Torch unhealthy/dying

[MrClam]

Looking for some advice on how to save my torch. It has been in the tank doing well for about 6 months. Recently it started retracting constantly and one of the heads has died. The only thing I can think that I did around the time of the change was to change the carbon/gfo in my reactor and do a 10% WC. Any ideas are appreciated.

Parameters:

Temp: 78.5-80
Alk: 9.3
Ca: 420
Mg: 1230 as of a few weeks ago
Salinity: 1.026
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10
PO4: .04

 

[MrClam]

Any ideas?

 

[chrisfont23]

I have the same problem.

 

[akitareefer]

If params are on(pH?) I would blame bugs/parasite. Check everything over and do a dip, I like to use coral RX. It might have also gotten bumped or irritated and got an infection. I've seen torches go in a day.

 

[Ian]

if you have an LPS tank there's usually no reason to run GFO. My guess is that you stripped the water too clean and it couldn't take the lack of nutrients and the higher light penetration.

There's no reason to keep your po4 that low unless you're growing acropora...

IMO, of course...

 

[MrClam]

What would you say is a reasonable phosphate and nitrate level for lps to survive? I feel like I have seen ppl with mixed reef tanks with nutrients low enough to keep sps with healthy lps.

 

[kurt_n]

Got any crabs in the tank? If so, one could've dragged itself up and over the torch, damaging a head in the process. They seem easily damaged with stuff like that.

I don't think your water is too clean. I primarily keep LPS and my paramaters have always been cleaner than that, and everything is doing just fine. Had a torch that eventually outgrew my tank, so I know they can do well in clean water!

Did you rinse the carbon/GFO really really REALLY good before you put it in? Maybe little particles in the water column are irritating it?

 

[SOCOMMike]

Is it discharging a brown goo? I know this is a simple question that many probably ask, but sometimes the best answer is simple. If so, it's probably infected.

 

[sunny d polyp]

Brown goo...

Brown goo...

I've had the same problem in the past and no good idea what causes it but if you don't either cut the effected head off and dip with Lugols it keeps spreading. From what I've been told it's a bacterial infection and probably no fault of yours. Cut and dip, my suggestion.

Jerry S.

 

[kurt_n]

Brown jelly disease... yes, it's a bacterial infection. Spreads easily. You want to make sure you contain the brown goo while removing the coral from your tank. Turn off all powerheads/pumps, put a ziploc baggie over the infected head. Cut off infected head (underwater with coral in baggie) and zip it up in the baggie. Remove and toss.