Why is the old skeleton of my torch breaking down?

[BeachVacationer]

I've had my torch for a couple years and it's doing well but lately I've noticed the old skeleton is breaking down. Is this a sign of something wrong? Sooner or later it's going to break completely and I'll have to glue it on a new plug or rockwork. Any theories? It's in a 20 gallon long and I dose alk and calc. I do 5 gallon WC every 2 weeks with IO reef crystal. I don't run a skimmer.

 

[Im14abeer]

Unlikely culprit, but what is your pH at?

 

[Kevin Guthrie]

I've got a 25-year-old Caulastrea; similar skeleton. I suspect the growth "strategy" of the skeleton given its weak points is to eventually break apart under its own weight, thus spreading the coral.

 

[OurCoralReef]

What are your calcium and alkalinity levels

 

[BeachVacationer]

I just have the API testing kits. But according to them, by pH is 8.2, KH is 10 and calcium is 440.

 

[Gorgok]

Water ph and local ph are probably not the same, so it may erode from that if something encrusting it drops local ph...

Also moving water is pretty good at erosion in general, with or without particles (which you may or may not see).

 

[Constantine]

I have the same kind of thing happening to my frogspawn, but I also had my Urchin eating it, so...

 

[OurCoralReef]

Water ph and local ph are probably not the same, so it may erode from that if something encrusting it drops local ph...

Also moving water is pretty good at erosion in general, with or without particles (which you may or may not see).

What is local ph?

 

[OurCoralReef]

I just have the API testing kits. But according to them, by pH is 8.2, KH is 10 and calcium is 440.

That's good
Maybe take a sample to a store to test

 

[Gorgok]

I just mean that if there is some organism growing on the thing excreting (or just trapping) something it may drop (or raise) the ph in the immediate area.

Bacteria converting whatever they eat to co2 on the surface could probably etch away at the skeleton. But because its getting neutralized the ph will not change significantly.

 

[WVfishguy]

Bump

 

[dattong]

cut a part of it open you'll see worms tunneling inside of it. It's very common in frogspawn and torches.

 

[BeachVacationer]

cut a part of it open you'll see worms tunneling inside of it. It's very common in frogspawn and torches.

Oh my, worms? Any way to get rid of them?

 

[Fourstars]

That's normal. As long as the coral is expanding and feeding don't worry about it.

 

[dattong]

Oh my, worms? Any way to get rid of them?

It's almost impossible because they tunnel deep inside, but they don't kill your coral though.