Gorgonian flesh recession?

[BristleWormHater]

Is this flesh recession?
A little concerned about this gorg, it hasn't opened all day, but its been perfectly fine since I got it last week, including yesterday. Noticed these little spots, not sure if this is recession or not.
All my other photosynthetic gorgs are doing great , ill test parameters later today.

Its sitting right next to another frag of the same gorg and a frilly gorgonian, both of them are fine.

My larger sea whip gorg is doing fine too

 

[BonnieB]

Doesn’t look good. Looks like it’s covered in something. Did you try dipping it? That could be a bacterial infection possibly going on but with no one else bothered that doesn’t seem right. What are your parameters?

 

[BristleWormHater]

Doesn’t look good. Looks like it’s covered in something. Did you try dipping it? That could be a bacterial infection possibly going on but with no one else bothered that doesn’t seem right. What are your parameters?

Ah, forgot to test, Ill do it tomorrow morning. I did a quick iodine dip, hopefully that will help for now.

 

[BristleWormHater]

Doesn’t look good. Looks like it’s covered in something. Did you try dipping it? That could be a bacterial infection possibly going on but with no one else bothered that doesn’t seem right. What are your parameters?

Heres my parameters, phosphate is definitely very high lol. I ran out of the reagent for a bit so I haven't tested it in quite awhile. Im mixing some saltwater to do a water change.

Still not sure if that is the cause of this issue though considering the other gorgs are fine. Definitely explains why my montipora arent growing though.

 

[BonnieB]

Doesn’t look good. Looks like it’s covered in something. Did you try dipping it? That could be a bacterial infection possibly going on but with no one else bothered that doesn’t seem right. What are your parameters?

Heres my parameters, phosphate is definitely very high lol. I ran out of the reagent for a bit so I haven't tested it in quite awhile. Im mixing some saltwater to do a water change.

Still not sure if that is the cause of this issue though considering the other gorgs are fine. Definitely explains why my montipora arent growing though.

Your parameters are good so, I agree with you, I don’t think it is the cause. The monti maybe but only on a growth basis I’d say. The pic almost looks like RTN but with the one right next to it doing okay I don’t think so either. I guess my recommendation would be to isolate it in a QT if you can and watch it, although I think water changes are the answer to most things!

 

[BristleWormHater]

Your parameters are good so, I agree with you, I don’t think it is the cause. The monti maybe but only on a growth basis I’d say. The pic almost looks like RTN but with the one right next to it doing okay I don’t think so either. I guess my recommendation would be to isolate it in a QT if you can and watch it, although I think water changes are the answer to most things!

It hasn't gotten any worse today, but the polyps haven't opened either.
It did look better after the iodine dip last night though. Still really confused how it took a nose dive this fast though, I realized I actaully do have a picture from Friday of this frag
Friday(day before this thread)
You can see its happy and open in the foreground there

Yesterday night after iodine

Today

The other frags are still looking good, I mounted them to the rocks yesterday

 

[BonnieB]

Your parameters are good so, I agree with you, I don’t think it is the cause. The monti maybe but only on a growth basis I’d say. The pic almost looks like RTN but with the one right next to it doing okay I don’t think so either. I guess my recommendation would be to isolate it in a QT if you can and watch it, although I think water changes are the answer to most things!

It hasn't gotten any worse today, but the polyps haven't opened either.
It did look better after the iodine dip last night though. Still really confused how it took a nose dive this fast though, I realized I actaully do have a picture from Friday of this frag
Friday(day before this thread)
You can see its happy and open in the foreground there

Yesterday night after iodine

Today

The other frags are still looking good, I mounted them to the rocks yesterday

Yeah strange? And you’re sure no one in the tank is bothering it?

 

[BristleWormHater]

Yeah strange? And you’re sure no one in the tank is bothering it?

Thats what ive been thinking but I haven't seen anything, not today or last night, only threat I can think of is my emerald crab but he dosent come near my blenny and this frag is right next to one of his perches

 

[BonnieB]

Yeah strange? And you’re sure no one in the tank is bothering it?

Thats what ive been thinking but I haven't seen anything, not today or last night, only threat I can think of is my emerald crab but he dosent come near my blenny and this frag is right next to one of his perches

My emerald was irritating my zoas for a bit but I didn’t see it until I filmed after dark when all the lights in the house were out. I set up a camera with an infrared light. It’s actually cool to see what goes on when no one is watching. And, if there’s a culprit, you’re sure to see who it is!

 

[BristleWormHater]

My emerald was irritating my zoas for a bit but I didn’t see it until I filmed after dark when all the lights in the house were out. I set up a camera with an infrared light. It’s actually cool to see what goes on when no one is watching. And, if there’s a culprit, you’re sure to see who it is!

It may have actually been the phosphate. Im still working on reducing it. Its starting to look better.

I read that high phosphate can interfere with polyp extension and possibly their sclerites, which are the calcium carbonate structures that give the gorgonian its rigidity. Tolerance varies by species so that explains why my other two are unaffected. The other frag of this coral didnt have great polyp extension yesterday either.

 

[BonnieB]

My emerald was irritating my zoas for a bit but I didn’t see it until I filmed after dark when all the lights in the house were out. I set up a camera with an infrared light. It’s actually cool to see what goes on when no one is watching. And, if there’s a culprit, you’re sure to see who it is!

It may have actually been the phosphate. Im still working on reducing it. Its starting to look better.

I read that high phosphate can interfere with polyp extension and possibly their sclerites, which are the calcium carbonate structures that give the gorgonian its rigidity. Tolerance varies by species so that explains why my other two are unaffected. The other frag of this coral didnt have great polyp extension yesterday either.

For sure with SPS but not usually with softies. Having said that it’s always best practice to have the nutrients in check, even with “dirty tank” lovers like softies! I’m so glad it is turning around! Great work hanging in there with it!

 

[BryanM]

@BristleWormHater

I can assure you, at least in my tank with .9 phos blinking for months, my gorgonian did not care one bit about that.... And your phos level isn't high enough to concern me.... but at .31 I would be looking to gradually reduce it by 1/2.

My gorg goes "naked" like this every few days. Oddly sometimes it stays that way longer than feels comfortable, but it has always come back w/o any issue.

I don't think there's anything to worry about here.