Are my corals dying? Torch splitting and receding + mesenterial filaments

[dr_vinnie_boombatz]

Everything looks great last week but slowly I'm seeing more and more external mesenterial filaments (esp on my chalice and now my Acan) and my torch seems to be receding

Any suggestions? Its confusing because I'm seeing growth too.

I'm running carbon and floss only. Planning to do a big WC tomorrow (5g out of 13.5g). I do weekly water changes of 3g. No fish. Have been slowly raising my lights (1% per day for the last 27 days, was at 77 but went to 70 just now). Had GKM UV but took it out too just now. My two acan echinata seem to be doing great.

Nitrate: 3.1
ALK: 7.9
Phosphate: 0.10
Temp: 77-78
Salinity: 1.026
Setup: 1/1/23

Phosphate and nitrate had been trending down and phosphate read 0 three days ago, started feeding more and it went back up

Thank you

Mesenterial filaments on my chalice (I see ALOT, all over the body, when lights out)

Mesenterial filaments on my Acan (left head)

 

[2020 Worst Year]

i think they want a feeding

 

[dr_vinnie_boombatz]

i think they want a feeding

I've been feeding very heavy; I spot fed Reef-Roids yesterday and broadcast feed frozen today.

 

[dr_vinnie_boombatz]

This was taken 9/23/23 [38 days ago]. I'm assuming the recession and less extension is fine due to splitting?

 

[2020 Worst Year]

This was taken 9/23/23 [38 days ago]. I'm assuming the recession and less extension is fine due to splitting? Its been growing the second head for what seems like months

yea that will do it your corals look fine imo nothing to worry about

 

[dr_vinnie_boombatz]

Shameless bump.. seems to be getting worse. Did a big WC this morning. Anything I'm missing??

I use an Aquaticlife 4 stage RODI bought in July. My TDS shows as 0.

I've never tested calcium or magnesium, figure my WCs would keep those stable (I only have five coral...)

Only other "big" change is I had one clownfish but moved it to a QT tank it a week ago. Would going fishless cause this?

Snails are behaving fine

I have noticed my algae (not sure what type) seems to be dying back and last week noticed black dots. From another thread it seem to be ostracods (have microscope coming today to confirm)

 

[Sticker shock]

I’m really not seeing much of anything to worry about in your pics. Can you show something specific that is concerning you?
Do you still have measurable nitrate and phosphate?

 

[dr_vinnie_boombatz]

I do, yesterday Hanna testers showed 0.10 and 3.1 nitrates. I had both trending down for a few weeks and hit 0 phosphates a few days ago so increased feeding. It shot back up to 0.10

I'm still learning so maybe this is fine... My torch looked like this a week or two ago

But now looks like this with less extension [picture as of this morning]:

My acan and chalice have their insides coming out more frequently. The chalice almost always now

Thank you

 

[Sticker shock]

Torch could definitely be caused by splitting, but I'm not sure what is going on with the acan and chalice. Does it return to normal after displaying like that? Or are the mouths always like that. They look pretty healthy otherwise, but sometimes, a newer tank just doesn't have the stability a coral needs to thrive and there isn't much you can do about that. How long has the tank been running?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Is there a power head in the tank? Any flow? Seems to be a lot of cyano and different algae. How old is the tank?

 

[Matt Bravo]

Okay, so they don’t look horrible but you really do need to pick up kits for calc and mag. Just get salifert ones. Don’t forget alkalinity which is arguably the one you should be watching for the most

 

[Sticker shock]

It's also possible that the chalice is trying to fight away that algae/cyano. I haven't kept a chalice but have read this is common for them in a fight for space.

 

[dr_vinnie_boombatz]

Is there a power head in the tank? Any flow? Seems to be a lot of cyano and different algae. How old is the tank?

Yes, I have a Nero 3 @20/35 and IM nano return pump on pulse. Tank is the Fluval 13.5g. I posted another thread trying to find out what type of algae I have with microscope pictures.

I setup the tank at the start of the year and replaced some rock three months ago. It is bare bottom.

 

[dr_vinnie_boombatz]

Nitrates tested 2 days @2.7ppm and phosphate @0.01ppm. Does not move into water column. Brown and stringy in color, blows off in pieces with turkey blaster. Has bubbles. Astraea snails love eating it.

I have noticed a good improvement in the algae since I did the bigger WC. I added the UV back and it does seem to growing slower. The snails have been beating it back.

 

[dr_vinnie_boombatz]

Torch could definitely be caused by splitting, but I'm not sure what is going on with the acan and chalice. Does it return to normal after displaying like that? Or are the mouths always like that. They look pretty healthy otherwise, but sometimes, a newer tank just doesn't have the stability a coral needs to thrive and there isn't much you can do about that. How long has the tank been running?

This morning the distinction between the two torch heads it way more pronounced. It looks more and more like two separate round heads, like an 8 from the top and sides.

The chalice seems to always have the filaments out, even with lights out. I called the vendor to ask and they suggested it could be from Reef Roids burn. I was spot feeding with flow off for 30+ mins. Wondering if it could be the algae...

The one Acan head still looks like that, he has 3 small heads under him. The other two larger heads only have 1 small head under. Maybe it's throwing its guts out to make room since it slops down on the plug and is lowest That Acan has 5 new heads growing.

THANK YOU again all for helping!

 

[Sticker shock]

Scope pics look like dinos. I’m sure someone else can chime in with a better ID than what I can give. Those could certainly aggravate corals depending how bad they get.

 

[dr_vinnie_boombatz]

Looks like I might lose the chalice, its turning white in spots across its body even in lower light area (PAR around 100)

Everything else seems to have bounced back

 

[Lavey29]

With bottomed out nutrients your corals are starving to death and you open the door for that cyano to be replaced by dinos.

 

[dr_vinnie_boombatz]

With bottomed out nutrients your corals are starving to death and you open the door for that cyano to be replaced by dinos.

I've been spot feeding, wouldn't that help?

Nitrates 1.40
Phosphate 0.08
Alkalinity 8.6
Calcium 425
Magnesium 1650

 

[Lavey29]

I've been spot feeding, wouldn't that help?

Nitrates 1.40
Phosphate 0.08
Alkalinity 8.6
Calcium 425
Magnesium 1650

It can to some degree but if you are trying to sustain LPS corals they prefer dirty water. Nitrates 10 to 15 and phosphate. 05 to .1. Your magnesium is elevated also which may harm inverts. Keep it 1400 to 1500.