Emergency! How to prevent BJD spreading

[Eagle_Steve]

Experimenting with in-tank antibiotic treatments for Brown Jelly Disease

Brown Jelly Disease (BJD) is an issue many reefers have run into. Like most coral diseases, the pathogen causing BJD has not been conclusively determined. Here I will share some observations and test results supporting the idea that its caused by a bacterial pathogen, and so may be treatable...

www.reef2reef.com

This right here. Works well. If you need helps with the math for dosing let me know. I just finished treating a 7’x3’x1.25’ frag tank full of things. Basically a full blown reef setup, but in a frag tank.

 

[MohrReefs]

The hammer gave out during the dip. It started to open up and look better until it burst into brown slime. I’ll observe my other lps from here. Thanks everyone.

Sorry for your loss bud.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Sorry for your loss bud.

Thanks. I just really hope all my other corals are okay. I'm really bummed about this loss, but I guess it happens to everyone...

 

[Pistondog]

Any known reason why this happens? Can this happen years later in a tank w established Euphyllia?

I've had it happen 3 times, months apart. Each time the Torch got mechanical damage, either from too much flow or stupid piston manhandling during a move.
I think the cause is present in my tank, waiting for an opportunity. I only lost 1 at a time, multiple torches in tank.
I don't think treating the other euphyllia helps as it stresses them, perhaps opening a window to the infection.

 

[JGT]

Agree that physical damage to Euphyllia seems to be the predominant cause. Kinda like a cut that gets infected.

 

[LegendaryCG]

I nearly lost a trump coral colony to bjd. My approach was to cut all the damaged tissue away which was about 95% of it and then iodine dip it. I was left with 3 healthy looking heads that have since become 2 colonies. BJD is bad news

 

[davidcalgary29]

Any known reason why this happens? Can this happen years later in a tank w established Euphyllia?

This is what I would like to know. I've read a number of sites that state "the underlying cause remains unknown"...but then go on to list treatment options. Treatment of what pathogen, exactly?

 

[Sharkbait19]

I do want to keep the skeleton to maybe mount other corals to (and to have something to remember the wall hammer by). How should I go about cleaning it? I currently have it in a freshwater bucket to kill any bacteria on it, but should I use some kind of chemical to rid it of everything else??

 

[Pistondog]

I do want to keep the skeleton to maybe mount other corals to (and to have something to remember the wall hammer by). How should I go about cleaning it? I currently have it in a freshwater bucket to kill any bacteria on it, but should I use some kind of chemical to rid it of everything else??

Bleach

 

[Sharkbait19]

Any known reason why this happens? Can this happen years later in a tank w established Euphyllia?

To answer this question, yes, it can happen in an established tank. Much like ich on fish, many LPS and SPS corals (and soft corals, though are seldom affected) carry the BJD bacteria on them, and when under stressful or harmful conditions (poor water, abrasions, stress), the bacteria can take over. A good solution is dipping corals to ensure that the small amount of bacteria is gone before it can take over (something I should have considered for my hammer long ago). It's quite hard to completely irradicate though.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Bleach

It won't leach it back into the water?

 

[Pistondog]

It won't leach it back into the water?

Bleached, then soak in saltwater or ro for 24 hours.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Bleached, then soak in saltwater or ro for 24 hours.

Ok. Maybe I'll do this for a large brain coral skeleton I collected years ago.

 

[Pistondog]

Ok. Maybe I'll do this for a large brain coral skeleton I collected years ago.

If no bjd, then just soak in saltwater for a few days assuming no tissue.

 

[Sharkbait19]

The weird thing is it still has some pink on it, though it may just be some coralline algae...

 

[davidcalgary29]

The weird thing is it still has some pink on it, though it may just be some coralline algae...

You can always start a jar build and see if it, or anything else, regenerates in it. I nuked at least one frag with hypersalinity, and have had various things (not all bad) survive on them.

 

[MohrReefs]

Agree that physical damage to Euphyllia seems to be the predominant cause. Kinda like a cut that gets infected.

+1 I had a hammer take a nose dive after a shrimp aggressively stole food from it. Watched it tear a tentacle then boom, dead in weeks.

 

[DucatiGtr]

To answer this question, yes, it can happen in an established tank. Much like ich on fish, many LPS and SPS corals (and soft corals, though are seldom affected) carry the BJD bacteria on them, and when under stressful or harmful conditions (poor water, abrasions, stress), the bacteria can take over. A good solution is dipping corals to ensure that the small amount of bacteria is gone before it can take over (something I should have considered for my hammer long ago). It's quite hard to completely irradicate though.

Well
That’s annoying! Fun hobby we have! And thank you!

 

[Sharkbait19]

Should I be concerned about my torch coral now, or does this not look like BJD? This started when I removed the hammer and had to turn out the lights. It’s about 60% closed up and bubbling at the base (possible slime). Stress or dying?

I will say that although this coral was much cheaper than the hammer was, this would hurt a lot more, as it was one of my first corals and I’ve poured much care and effort into getting it where it currently is.

 

[JGT]

Doesn’t appear to bjd. Just an inflated head.