS.

Although my levels have remained relatively constant (alk around 9, ca around 500, mg around 1400) things haven't been going so well. I think its because of my nitrates which were elevated at about 15-20 for a while there. I'm not living at the house where the tank is, so its a little more difficult to constantly check the levels.

I've completely lost my lobo and 2 heads of hammer coral which used to be great. Out of the frogspawn I've lost about 5 heads and the others don't open like the used to. On my acans I've lost some random heads but the remaining parts of the colonies seem stable.

What worries me the most now is the golden torch. It really hasn't been opening like it used to, and now it looks like the flesh is starting to retreat into the center exposing the skeleton on the edges.....just like what happened when I lost my lobo. Is there anyone who has any tips in saving the coral, or is it pretty much past the point of no return?

I did a 20% water change on the 26th, and am doing another 20% tomorrow. I think the last water change before christmas was a week or so before. I'm trying to do more now that I've seen my tank start taking a turn for the worse.

Let me know if you have any ideas...I'm finally starting to understand why people leave this hobby lol.

 

[Usernam Invalid]

Check your salinity first try to move the torch to a lower flow and light if possible. Target feed with any defrosted food if not available food pellets will work to. If a pest or disease is suspected dip in iodine (searched reef dip or luguols)

 

[mguili1947]

I had one that did the same and the flesh kept shedding ,I basted him in my tank with 20 mils of peroxide and it stopped the flesh from going any further did it for 3 days it came back that was in August

 

[kleach]

so you just introduced the peroxide into the tank? Didn't pull the coral out?

If you could just tell me exactly what you did, I might give it a shot.....then again, my water volume of 50 gallons might be much less than the tank you did it in.

Thanks!

 

[quagmire]

lugol's solution bath several times in one day, cross fingers.
You might want to dip the other effected corals too.

 

[kleach]

Thanks John. Dipped it in Lugols, but it looks like it's a lost cause at this point. The coral is receded almost completely into the middle and shriveling up. I'm so Annoyed that it got to this point and I didn't act sooner....

 

[quagmire]

Don't beat yourself up over it bud. Give your tank some tlc and time. It often takes months for coral to recover. Meanwhile check that all your equipment is functioning properly. Heaters, dosers, light timers, stray voltage, anything automated.

 

[mguili1947]

Peroxide

Peroxide

I ml per 10 gallons Daily,I basted my torch wth it right in the tank you could see the dead flesh peel off.It worked for me my torch is doing great

 

[oh207]

I don't have any advice on how to save coral, but I can add that I had a similar experience where I lost a gold torch and a huge hammer colony after I started to dose RedSea NoPox. Its essentially similar to Vodka dosing. I just kept dosing and stripped my tank of nutients too quickly and I lost a few costly corals.

Good luck.