New torch coral is dying

[slik419]

Hey guys,
New to reefing. I have 36 gal bow front tank that has been cycled for about 6 months. Lighting is an AI prime 16. I have a mixed reef tank with frogspawn, hammers, and a few other LPS, SPS, soft corals. Everyone else is doing well and growing. Tank parameters are the following: specific gravity is 1.026, Ca 420, alkalinity 8.6, pH 8, nitrates 10, phos 0.2. Chemistry has been consistent. I had only 1 dragon soul torch and it’s been doing well and last week I received a holy grail, Malaysian, and Indo gold torch. I dipped all coral in an iodine dip for 15 min and placed in an area with decent flow and light. All except the holy grail is doing well. Shortly after first 24h I noticed that the holy grail started to bubble up on tissue, then tissue receded from both base and up near the head and tentacles started to slough off exposing the septa and corallite structure. I don’t see brown jelly like I’ve seen on pictures, just that the tentacles shrivel up and turn a little brown. But I’ve also never had BJD so ‍ . The area most affected is away from the other torches I have in the garden. The new torches have been in for 8 days now. I have been feeding reef chili/mysis shrimp soaked in brightwell restor. There is a dead head next to it on other side of pic (hard to get image on that side and it’s how it arrived). Is this stress from new arrival? Any suggestions to save this coral?

 

[Formulator]

Based on the flesh band (or lack thereof) I’d say that might be a gonner. Sorry. As far as the reason, it’s hard to say because your other torches seem to be doing well. I have heard that the brighter colored torches like holy grail and banana torches prefer higher light intensity. Do you have a PAR map of your tank? Holy grail will do better in the 250+ range, while the darker torches may be just fine with 150 or so. Also check for flatworms as coral dips are often not effective against them.

 

[steveschuerger]

If nothing else is noted as wrong, you could try something like Brightwell Restor. Might help, I know others who’ve used it and swear by it.

 

[slik419]

Based on the flesh band (or lack thereof) I’d say that might be a gonner. Sorry. As far as the reason, it’s hard to say because your other torches seem to be doing well. I have heard that the brighter colored torches like holy grail and banana torches prefer higher light intensity. Do you have a PAR map of your tank? Holy grail will do better in the 250+ range, while the darker torches may be just fine with 150 or so. Also check for flatworms as coral dips are often not effective against them.

I figured. It looks so unhappy. Sad to watch it wither away daily. I have looked for flatworms and haven’t seen any but I heard they can be pretty difficult to spot. I don’t have a PAR map but put it in one of the brightest spots I have in the tank about maybe 12” from the light. I doubt the AI prime is reaching that amount of PAR

 

[slik419]

If nothing else is noted as wrong, you could try something like Brightwell Restor. Might help, I know others who’ve used it and swear by it.

Already doing it when I received the corals. First time using it so I’ll let you know how it goes

 

[Outlaw Corals]

That needs a KFC dip immediately, that’s the only thing that has a chance to work

 

[Formulator]

I figured. It looks so unhappy. Sad to watch it wither away daily. I have looked for flatworms and haven’t seen any but I heard they can be pretty difficult to spot. I don’t have a PAR map but put it in one of the brightest spots I have in the tank about maybe 12” from the light. I doubt the AI prime is reaching that amount of PAR

Couldn’t hurt to try moving it up higher in the tank. Maybe 6 inches or so from the light, just to see if you get a positive response. It might be too late, but worth a shot.

 

[Outlaw Corals]

Couldn’t hurt to try moving it up higher in the tank. Maybe 6 inches or so from the light, just to see if you get a positive response. It might be too late, but worth a shot.

Actually, lower light would benefit it more

 

[Formulator]

Actually, lower light would benefit it more

What makes you say that?

 

[Spare time]

If nothing else is noted as wrong, you could try something like Brightwell Restor. Might help, I know others who’ve used it and swear by it.

That is just coral food

 

[Outlaw Corals]

What makes you say that?

If you are trying to heal a torch or if it has no flesh and you want to get the flesh growing you put them in low light low flow

 

[slik419]

If you are trying to heal a torch or if it has no flesh and you want to get the flesh growing you put them in low light low flow

Yesterday things progressed rapidly and came home to even more tissue loss, so I lowered flow but kept lights the same. Saw the loose tissue flapping this time. Given the dead head next to it, I’m thinking it was already in bad shape and this recent stress is finally killing it. I have a feeling after work today that I’m coming home to a dead torch.

 

[Rappa]

Get that out of the light asap. Put it on the sand bed under an overhang and see if that helps. I think you may be burning it up. I've had this happen before by playing with light intensities making drastic changes too quickly. If it responds to the low light, you can gradually bring it up higher as/if it heals. You should notice a difference within 24 hours as it will extend out if it's happier.

 

[VintageReefer]

It’s shipping stress/ damage, it starts off unhappy, has internal issues. Bacteria spreading. Takes a few days to build up then progresses rapidly. Most likely will not make it

 

[chip shop]

Yes definitely looks like there’s no coming back unfortunately

 

[slik419]

I was too concerned and went home for lunch and it looks like brown jelly officially. Smells, has small amounts of brown streaks. I took it out and put in a “quarantine tank”. Going to dose cipro when I get home in evening and hope for the best. Should I be concerned about my other torches/frogspawn/hammers in display? Or other corals in general? Should I also dose display tank? Thanks for all the help guys.

 

[Rappa]

Do you have a pic of the jelly? It could be just expelling zooxanthellae. They will also do that when they are stressing from too much light too fast. A cipro dip or treatment is definitely a good idea.

 

[crazyfishmom]

I was too concerned and went home for lunch and it looks like brown jelly officially. Smells, has small amounts of brown streaks. I took it out and put in a “quarantine tank”. Going to dose cipro when I get home in evening and hope for the best. Should I be concerned about my other torches/frogspawn/hammers in display? Or other corals in general? Should I also dose display tank? Thanks for all the help guys.

No need to dose the display tank yet. This is likely isolated to just this torch due to shipping stress. In my experience brown jelly in one torch doesn’t necessarily Emma your whole tank is going to suffer. Watch closely and make sure to keep parameters stable and the rest will more likely than not be fine.

 

[slik419]

Okay will monitor display for now. I attached a photo but color of the container makes it difficult to see. Jelly seems to be in center where it looks darker and you can see some of the melting tissue on the periphery. Smelled the frag prior to placing in this container and smelled like rotten fish.

 

[VintageReefer]

Probably too far gone. Happened to me last week

Bright neon yellow on the left. Had it a week. Everyday open like this

Then notice on day 8 it’s half size

Inspect and see skeleton in an area. I cleaned and did h2o2 dip then lugols dip and return to display cleaned

Next day bjd showing. I get aggressive and do kfc dip / procedure

Died during dip. Too far infected