Drooping torches

[Kial]

What could be causing my torches to become small and droopy?

They used to have some decent size to them and be the standout coral of the tank and now they just look all saggy.
There is definitely enough flow going around the tank as this was my first thought.

All other corals are doing fine

Parameters:

Alk 8.2
Mag 1440
Calc 450
Phos 0.25
Nitrate 20

 

[tupes]

What is your lighting schedule?
What time was this photo taken?

 

[tupes]

Also, can you take a photo of the side of the coral to show where the flesh meets the skeleton?

 

[Kial]

So lights ramp up at 9am and this photo was taken 13.30pm.
Lights off at 9pm

AI hydra 26 hds

 

[Kial]

Also, can you take a photo of the side of the coral to show where the flesh meets the skeleton?

Sorry best I could get due to where they are

 

[tupes]

Ok. They've always looked good then like this today?

How long have you had them?
How old is your tank?

 

[tupes]

For the photo I asked for, i was trying to see if the flesh is covering the skeleton or not.

IME when the flesh pulls back its nots doing good. Here are photo examples of what I'm talking about.

 

[Kial]

Ok. They've always looked good then like this today?

How long have you had them?
How old is your tank?

Nah its been a good few weeks now. Thought maybe a few water changes would help but nope.

Tank is year and half old.
Not 100% how long they have been in but I would say around 8 months or so

 

[Kial]

For the photo I asked for, i was trying to see if the flesh is covering the skeleton or not.

IME when the flesh pulls back its nots doing good. Here are photo examples of what I'm talking about.

So the lower torch I can see Skelton like those photos and the golden torch seems to be similar. Managed to get a better photo

 

[tupes]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but that doesn't look good at all.

Your phosphate and nitrates are a tad bit high. This might be having a negative impact

• Phosphate closer to >.1
• Nitrate closer to >5

 

[Kial]

Yeah I thought the phos could be a issue. Just did large water change and I've changed up the flow a little and will see how that goes.
The lower torch is completely wedged into the rock as well so not able to remove it

 

[tupes]

Lower flow might help from the flesh peeling away and maybe buy some time.

Sorry for the bad news but hope this has helped you maybe save some other corals.

 

[Kial]

Lower flow might help from the flesh peeling away and maybe buy some time.

Sorry for the bad news but hope this has helped you maybe save some other corals.

Hopefully these will pull through. Just doesn't look like they will unfortunately! Thanks for the help though.

 

[tupes]

How are they looking today?

 

[Kial]

How are they looking today?

I'm away with work until Friday now so not to sure. I'll post when I get back but hopefully they are hanging in there!

 

[tupes]

Make sure to keep us posted.

 

[Kial]

Make sure to keep us posted.

Got home earlier than expected so heres a quick update.
Golden torch doesnt seem to bad. The other one seems to be getting a little worse.

 

[tupes]

That's unfortunate.

This is totally up to you but my recommendation is this:

If you see the torch continue to pull away from the skeleton if take it out and chunk it.

IME Due to the flesh gets blown around and the nematocysts which is the stinging cells will sting other corals as they get blown around

 

[Kial]

That's unfortunate.

This is totally up to you but my recommendation is this:

If you see the torch continue to pull away from the skeleton if take it out and chunk it.

IME Due to the flesh gets blown around and the nematocysts which is the stinging cells will sting other corals as they get blown around

I've actually tried to get it out but its fully wedged in the rock [emoji20]
If I pull to hard the rock structure starts to move which would be a disaster unfortunately

 

[Kial]

Brown jelly has now taken over the coral