Catalaphyllia problem

[Vitor]

Hi all
My Catalaphyllia started showing some signs of being uncomfortable yesterday evening. Is always wide open, but seemed closed. Today morning even more so and after lights were in for a bit. And now it seems even more uncomfortable. Water parameters all within the range they have been for months. I’ve had the coral for 2 months. Any tips?

 

[Koty]

how old is your tank
Do you dose carbon?

 

[Vitor]

4 months
I have carbon in the sump

 

[Koty]

4 months is very early for this coral.
You must dose a carbon source to feed the bacteria in the tank.
You are mixing between activated carbon and a carbon source to feed bacteria that will eliminate phosphate and nitrate. However, carbon dosing goes beyond this, as it feeds the microbiome that is critical for coral survival

 

[Jasongtr]

Ours lasted just over a month in an 18 month old system, just opened less and less each day until there was nothing left

 

[Vitor]

4 months is very early for this coral.
You must dose a carbon source to feed the bacteria in the tank.
You are mixing between activated carbon and a carbon source to feed bacteria that will eliminate phosphate and nitrate. However, carbon dosing goes beyond this, as it feeds the microbiome that is critical for coral survival

Ah ok I see what you mean. Through some basic research it seemed this was advised as a begginer friendly coral, so I didn’t think much about it. I was afraid it could be a bacteria or a disease or pest

 

[twentyleagues]

It is very unfortunate elegance corals are very finicky to say the least. They will do fine sometimes for months then one day do this and they are gone. I have heard some have success with a kfc dip or should I say treatment. I have also heard it not working but to do nothing it will probably not make it. Sorry I love them as well. i have tried 4 times in my life time the one before my current one was the most beautiful one I have seen that I felt I could afford (there was a nicer one for about double) that lasted 3 months did the same as yours. My current one is very nice also and I got it quite cheap its in the back corner of my tank I can barely see it, its going on 5 months now and has grown quite a bit. Maybe I finally got lucky.

 

[Vitor]

4 months is very early for this coral.
You must dose a carbon source to feed the bacteria in the tank.
You are mixing between activated carbon and a carbon source to feed bacteria that will eliminate phosphate and nitrate. However, carbon dosing goes beyond this, as it feeds the microbiome that is critical for coral survival

I will add though that my phosphates are 0.02 and nitrate I actually have trouble measuring with salifert kit (wasn’t able to get my hands on an Hanna checker yet).

 

[twentyleagues]

Ah ok I see what you mean. Through some basic research it seemed this was advised as a begginer friendly coral, so I didn’t think much about it. I was afraid it could be a bacteria or a disease or pest

It very well could be the get something called elegance coral syndrome kfc may fix it.

 

[Vitor]

It is very unfortunate elegance corals are very finicky to say the least. They will do fine sometimes for months then one day do this and they are gone. I have heard some have success with a kfc dip or should I say treatment. I have also heard it not working but to do nothing it will probably not make it. Sorry I love them as well. i have tried 4 times in my life time the one before my current one was the most beautiful one I have seen that I felt I could afford (there was a nicer one for about double) that lasted 3 months did the same as yours. My current one is very nice also and I got it quite cheap its in the back corner of my tank I can barely see it, its going on 5 months now and has grown quite a bit. Maybe I finally got lucky.

Thanks. Thinking about trying a dip. I have the Seachem reef dip home. Maybe tomorrow I will give that a try

 

[Vitor]

It very well could be the get something called elegance coral syndrome kfc may fix it.

I read on that. Unfortunately where I live it is very hard to get the stuff you need for that

 

[twentyleagues]

I read on that. Unfortunately where I live it is very hard to get the stuff you need for that

Its hard everywhere. I was just able to get the stuff to make it. I have been battling bjd in my torches its not helping to dip them. I probably need to treat the tank with an antibiotic which I am hesitant to do, So I keep losing torch heads. Hammers, duncans and my elegance seem unaffected.

 

[Koty]

Get Tropic Marin np bactobalance. Is a good carbon source that still prevent n and p from getting too low

 

[Vitor]

Ok so Yesterday evening did a Seachem Reef Dip and set her back in a bit lower light. Seemed a bit better this morning. I then did what I have never done yet which was target feed. A few decent pieces of Ocean Nutrition frozen white shrimp. Boy did she grab those. Hope this is the start of getting back her health and not the calm before the storm.
Did the same for my Acantophyllia. Amazing to watch