Problem with torch coral

Something is wrong with my torch coral. We've had it about 2 weeks & everything was fine. This morning, two of the stalks are withdrawn with the skeleton showing.

This afternoon we did a 10-15% water change, & they still don't look good. I'm afraid that they will die & poison my other corals.

What should I do?


Temp: 77.7
pH: 8.2
NH4: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 10
PO4: 0
Calc: 335
KH: 10.5
SG: 1.24

Thanks for any suggestions / advice,

julie

 

Julie,
First I would increase Ca by at least 50 ppm, and 50 is safe to increase in one day. Anymore and I'd do it over a few.
How is the lighting?
How much flow is it receiving?
Are there other corals nearby?
Hermit crabs?
Many LPS do NOT like high flow, mine are SLOWLY getting used to the 43times turnover in the big tank. IT could be too much flow. Also hermit crabs are known to irritate euphyillia polyps as well. A few answers from you and we'll be on our way to saving your torch!!

Good luck

 

+1 on the CA and flow. Try to get it into the lowest flow area you possibly can. Also, where is it in regards to your lighting? I noticed you only have the 2X 150MH's on your tank and its a 90? Torch's like a good amount of light IME, depending on where you have placed it, it may not be recieving enough.
Also, what is your MG level at? Have you been feeding it anything?

 

My torch although only a few days old to my tank, is in a low flow area and seems very happy. +1 on the low flow.

 

If it's in a high flow, or even moderate flow, the motion of the tentacles could have damaged the tissue, causing to recede. They may have rubbed up against a rock or such.

 

Let's not forget feeding. I feed mine every other day, if I start slacking, it starts receding... I feed it baby brine shrimp with a turkey baster. I have it trained to eat in the day so I don't have to do it at night.

 

Thanks for your responses!

Dr. Fragenstein -
Lighting is ok - We have 2-150w MH & it's where it gets light for 8 hours a day.
Flow is moderate.
There are no other corals nearby.
We do have a few blue-legged hermit crabs.

PackLeader -
I'm picking up some Ca & a mag test this afternoon.
We are planning to add actinic lighting to what we already have - will this help?
I've started to feed it Marine Snow - have done this 2 times so far.

Yuri & GuitarMan - I'll try moving it to another location.

bc219 - I haven't fed it very much - just 2 times with marine snow. I'm trying to be good & not overfeed my tank.


What's interesting is that only 2 of the 4 stalks are withdrawn. The other two look great.

Thanks again!
julie

 

Well, even moderate flow could be enough to aggitate it. It should be in the lowest flow possible IMO.
You shouldnt need to feed it very much, I feed mine about once a week if that, but definately feed something other than marine snow. Thats more of a filter feeder food. Try feeding it something more substantial. Pieces of shrimp, silversides, etc. Meaty items cut into small pieces, basically

 

I have found that most things are too big for mine, therefore I use the baby brine shrimp and it loves it. You can get it frozen and petsmart. My lfs suggested that I train it to eat during the day, therefore it will open both day and night and possibly catch food from feedings during the day...

 

Thanks PL & bc219 - I'll try feeding it something other than marine snow.