Help! GSP “melting?”

[HB93]

Hello!
I’m hoping someone can point me in the right direction. Having issues with this polyp. It appears to be losing polyps and peeling away from the rock. This is a pic from 8/17 and a video from today. I have been dosing iodide and trace elements. Currently carbon dosing to lower No3. All other tank mates are excellent condition. The only recent change is that maroon coraline algae has been exploding! Could it be preventing the polyp from growing?
Temp: 76
Salinity 1.024
Ph: 8.4
Ammonia:0
No3: 40

 

[Snowxcross]

Hello!
I’m hoping someone can point me in the right direction. Having issues with this polyp. It appears to be losing polyps and peeling away from the rock. This is a pic from 8/17 and a video from today. I have been dosing iodide and trace elements. Currently carbon dosing to lower No3. All other tank mates are excellent condition. The only recent change is that maroon coraline algae has been exploding! Could it be preventing the polyp from growing?
Temp: 76
Salinity 1.024
Ph: 8.4
Ammonia:0
No3: 40

Hmm. It could be that the "Maroon Coraline" algae you see is cyano? Hard to tell from photos. Could it be this is clove polyps and not GSP?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Whats the fuzzy brown stuff I see? Kind of looks like hydroids....
If you are able to take a more clear pic with whites turned up, that will help, its hard to see.

 

[NonstopSoda]

that looks more like cyano from what I can see on the sides of the picture. What are your other parameters and flow in the tank? GSP usually does very well in any conditions.

 

[HB93]

Hmm. It could be that the "Maroon Coraline" algae you see is cyano? Hard to tell from photos. Could it be this is clove polyps and not GSP?

It’s possible it’s clove and not GSP. It was sold as GSP but resembles more clove. I don’t think it’s cyano because it’s not soft and doesn’t come off with Turkey baster. In fact, I haven’t even really been able to scrape it from the rock. If it is clove, is care different for them?

 

[HB93]

that looks more like cyano from what I can see on the sides of the picture. What are your other parameters and flow in the tank? GSP usually does very well in any conditions.

I don’t think it’s cyano because I’m unable to remove it. I would consider it medium flow. How do I know the difference?

 

[NonstopSoda]

I don’t think it’s cyano because I’m unable to remove it. I would consider it medium flow. How do I know the difference?

Usually cyano feels slimey to the touch and can be removed with a toothbrush.

 

[NonstopSoda]

Also could just be unhappy for a random reason, ive heard of GSP or cloves melting away into nothing for no reason and then months later just popping back up out of nowhere.

 

[HB93]

Whats the fuzzy brown stuff I see? Kind of looks like hydroids....
If you are able to take a more clear pic with whites turned up, that will help, its hard to see.

 

[HB93]

 

[HB93]

Usually cyano feels slimey to the touch and can be removed with a toothbrush.

I just tried it. Didn’t come off with a toothbrush and isn’t slimy

 

[NonstopSoda]

then its probably Burgundy Crust Algae Peyssonnelia (often called red coralline algae despite not being coralline algae). Definitely not cyanobacteria. It is harmless.

 

[HB93]

then its probably Burgundy Crust Algae Peyssonnelia (often called red coralline algae despite not being coralline algae). Definitely not cyanobacteria. It is harmless.

That’s great! Maybe I have some green algae that’s a nuisance to the coral. Does this mean I should increase the flow? Any other recommendations?

 

[NonstopSoda]

That’s great! Maybe I have some green algae that’s a nuisance to the coral. Does this mean I should increase the flow? Any other recommendations?

I suggest getting a more robust CUC for GHA, flow doesn't really affect where they grow. bringing No3 down and Po2 will help it stop growing and or getting some corals or macro algae to try and absorb the No3 instead of the Green hair algae

 

[HB93]

I suggest getting a more robust CUC for GHA, flow doesn't really affect where they grow. bringing No3 down and Po2 will help it stop growing and or getting some corals or macro algae to try and absorb the No3 instead of the Green hair algae

Great suggestions! Which corals would absorb nitrate?

 

[NonstopSoda]

Great suggestions! Which corals would absorb nitrate?

Nitrates are an essential food for almost all photosynthetic corals, You can take your pick at which ever ones you like best! my favorites are hammers/frogspawns, Zoas, Mushrooms, and pretty much like all LPS coral.

 

[Reefering1]

Are you sure that's not the nubby purple mat that the gsp polyps come out of?

 

[HB93]

Are you sure that's not the nubby purple mat that the gsp polyps come out of? What are you referring to exactly?

Are you sure that's not the nubby purple mat that the gsp polyps come out of?

 

[HB93]

Nitrates are an essential food for almost all photosynthetic corals, You can take your pick at which ever ones you like best! my favorites are hammers/frogspawns, Zoas, Mushrooms, and pretty much like all LPS coral.

Awesome! Thank you! As far as the mat receding from the rock, do you know why this happened?

 

[NonstopSoda]

Awesome! Thank you! As far as the mat receding from the rock, do you know why this happened?

Soft corals do not have any type of skeletal body that their polyps come out of its more so just a big thing of flesh. When soft corals die they "Melt" in which the fleshy material starts to disintegrate leaving nothing behind. The mat is receding as the GSP is dying and melting. : (