Plate coral in bad shape

[rhorn67]

Hey all - I have a plate coral that was doing great until my watchman goby started dumping sand on it. I used a baster for a week clearing off the sand each time it was covered. When I say covered it wasn't entirely covered but maybe 20-30% each time. Since then it has receded and is putting out a dark material that resembles what it excretes a few days after being fed. I dipped it in Coral Rx and Lugols but it didn't seem to improve.

Any ideas? Is this a goner?

 

[mcarroll]

Plate corals are pretty adept at cleaning themselves off....

Tank parameters?
How long was he in the tank before the watchman ruined it all? ;)
Have you also been moving him around, or does he tend to stay mostly in the same area of the tank?

He's stressed, so definitely stop doing anything further, like Lugol's dips, to stress him.

Post up some more info! :)

 

[rhorn67]

Plate corals are pretty adept at cleaning themselves off....

Tank parameters?
How long was he in the tank before the watchman ruined it all? ;)
Have you also been moving him around, or does he tend to stay mostly in the same area of the tank?

He's stressed, so definitely stop doing anything further, like Lugol's dips, to stress him.

Post up some more info! :)

I have had him for 4 months and the watchman about 9. He was doing great until the sand issue started up. The watchman decided he needed to dump the sand he clears out of his den everyday on the plate. I did move him further away from the watchman's den to help prevent this. Other than that move he stays put. He did a pretty good job clearing the light "dustings" the goby gave him, I cleared the more heavy ones. I found an older article that suggested a dip so I did it one time.

temp 78
calc 480-500
alk 9.4
ph 8-8.1
phospates .02

 

[RMS18]

I have the same problem going on. My basslet keeps dumping sand on a new yellow plate. The basslet is creating a new cave next to thr plate. Every day I get home 3/4 of it is covered. I would go in lightly blast the sand off. Well it's been a week now, no tenticles are extending, it's lost 50% of its color.

 

[rhorn67]

I have the same problem going on. My basslet keeps dumping sand on a new yellow plate. The basslet is creating a new cave next to thr plate. Every day I get home 3/4 of it is covered. I would go in lightly blast the sand off. Well it's been a week now, no tenticles are extending, it's lost 50% of its color.

Oh man seems like the exact same scenario. Are you able to move it somewhere away from the new cave?

I have read it's not a great idea to keep sand dwelling fish and corals that reside on the sand in the same tank. Of course I read this after researching my current issue my fault for sure. The goby does such a good job at keeping the sand turned over but I think it's time for him to go.

Hopefully our plates will recover.

 

[aaron23]

lol i'd move the plate to a better spot or get rid of the goby

 

[RMS18]

Oh man seems like the exact same scenario. Are you able to move it somewhere away from the new cave?

I have read it's not a great idea to keep sand dwelling fish and corals that reside on the sand in the same tank. Of course I read this after researching my current issue my fault for sure. The goby does such a good job at keeping the sand turned over but I think it's time for him to go.

Hopefully our plates will recover.

I did move mine yes but the damage is done. Will take some time for it to come back. Keep your parameters on point and keep it stress free and it will be ok.

 

[rhorn67]

lol i'd move the plate to a better spot or get rid of the goby

I have moved the plate to a new location so crossing my fingers he recovers now that he's not being pelted with sand. My plan is to remove the goby for sure. I have a trap that I put in a week ago. It took a few days then he finally went in to eat. I dropped the glass door but he was too quick and got under it just as it closed. I am going to drill another hole for the pin that holds it up so that it can stay lower in the opening and not have so far to drop.

 

[Psiber_Syn]

Had the same issue with wrasse once and diamond goby both killed the plates