Torch Coral with Dying Heads, Why?

[Gwynhidwy]

I have a green torch coral (Euphyllia glabrescens) that has been in my established 155G for about a year now with a group of sexy anemone shrimp living in it. About three months ago one of its heads seemed to wilt (as in it didn't extend quite as much as the other heads, but retained normal color), and then slowly over a period of about a week, the polyp just disconnected from the skeleton and fell off. It looked as though it was just slowly being peeled away by the current. During this, all of the injured/sick polyp that was still attached continued to extend and none of the other heads were affected.

Now, three months later, it seems to be doing the same thing again. About two days ago one of the heads started to wilt and is now peeling away from one side of the skeleton. I've never seen anything like this and have no idea what is causing it. I can't seen any signs of disease or unusual movement. It does not seem to be affecting any of my other LPS or soft corals, though now I am worried it is only a matter of time.

Tank inhabitants: Kole Tang, Royal Gramma, Maroon Clown, assorted snails, several scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp, three peppermint shrimp, and five sexy anemone shrimp, and about 160 pounds of live rock and all the goodies that come with it.

Tank conditions:
pH: 8.0
SG: 1.024
T: 80F
Ammonia: 0.0
Nitrite: 0.0
Nitrate: 0.0
Ca: 520 (I know its high, working on that)
Alk:7

Any ideas?

 

[werkkrew]

Mine recently did the exact same thing, I have still not found out why.

I heard one person suggest that it might have detached and still been living, as the coral skeleton has to start somewhere, perhaps this is how LPS can make this happen. Although it is highly unlikely, if not impossible for a torch head to successfully attach itself to a rock in a high flow aquarium to start growing again, it is possible this is what it was trying to do.

I am sorry I don't have a better answer but in all my searching for this issue it is all I could come up with.

 

[Gwynhidwy]

Thanks very much for the response! I had not thought that stony corals did that, but as I said, I cannot see any signs of disease, the tissue still looks healthy after it has been sloughed off.

No need to apologize! Plus, if you're right this is actually a GREAT answer because it would mean I don't have some mysterious coral ailment. That's a good thing.

 

[BLKTANG]

You can try to dip the coral in Lougols Iodine to try & save it.It sounds like the coral has an infection if thats the case the dip will help it.

Can you post a picture?Also with your CA so high i would imagine that your MG is through the roof,my frogspawn,& hammer are sensitive to hi,or low MG.I actually use that coral as a visual test of my parameters,becides testing of course.

 

[sk8rreefgeek]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11936589#post11936589 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BLKTANG
You can try to dip the coral in Lougols Iodine to try & save it.

that stuff is a lil pricey (I have a bottle) it requires 1 drop per 20-30 gallons (weekly), and 40 drops (i think) for the dip. Anyone have any "super" results from a dip like that? I'd hate to "waste" 40 drops of that stuff.

Anyways, my green candy-cane (same as torch coral?) seemed to be shrinking when I first got it. I spot fed it mysis/brine and it fattened up like crazy. can't seem to get enough of it

do you spot feed yours?

 

[Gwynhidwy]

Thanks very much for the replies!

Blktang, I take terrible pictures so no promise on the photo. I will get a Mg test kit today and test that. Though, my calcium is a recent problem and was not a problem when this happened three months ago.

sk8rreefgeek, candy cane corals are Caulastrea furcata, so not the same, but I do have some and like them a lot. I do target feed my corals cyclopeeze and mysis, but it hasn't seem to have helped this problem.

 

[sk8rreefgeek]

oops, I was thinking of a Trumpet Coral being the same.

that sucks tho, hope it pulls thru