Bowerbanki Tissue Loss?

[JimCali75]

Hey all, Looks like this bower is losing tissue near the mouth. I think that’s skeleton showing? (Larger head) In my experience tissue recession has always been outside in. There’s discoloration on the right side of the smaller head that was there when I got it. I got the frag pretty cheap as it wasn’t in the best shape. Until recently I felt like it’s been on the up and up. It’s in a frag tank with a some mollies so I don’t think anything is picking at it. No inverts besides some trochus snails. Phosphates are .03, Nitrates 13.1 and Alk 9.4, Mag 1565 and Salinity 1.025. I have a Kessil AP9x that been running at 25%. I’m slowing bring it up to 30%. Raised it to 27% a week ago. It’s in a low to moderate flow area. Any thoughts would be appreciated :)

 

[tbrown]

That's not skeleton showing but more likely mesenterial filaments - basically the guts.

Have there been any shrimp or fish picking at the area? Sometimes fish/shrimp/crabs will "steal" food from the corals and they can cause stress or even damage.

 

[JimCali75]

That's not skeleton showing but more likely mesenterial filaments - basically the guts.

Have there been any shrimp or fish picking at the area? Sometimes fish/shrimp/crabs will "steal" food from the corals and they can cause stress or even damage.

No.. Only inverts on the tank are a few snails. Plus a few mollies. You can see where white has appeared on the smaller head as well. Tentacles are not coming out in the white areas. Maybe some for of bacterial infection? I haven’t noticed any detritus settling on the coral.

 

[Naso180!]

How much light is it receiving? Bowerbanki are lower light corals. They can adapt to higher lighting over time but prefer low light /low to med flow. Are you feeding it?

 

[JimCali75]

How much light is it receiving? Bowerbanki are lower light corals. They can adapt to higher lighting over time but prefer low light /low to med flow. Are you feeding it?

I’m using a Kessil AP9x at 25%. It’s under about 90 par. I just started increasing intensity up to 30%. Should be at about 120 par when I’m done. I’ve only raised it 3% over 2 weeks. It’s in pretty low flow.

Yeah, I feed Benereef lps pellets about once a week

Perhaps an iodine dip?

 

[Naso180!]

Yes certainly cant hurt. Did you buy it like that? I mean where they the spots you said weren't in the best shape. I find with the 5 or 6 bowerbanki I have that when they start looking deflated its time to run chemipure or carbon. My thought is that some type of dissolved organic builds to a point that ticks them off. Just my observation though.

 

[JimCali75]

Yes certainly cant hurt. Did you buy it like that? I mean where they the spots you said weren't in the best shape. I find with the 5 or 6 bowerbanki I have that when they start looking deflated its time to run chemipure or carbon. My thought is that some type of dissolved organic builds to a point that ticks them off. Just my observation though.

When I got it it had that brown spot on the right side of the smaller head. None of the white spots near the mouths. As far as I can tell it has been doing quite well while I’ve had it. Actively eating and showing some growth on the smaller head. I am currently running carbon.

I have a very small head of BSA Master Bower that looks fine.. Knock on wood.. lol. At least it was cheap as far as bowers go. Always a lil frustrating when you can’t figure out why a coral goes down hill.

Appreciate your help.. What kind of bowers do you have?

 

[Shirak]

Phosphates still low? .03ppm is potentially 0 given most kits margin of error. Maybe it's not liking the bump up in par? Should be ok with it but I tend to go under 100 for acans and bowers. They seem to do better with feedings at night 2 or 3 times a week instead of higher light.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Filaments are part of this coral's structure. Often when this happens, calcium may be low with Alk high, low nitrates, low salinity and fish and/or shrimp picking at it
Moderate light and flow is its happy median

 

[JimCali75]

Phosphates still low? .03ppm is potentially 0 given most kits margin of error. Maybe it's not liking the bump up in par? Should be ok with it but I tend to go under 100 for acans and bowers. They seem to do better with feedings at night 2 or 3 times a week instead of higher light.

