Sun Coral - Help?

[gridley]

About a month ago I bought a SUn Coral from a LFS - about two weeks ago I noticed a white encrusting type of growth on it. The other day I noticed that on the backside there was more growth - a thinner growth but I think it is the same.

The first picture shows the three areas that I first saw.

The second picture shows the growth that I just noticed.

Any suggestions or recommendations are appreciated. Thank you very much

 

[stunreefer]

The coral you have is likely Cladopsammia/Dendrophllia gracilis.

In the first picture it appears the white growth you mention might be a sponge. Is it hard or soft?

The second picture looks to me like tissue recession. I have also experienced a bit of tissue recession here and there on the same species, although it seems to subside after a couple months of heavy feeding, and then starts to grow back (extremely slowly). I have noticed new polyps forming through budding even when a colony still shows some recession. This species seems to appreciate higher flow than most would think... one colony I have was left in lower flow and exhibited more tissue recession than others.

 

[gridley]

I really appreciate this help. I will place the coral in an area of higher flow.

I find it difficult to describe the hardness of white areas - they are not hard like a coral skelaton, but not really soft either. Does that make sense?? I was told by one person that a sponge is really senstive to being out of water - that if I took it out of water even for a very short time that it will be damaged - I tried that and it has not seemd to have any effect.

 

[stunreefer]

I find it difficult to describe the hardness of white areas - they are not hard like a coral skelaton, but not really soft either. Does that make sense??

Unfortunately, not really :lol:

Sponge would certainly be relatively soft, and skeleton would feel like a rock. There's a myriad of other potential things it could be, frankly.

I was told by one person that a sponge is really senstive to being out of water - that if I took it out of water even for a very short time that it will be damaged - I tried that and it has not seemd to have any effect.

Removing from water might damage the sponge, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend that. If it is sponge you could manually remove most of it by tearing it off.

I would focus on getting the coral to readily feed, especially if it is tissue recession (in the second picture). Many sponges will not adapt to aquarium life and die off on their own over time due to lack of food.

 

[gridley]

Unfortunately, not really :lol:

Sponge would certainly be relatively soft, and skeleton would feel like a rock. There's a myriad of other potential things it could be, frankly.

Removing from water might damage the sponge, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend that. If it is sponge you could manually remove most of it by tearing it off.

I would focus on getting the coral to readily feed, especially if it is tissue recession (in the second picture). Many sponges will not adapt to aquarium life and die off on their own over time due to lack of food.

Thanks for your help. It does seem that the white areas in the second picture is tissue recession and I will focus on feeding the coral.

I'll try to better describe the growth in the first picture. It does not have a soft fleshy feel to it - it is reasonably firm and I can easily make a mark on it using my thumbnail. Not having any expreince with sponges, does that would like a sponge??

I have had some local help with how to feed the sun coral - but are you able to point me towards a good resource for feeding?

Thanks for your help.

 

[stunreefer]

I'll try to better describe the growth in the first picture. It does not have a soft fleshy feel to it - it is reasonably firm and I can easily make a mark on it using my thumbnail. Not having any expreince with sponges, does that would like a sponge??

Could be a sponge, could be a tunicate, etc. Hitchhikers like these fascinate me, assuming they're not invasive, just keep an eye on it.

I have had some local help with how to feed the sun coral - but are you able to point me towards a good resource for feeding?

Here's some good info. I can tell you these guys are significantly more difficult to condition than what most people label as "sun coral", Tubastrea. Keep at it and they'll start to show polyp extension over time. Minimum of 2-3 months until they will show full polyp extension, IME.

 

[gridley]

Thank you VERY much for your help. I have begun to read the thread that you recommended - excellent! I have been in this hobby for under a year (after about 40 years of having gold fish, tropical fresh water, and a pond) and I am continually amazed at the beauty and diversity of marine life - a fascinating hobby. Thanks for your help.

 

[stunreefer]

No problem, George, always glad to help people keep these gorgeous corals thriving.

As mentioned don't be distraught over not seeing much polyp extension for weeks, or months even. This species in particular is very slow to condition to our feeding regimens and tank parameters, although IME, they will over time

 

[gridley]

Just an update - Austin, thank you very much for your help. I have been do the Tupperware Feeding for three mornings now and ths picture is from this evening in the tank - it is already looking much better. :dance:

 

[stunreefer]

Yowzers, look at that polyp extension, awesome! :thumbsup:

 

[unkel j]

Removing from water might damage the sponge, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend that.

I am just cuious why wouldn't you recomend that? It seems like a good idea to me.

 

[stunreefer]

I am just cuious why wouldn't you recomend that? It seems like a good idea to me.

IME most sponges that come in on non-photosynthetic coral die off over time due to lack of food, nutrients, shipping, etc. Holding the coral up out of water strictly to cause sponge die-off will certainly stress the coral out. If the sponges die off without doing that, why stress the coral more?