Bubble Coral Health

[Sawacoral]

Hey all. I’ve been struggling with my bubble coral for a month or so. I’ve noticed that it’s been receding into itself more than usual and I’ve really tried to play with the flow since I felt like it was too strong before. I feel like I finally got it to a good place, but am noticing some discoloration and darkening on the spines of the skeleton which I feel is algae. I try to clean it off gently with a toothbrush every other day or so, but it seems to be struggling slowly. All my other corals and fish are fine. I would appreciate some advice from someone who has dealt with this or has kept bubbles. I’ve listed my parameters below. Some swings in the last month or so, switched salt and now having to dose regularly- before my alk was mid 8s, nitrates were low 20s.

This guy is my favorite coral and I’d like to help him. Thanks.
Salinity 1.025
Alk: 7.3
Phos: 0.16
Mag: 1220
Cal: 471
Nitrate: 12.3

 

[Uncle99]

First pic looks mostly dead to me.
Second and third look good.

If it looks like the first pic now, sorry, can’t see that popping back.

 

[Sawacoral]

First pic was from earlier today after I cleaned him. This is him now. He’s not dead.

 

[exnisstech]

Parameters look similar to what I keep where my bubble is. My alk is a little higher but hasn't always been. I've had mine for almost 7 years and I have never seen it even close to retracted as much as your first image. I've never even seen the actual skeleton. I had one that died that looked like your first image but yours looks fine in the other two images so I'm not really any help. This is mine retracted

And inflated

EDIT : just saw your last post. I don't know that I would ever clean a bubble coral skeleton. Not that I could because I don't see mine.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hey all. I’ve been struggling with my bubble coral for a month or so. I’ve noticed that it’s been receding into itself more than usual and I’ve really tried to play with the flow since I felt like it was too strong before. I feel like I finally got it to a good place, but am noticing some discoloration and darkening on the spines of the skeleton which I feel is algae. I try to clean it off gently with a toothbrush every other day or so, but it seems to be struggling slowly. All my other corals and fish are fine. I would appreciate some advice from someone who has dealt with this or has kept bubbles. I’ve listed my parameters below. Some swings in the last month or so, switched salt and now having to dose regularly- before my alk was mid 8s, nitrates were low 20s.

This guy is my favorite coral and I’d like to help him. Thanks.
Salinity 1.025
Alk: 7.3
Phos: 0.16
Mag: 1220
Cal: 471
Nitrate: 12.3

Alk low phos slightly elevated. This tank may not yet be mature enough to support this type of coral. The pic shows beyond tissue recession but rather bailout . Can it come back. . . . Looks like this has been going on a while and may be gone but wat it out as ive seen return of tissue on some. Other causes are too much flow and even light as well as low salinity
Alk should be at least 8 -9 for this type of coral

Mine always open

 

[exnisstech]

Algae on the skeleton makes me think yours is not doing well but hopefully I'm wrong. As to PO4 mine thrives in 0.2-0.3 and always has

 

[Sawacoral]

Parameters look similar to what I keep where my bubble is. My alk is a little higher but hasn't always been. I've had mine for almost 7 years and I have never seen it even close to retracted as much as your first image. I've never even seen the actual skeleton. I had one that died that looked like your first image but yours looks fine in the other two images so I'm not really any help. This is mine retracted

And inflated

EDIT : just saw your last post. I don't know that I would ever clean a bubble coral skeleton. Not that I could because I don't see mine.

I’ve taken some advice from articles I’ve read on bubble coral care. Some have recommended to take care, however to remove the algae from the skeleton when you can. It’s a slippery slope because the more the skeleton is exposed, the more it’s exposed to algae growths

 

[Uncle99]

First pic was from earlier today after I cleaned him. This is him now. He’s not dead.

Cleaned him.
Bet he didn’t like that.
Once this coral gets any damage, it’s done.
Like wall hammers and some elegance.
Just can go “poof” after months of great success.

 

[Sawacoral]

Alk low phos slightly elevated. This tank may not yet be mature enough to support this type of coral. The pic shows beyond tissue recession but rather bailout . Can it come back. . . . Looks like this has been going on a while and may be gone but wat it out as ive seen return of tissue on some. Other causes are too much flow and even light as well as low salinity
Alk should be at least 8 -9 for this type of coral

Mine always open

Thank you, this insight is helpful. The tank is only 6 months old so yes, it is not “mature”.

 

[Sawacoral]

Cleaned him.
Bet he didn’t like that.
Once this coral gets any damage, it’s done.
Like wall hammers.

I’ve heard the opposite. and that it can be a very resilient coral that can come back from the brink at times.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’ve heard the opposite. and that it can be a very resilient coral that can come back from the brink at times.

Agree. Ive seen them and tongue coral come back from dead state

 

[Uncle99]

I’ve heard the opposite. and that it can be a very resilient coral that can come back from the brink at times.

Always two sides.
Fingers crossed.

 

[exnisstech]

I’ve heard the opposite. and that it can be a very resilient coral that can come back from the brink at times.

That's not been my experience. I placed one near the one I have but not close enough to sting and it just withered away while this one thrived

 

[Uncle99]

Some corals just do poorly in captivity.
Some last months, some years, some forever.
LFS know this, but who asks how long will it live.
The thinking is forever which may be true in their natural environment, but in captivity, things change.