Torch colony closed for 4+ weeks now...

[H.E. Pennypacker]

I’m concerned about my 10+ head CC colony, grown from a single head. It had been doing great for years, but over the past 4–6 weeks the right side [~5 heads] started retracting without any visible tissue recession. I moved it away from my other torches hoping that would help, but now the entire colony has been retracted for several weeks. They're not fully sucked in but no beautiful waving...

The tissue bands still looks healthy. I did a dip this morning and didn’t find any pests or flatworms. I also tried an iodine dip hoping that helps. A few months ago, I added two new CC torches and both of them are doing fine. My other chalices are also unaffected.

Water and lighting parameters have been stable. PAR is around 100–125 with a Radion G6. This has been an LPS-only setup for years. I feed every other week and dose NeoPhos and NeoNitro daily. Flow is indirect and I've tried increasing it and decreasing it with no improvements.

Any advice or next steps would be appreciated.

Current Parameters:

• Alkalinity (dKH): 8.2
• Calcium: 400 ppm (increased to 425 ppm today)
• Phosphate (PO4): 0.01 ppm
• Nitrate (NO3): 2.87 ppm
• Salinity: 1.0265 (measured using TM hydrometer)
• PH: 8.3, overnight 8.1

 

[Exotrezy]

I’m concerned about my 10+ head CC colony, grown from a single head. It had been doing great for years, but over the past 4–6 weeks the right side [~5 heads] started retracting without any visible tissue recession. I moved it away from my other torches hoping that would help, but now the entire colony has been retracted for several weeks. They're not fully sucked in but no beautiful waving...

The tissue bands still looks healthy. I did a dip this morning and didn’t find any pests or flatworms. I also tried an iodine dip hoping that helps. A few months ago, I added two new CC torches and both of them are doing fine. My other chalices are also unaffected.

Water and lighting parameters have been stable. PAR is around 100–125 with a Radion G6. This has been an LPS-only setup for years. I feed every other week and dose NeoPhos and NeoNitro daily. Flow is indirect and I've tried increasing it and decreasing it with no improvements.

Any advice or next steps would be appreciated.

Current Parameters:

• Alkalinity (dKH): 8.2
• Calcium: 400 ppm (increased to 425 ppm today)
• Phosphate (PO4): 0.01 ppm
• Nitrate (NO3): 2.87 ppm
• Salinity: 1.0265 (measured using TM hydrometer)
• PH: 8.3, overnight 8.1

send a picture brother

 

[kevgib67]

I know you are trying to change it but I’m surprised that all of your lps aren’t ticked off with so little nutrients in the tank. In addition to dosing, increase feeding, decrease or stop water changes and if you have a protein skimmer, turn it off. I know there is some controversy about magnesium but my torches, frogspawn and hammers thrive when I keep my magnesium at 1400 or a little higher.

 

[Maize & Blue]

1400 are higher on magnesium. I noticed you didn’t even include magnesium in your parameters that could be your problem right there if it’s not 1400 or higher your torches hammers and frog spawn will not be happy.

 

[Unit731]

I’m concerned about my 10+ head CC colony, grown from a single head. It had been doing great for years, but over the past 4–6 weeks the right side [~5 heads] started retracting without any visible tissue recession. I moved it away from my other torches hoping that would help, but now the entire colony has been retracted for several weeks. They're not fully sucked in but no beautiful waving...

The tissue bands still looks healthy. I did a dip this morning and didn’t find any pests or flatworms. I also tried an iodine dip hoping that helps. A few months ago, I added two new CC torches and both of them are doing fine. My other chalices are also unaffected.

Water and lighting parameters have been stable. PAR is around 100–125 with a Radion G6. This has been an LPS-only setup for years. I feed every other week and dose NeoPhos and NeoNitro daily. Flow is indirect and I've tried increasing it and decreasing it with no improvements.

Any advice or next steps would be appreciated.

Current Parameters:

• Alkalinity (dKH): 8.2
• Calcium: 400 ppm (increased to 425 ppm today)
• Phosphate (PO4): 0.01 ppm
• Nitrate (NO3): 2.87 ppm
• Salinity: 1.0265 (measured using TM hydrometer)
• PH: 8.3, overnight 8.1

I've seen this problem with LPS and Torches when they lack nutrition. Try feeding them an entire bottle of the HBLF Margarita phytoplankton blend. It's alive and preservative-free so it doesn't make matters worse like other feeds. I know it has helped on at least four tanks. Hope this helps.

 

[BryanM]

I would bring nutrients up, 5-20 nitrates, .1-.3 phos, and while doing that I would target feed mysis 2x a week.

 

[mcarroll]

Water and lighting parameters have been stable. PAR is around 100–125 with a Radion G6. This has been an LPS-only setup for years. I feed every other week and dose NeoPhos and NeoNitro daily. Flow is indirect and I've tried increasing it and decreasing it with no improvements.

Any advice or next steps would be appreciated.

Current Parameters:

• Alkalinity (dKH): 8.2
• Calcium: 400 ppm (increased to 425 ppm today)
• Phosphate (PO4): 0.01 ppm
• Nitrate (NO3): 2.87 ppm
• Salinity: 1.0265 (measured using TM hydrometer)
• PH: 8.3, overnight 8.1

So what have your target dosing levels been?

If your system has been stable THAT LOW on nutrients then all I can guess is that your coral is a victim of its own success....when corals grow large there are more flow obstructions – bigger corals! So tanks usually need more GPH as they grow in....at minimum the interior of the colony is probably more stagnant than it could be.

I wonder if you increased your target dose of PO4 to 0.10 ppm if you'd see the damage stop? This would be my first experiment. I wouldn't necessarily increase nitrate any more, not under present conditions anyway.

Were there any changes to the system in the last 4-6 weeks (or before) that could correspond to the response you're seeing from this coral?

 

[Reef Jedi]

Pictures please!