Is this theory crazy? (Issues with LPS opening)

[Stuckita]

I have 3 LPS in a 2 month old tank. A Duncan that was thriving (growing heads, great color, always open), and two new Hammers - opened fully first two days and now don’t seem to open fully.

On day 1 the hammer fell off it’s temporary ledge and landed directly on top of my utter chaos zoa/paly? It seemed to be directly stinging parts of the utter chaos which so far has yet to open up again.

After this the Duncan sucked itself in and has been very weird for 2 days. The GSP also didn’t open for a day. Now the hammers are in their permanent spot but still not fully opening.

Could the utter chaos of released something into the water?

Parameters seem fine… and again the Duncan has been thriving in the exact spot.

Salinity: 1.026
Nitrate: 25
Ph: 8 - 8.1
Alk: 8.5
Mg: 1350
Am: 0
Nitrite: 0 (maybe 0.01 on high sensitivity but hard to tell)

Using salifert tests.

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

It is quite possible. Zoas and palys have a very potent toxin in them known as palytoxin, which can be released when the coral is threatened/harmed. I'd recommend running some chemipure carbon to help remove it and maybe a water change

 

[steveschuerger]

Yep, quite possible . About 2 years ago I lost several corals including a couple large cespitularia due to palytoxin when some zoas got injured from a rock falling on them. Even with a large WC (didn’t know about Chemipure then) it was not pleasant.

 

[Stuckita]

Oh my, I was mentioning the theory to my wife and she thought I was nuts. I run carbon, pretty much always, and did my water change yesterday and it seemed to help a bit. That said I didn't change carbon as it still has some life in it... i'll put a fresh batch in today just in case.

Nature is crazy!