I can increase feedings. The Benereef doesn’t seem to spike nutrients much. Although I may try some Reefroids to raise phosphates a bit. Don’t want to feed the mollies too much and make em lazy.. lol. I use a Hanna Checker but it’s definitely not perfect. I prefer phosphates to be about .05 to allow for error. Tested .03 on the 1st and .05 today

 

[JimCali75]

Filaments are part of this coral's structure. Often when this happens, calcium may be low with Alk high, low nitrates, low salinity and fish and/or shrimp picking at it
Moderate light and flow is its happy median

By filaments are you referring to the stuff right in the center of the mouth in the first picture? If so that’s a dissolving pellet. What I’m looking at are the white areas around the edges of the mouth. You can see the tentacles are not coming out coming out in those spots. I’ll test Cal tonight. Alk was 9.4. Thx!

 

[tbrown]

By filaments are you referring to the stuff right in the center of the mouth in the first picture? If so that’s a dissolving pellet. What I’m looking at are the white areas around the edges of the mouth. You can see the tentacles are not coming out coming out in those spots. I’ll test Cal tonight. Alk was 9.4. Thx!

The areas just to the left of the mouth of the big one. That definitely looks like damage from something but the stuff inside that damaged area are the filaments. He more or less said the same thing as my previous post.

Those are the "guts" of your coral. Sometimes, during coral warfare or stress situations you'll see them kind of "spit" them out. They use those to digest their food (including other corals sometimes).

When you see them, it's usually not a good thing. In this case, likely damage.

 

[JimCali75]

The areas just to the left of the mouth of the big one. That definitely looks like damage from something but the stuff inside that damaged area are the filaments. He more or less said the same thing as my previous post.

Those are the "guts" of your coral. Sometimes, during coral warfare or stress situations you'll see them kind of "spit" them out. They use those to digest their food (including other corals sometimes).

When you see them, it's usually not a good thing. In this case, likely damage.

Thx for your input I’m going to give it an iodine dip and hope for the best.

 

[tbrown]

Thx for your input I’m going to give it an iodine dip and hope for the best.

Iodine is a great idea.

 

[vetteguy53081]

By filaments are you referring to the stuff right in the center of the mouth in the first picture? If so that’s a dissolving pellet. What I’m looking at are the white areas around the edges of the mouth. You can see the tentacles are not coming out coming out in those spots. I’ll test Cal tonight. Alk was 9.4. Thx!

Tissue is affected and can be restored but not always. Here , light and flow will be key. We often say not to chase numbers, but here you may need to. Addition of iodine and Manganese will be of help

 

[JimCali75]

Tissue is affected and can be restored but not always. Here , light and flow will be key. We often say not to chase numbers, but here you may need to. Addition of iodine and Manganese will be of help

Lower flow and light correct?

 

[tbrown]

Lower flow and light correct?

Yes.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Lower flow and light correct?

Moderate is a term we use also known as subtle. Does not need to be aggressive as required for SPS coral. Also, I find often on the sandbed, sand can irritate them so I often elevate them on a flat rock or base

 

[JimCali75]

Moderate is a term we use also known as subtle. Does not need to be aggressive as required for SPS coral. Also, I find often on the sandbed, sand can irritate them so I often elevate them on a flat rock or base

Yeah, I would definitely consider the flow subtle. I moved it to the side of the tank Only about 50 par.. We’ll see how it does. If I didn’t know better my first guess would be an invert picking at it. But there are none besides a few snails and no fish that would nip.

 

[Naso180!]

When I got it it had that brown spot on the right side of the smaller head. None of the white spots near the mouths. As far as I can tell it has been doing quite well while I’ve had it. Actively eating and showing some growth on the smaller head. I am currently running carbon.

I have a very small head of BSA Master Bower that looks fine.. Knock on wood.. lol. At least it was cheap as far as bowers go. Always a lil frustrating when you can’t figure out why a coral goes down hill.

Appreciate your help.. What kind of bowers do you have?

Not sure of the names a few were single heads when I got em really cheap as well. I add a few pics later today. How big the master you have? Love to see it!