What's up with my Garf Bonsai

[Dummyforclownfi]

My hard bonsai has recently started to look as if the "zooxanthallae is peeling off" if that makes any sense. It still extends its polyps and is still encrusting itself to the rocks but nonetheless, doesn't seem to be at its happiest moments. Can anyone help me ID as to why it might be upset? I have had it for about 4 weeks.
Ca: 440ppm
dKH: 8.3
Mg: 1300
PO4: .06 ppm
Lighting: RB P48
Flow: 2 wp25 on else mode
Tank size: 75 gallons
I have the piece located about 6 inches above the 1/2" sandbed. It receives plenty of flow. The flow isn't too direct but I do have the jebao pointed directly above it so it does get a good amount of flow but nowhere near getting blasted. From what I have seen based on others experience here on reef central in regards to the hard bonsai, this coral will color up the best towards the bottom of a heavy lit tank. Any suggestions?

 

[Dummyforclownfi]

I guess posting a pic would help huh?

 

[rovster]

Looks like there are red bugs on it. Dip it and see what comes off.

 

[Dummyforclownfi]

Red bugs really? OK I'll dip. Thanks.

 

[Nanighan]

Looks like signs of AEFW bites. check your other acros to confirm.

 

[Dummyforclownfi]

No other acros are affected whatsoever.

 

[ajcanale]

+1 on AEFW

No other acros are affected whatsoever.

This is pretty common as AEFW seem to favor certain acropora species, in particular millepora, secale (likely what yours is), valida, nana.

 

[trueblackpercula]

I really don't want to say this so please don't panic. But the picture you posted looks like AEFW bite marks. Can yo get a better picture ?

 

[Greg11]

agree bites marks
dip,dip,dip
others might be affected

 

[Dummyforclownfi]

Well thanks guys. I did dip as soon as I saw the first post about it. I did a 5 minute coral rx dip and them 2 min fresh water dip. Frag already has PE and color back. I'll keep an eye on it.

 

[Piper27]

Don't dip sps in freshwater. Hopefully it lives, but normally freshwater dips for an extended period will hurt the spa more than help. One coral dip is good enough, there is no need for two dips.

 

[rovster]

I'm just going to add to this thread that it seems that these bonsai's are pest magnets. In my tank they were the first to show signs of both redbugs and AEFW. My bonsai is also my canary coral. When something is off, the bonsai is the first to show signs of either reduced polyp extension or browning. Go figure!

 

[Dummyforclownfi]

Don't dip sps in freshwater. Hopefully it lives, but normally freshwater dips for an extended period will hurt the spa more than help. One coral dip is good enough, there is no need for two dips.

The second dip was to clear the residue off of the coral itself before placing back into my tank.

 

[jdamon]

The second dip was to clear the residue off of the coral itself before placing back into my tank.

You should be rinsing the dip off in a cup of tank water, not freshwater. Unless what you meant was "fresh" tank water. Fresh water dips work for some fish as a diagnostic tool, but acropora will not like it. Good luck!

 

[firemountain]

Just picked an original GARF Bonsai a few days ago and It's stunning!! Gonna follow along.

 

[Dummyforclownfi]

You should be rinsing the dip off in a cup of tank water, not freshwater. Unless what you meant was "fresh" tank water. Fresh water dips work for some fish as a diagnostic tool, but acropora will not like it. Good luck!

Thanks for the correction. In have been using fresh water for a year now on all my sps. Haven't lost any due to this but it probably causes a much unneeded stress.