Tissue loss underneath acropora colony canopy

[KGV]

This a 20 cm acro colony that lost tissue at the stem. The top still grows fast and has good PE and good color. There is obviously little light underneath. Is this why the base looses tissue? Does one see this in the wild as well?

 

[sdreef]

Over what time period has the tissue recede? Are those aptasia at the base of the colony?

 

[KGV]

Over what time period has the tissue recede? Are those aptasia at the base of the colony?

It receded over 4-7 months, perhaps. It’s fairly slow. And yeh, now there is all sorts of stuff growing there; algae, vermitid snails, aiptasia.

 

[Tim'sReef]

Maybe look for AEFW cause I heard somewhere that bleaching/dying from the stem could be a symptom.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

This a 20 cm acro colony that lost tissue at the stem. The top still grows fast and has good PE and good color. There is obviously little light underneath. Is this why the base looses tissue? Does one see this in the wild as well?

That has such a small base If it were me would pull it and dip it, cut the base and epoxy it back to the rock.

 

[KGV]

Maybe look for AEFW cause I heard somewhere that bleaching/dying from the stem could be a symptom.

I am certain that I don’t have flatworm.

 

[ScottB]

It receded over 4-7 months, perhaps. It’s fairly slow. And yeh, now there is all sorts of stuff growing there; algae, vermitid snails, aiptasia.

Aips and vermitids will irritate the flesh, but I have this on some shady undersides too. That is why it is good to keep the rockwork low. My first couple of aquascapes were built far too tall and eventually it became almost unsightly looking at shaded undergrowth up to half the height of the tank.

 

[KGV]

Aips and vermitids will irritate the flesh, but I have this on some shady undersides too. That is why it is good to keep the rockwork low. My first couple of aquascapes were built far too tall and eventually it became almost unsightly looking at shaded undergrowth up to half the height of the tank.

The coral seems happy but, yeh, it’s really unsightly .

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

it looks like there is an aptaisia growing right off the stalk, I'm sure the coral is being stung nonstop.

 

[KGV]

it looks like there is an aptaisia growing right off the stalk, I'm sure the coral is being stung nonstop.

I don’t know, is that your experience? Several of my acros have aiptasia growing by their base and don’t seem to be bothered by it.

 

[spsick]

These are the struggles of success when acro colonies get over 6-8”. Obviously upwelling light helps but increased flow can as well. I would also saw off the dead base and remount. Have done this before with large healthy colonies.

 

[KGV]

These are the struggles of success when acro colonies get over 6-8”. Obviously upwelling light helps but increased flow can as well. I would also saw off the dead base and remount. Have done this before with large healthy colonies.

Would you not think that this must happen in the wild as well when they get even larger and have a plating form?

 

[spsick]

Would you not think that this must happen in the wild as well when they get even larger and have a plating form?

Maybe but our tanks are very different than the wild. Wild colonies have access to worlds more flow, food, light, etc.

 

[sdreef]

It receded over 4-7 months, perhaps. It’s fairly slow. And yeh, now there is all sorts of stuff growing there; algae, vermitid snails, aiptasia.

Is the tissue on the base attached to the rock still alive? If so, I’d say light probably isn’t the only cause of the tissue recession. May be a contributor, but likely a combination of factors.

In any case if the tissue recession is progressing I’d consider cutting off the base and reattaching. Can’t tell for sure but appears to have advanced to some of the areas that still get light.

If it’s stable, then no need to intervene unless you choose to for aesthetic reasons. I personally would be worried about progression or an increased risk of some type of infection, but it’s a hard call when you’ve invested the time and a colony has developed a nice shape like that.

Given the slow rate of progression, no rush and can see which direction things move before acting.

 

[KrisReef]

Would you not think that this must happen in the wild as well when they get even larger and have a plating form?

Not to the same degree. Colonies in the wild grow into place so that energy from the top is fed down to the lower areas and they tend to keep flesh and grow bigger at the base, not loose flesh and die. Totally a function of the coral being grown in a tank vs wild growth, ime. If the base stops growing then as the top grows it will eventually grow too big for the base attachment and get broken off in a storm surge.

 

[spsick]

Another note worth mentioning on remounting it: not without risks. Medium colonies do ok with this. Sometimes XL colonies any big change can shock them into RTN.

 

[Falc!]

Running Leds?

 

[KGV]

Running Leds?

Yes. But it’s very spread and daylight type. I have the Philips Coral Cares. I really don’t think I have more diffuse light using eg t5.

 

[KGV]

Terrible with photos but this is the coral from above. It’s the plating one with blue tips. No idea what it is.

 

[KrisReef]

Amazing and beautiful, life makes its way forward even with artificial light handicap. I would leave it alone and let it grow up in the current situation, how can cutting this make it better?