Symphyllia tissue loss, Scolly, elegance receeding

[serbusfish]

I have had a Scolly and Elegance coral for a long time, the Elegance for close to 2 years, and the Scolly for over a year. Recently the Scolly has started receding, no idea why, and this week the Elegance has also receded slightly, and isnt puffing up as large as it used to. Its tentacles which where pink are more pale too.

Also, 2 weeks ago I added a large Symphyllia and today noticed it had a small amount of skeleton showing. I dont know if something has eaten it (I have a Coral Beauty Angelfish) or if its being affected the same as the Scolly and Elegance.

What I need to do is find out why this is happening. Here are my current parameters:

Calcium: 380
KH: 8.5dkh
Mag: 1300
Nitrate: 25
SG: 1.026
Phosphate: 0.075

I'm currently dosing NoPox to lower the nitrates, i've just added a calcium supplement to get it up to 420, but I guess I need to replace my phosphate remover... In any case can any of these parameters cause the symptoms i'm experiencing? If not does anyone know what my problem could be?

 

[homer1475]

I had pretty much the same problem a couple months back with the exception I lost all my acans too.

Ended up being a bad batch of IORC. High lithium and sulfur levels. Threw out the bucket of salt, switched to plain IO, did about a 90% WC, and everything that was slowly dying is recovering nicely now.

 

[A sea K]

Your already addressing the obvious issues. However your water looks to be very cloudy in the pic which could be an indicator of a mini cycle, have you checked ammonia and nitrite?

 

[serbusfish]

I had pretty much the same problem a couple months back with the exception I lost all my acans too.

Ended up being a bad batch of IORC. High lithium and sulfur levels. Threw out the bucket of salt, switched to plain IO, did about a 90% WC, and everything that was slowly dying is recovering nicely now.

I have been using both shop bought saltwater and my own mixed water, so I think it's unlikely its the saltwater in my case (myself and the LFS use D-D H2Ocean salt).

Your already addressing the obvious issues. However your water looks to be very cloudy in the pic which could be an indicator of a mini cycle, have you checked ammonia and nitrite?

That is just the flash from the camera causing that, the water is crystal clear in real life.

 

[serbusfish]

bump

 

[ReeferNoob4ever]

Yes, increase calcium, decrease nitrates. Have you replaced your bulbs ever?.

 

[serbusfish]

Yes, increase calcium, decrease nitrates. Have you replaced your bulbs ever?.

I'm running LED's, so no. Ive had the unit for around a year and a half.

 

[serbusfish]

Also can I just ask, the snail in the first pic, are they considered reef safe or pests? I've got quite a few of these.

 

[serbusfish]

bump

 

[ncaldwell]

Did you start dosing nopox before this happened of after?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[serbusfish]

Did you start dosing nopox before this happened of after?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

The Scolly had already receded slightly before I started dosing. The Elegance has only shown symptoms in the last week or so, and the Symphillia was only added just over a week ago. I have other LPS such as a Lobo, Trachy, Duncans, and a second Symphillia that are all unaffected (both Symphillia's where added at the same time).

 

[serbusfish]

The Elegance now looks beyond help, it has receded even more, half of the coral wont expand, the other half is out a little bit but not much. Once an LPS starts receding is there any way to save them?

 

[serbusfish]

Update: Elegance has had it. Half of its flesh has detached from the skeleton and is wafting around in the current. I'm so gutted about this, had this coral for over 2 years and to lose it and not know the cause is even worse.

I dipped the Symphillia and i'm hopeful this has stopped the tissue loss.