Tissue recession on bubble coral

[jgsteven]

Hello,

I have had the pictured bubble in my tank for 6 months. Over the last two weeks the tissue on one side of the coral has begun to rapidly recede! And seems to be getting worse. Can anyone suggest causes, and ways to help the coral? Other tank members (chalice, hammer, open brain) are doin well. Ammonia nitrate and nitrite at zero, although I have some hair algae so there is some being produced and used by the algae.

 

[seapug]

Most likely a bacterial infection caused by an injury. Bubble corals are very prone to it. Sometimes the infection will stop as fast as it starts and the coral will regrow over the damaged area, other times the whole colony will succumb. Unfortunately, bubble corals are extremely delicate so they are difficult to frag or treat with iodine dips as can be done with hardier species. For now, you might at least try to carefully brush away any infected areas of tissue to stop the spread.