Torch / Brown String

[agranoff]

My torch coral did something I've never seen before. It closed up a lot and a brown string was hanging out of it. It eventually broke off and my Royal Gramma looked like it ate a piece"¦ See the picture. Is this a piece dying off or poop or something else? I am curious and want to make sure I shouldn't be concerned.

Thanks.

 

[MechEng99]

It's probably poo, but it could be the coral expelling zooxanthallae if it is stressed.

 

[agranoff]

What could cause it to stress? My water parameters seems stable and at recommended levels. I have had it for about a month and haven't changed much in the tank. Same lighting etc… It was fine until today. Its now all closed up which I haven't see before. It usually closes up a little at night but not completely like this. All my other corals look to be doing fine.

 

[Jerzey]

very interesting my torch did that about 2 weeks ago and i didn't think nothing of it and few days ago i noticed some polyps withering away on the center of the head like it's going bold....i def know now i stressed her out because i had a alk swing about that time to....to answer your question tho anything can stress them from swings in ca, alk, mg, temp, light, salinity, and any parameters in general and it goes for all corals really just some corals are more tolerable then others.

 

[Jerzey]

just narrow it down to any drastic changes that may of happened to the system you either did or noticed the past week or so

 

[agranoff]

The only things I can think of:

1. I tested 1400 mg, 9.1 dkh alk and 390 CA last night. So I dosed a small amount of Red Sea Foundation A Calcium to raise it.

2. I also target fed the corals on Tuesday with some Reef Chili. I put some on the torch using a turkey baster but it was a very small amount.

So it probably was one of these two things. I am planning on a water change on Saturday and I will also retest everything this weekend. I am still trying to figure out how much to dose based on my tanks demands etc...

 

[Jerzey]

i would rule out when you spot fed as i spot feed few times a week myself and been doing so for ever and never once got any negative feedback from her...what did you raise your ca up to that night? any spike in ca over 20 ppm can run the possibility of shock

 

[agranoff]

If my testing and math are correct, I went from 390 to 410 ppm. I try not to raise anything too drastically.

 

[agranoff]

I just checked on it, it looks like it might be opening back up some. Hopefully its ok.

 

[Jerzey]

your way good i wouldn't think to much of it then unless you start to see some polyps melting i wouldn't worry and even then it'll bounce back when things settle. mine is still extending normally except she look like she's going bald slightly lol.... good luck

 

[agranoff]

Thanks for your feedback on this!