Torch Coral dying please help!

[kwelsh]

I have had this 6 head torch coral for a few months now and one head has died with another on the way. There is no BJD that I can see. What should I do with this coral? Should I dip or just continue to monitor? It took the first head about a week to die. I would love some advice!

 

[Tahoe61]

@VintageReefer

An LPS aficionado.

 

[Shnetts]

tank params?

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Following along because I recently lost a torch for no "seen" reason. everything else in my tank looks great, but my torch withered away and I have no idea why.

 

[BryanM]

I bought this to have it handy in case of issues, I've heard quite good things about the product.

Joker Corals

an online reef store. Selling high end corals including SPS, LPS, Zoanthids, and mushrooms. Torch, chalice, hammer, zoa, blasto, acan & monti etc. WYSIWYG section offers ready to go corals. Joker corals also including the JCC which is short for Joker coral signature collections.

jokercorals.com

I'd probably dip it since another head is looking bad.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along because I recently lost a torch for no "seen" reason. everything else in my tank looks great, but my torch withered away and I have no idea why.

I had a torch in my tank that died for no reason too when all my other corals were doing just fine!

 

[kwelsh]

tank params?

We have two 100 gallon custom cubes from a local tank company and so have a contract with them to service them weekly. Having said that this past Monday he tested and said the parameters were all within range. We have been battling an algae problem and trying different things, and the latest was to raise the Magnesium in the tank to about 1500. But the first head died before he did that. He does weekly water changes of 10% sometimes slightly more. I am thinking from everything I have been reading that it might be a good idea to dip and then maybe frag the heads that are looking iffy. They seem to be going down one by one. I overnighted Lugol's iodine solution so I could dip for parasites in case that might be the culprit. Have had this torch for about three months and it has been doing amazingly well but put a bubble coral down on the sandbed beneath it. When I realized the next day it might be irritating it I moved the bubble coral to the back of the tank, where it is thriving, but thought maybe that was the issue at first. But now each head is going down so it is making me think it might be some parasite.

 

[kwelsh]

I bought this to have it handy in case of issues, I've heard quite good things about the product.

Joker Corals

an online reef store. Selling high end corals including SPS, LPS, Zoanthids, and mushrooms. Torch, chalice, hammer, zoa, blasto, acan & monti etc. WYSIWYG section offers ready to go corals. Joker corals also including the JCC which is short for Joker coral signature collections.

jokercorals.com

I'd probably dip it since another head is looking bad.

I did just order some Lugol's solution overnight so will dip tomorrow and maybe frag the two that are looking poorly. Thanks.

 

[kwelsh]

I bought this to have it handy in case of issues, I've heard quite good things about the product.

Joker Corals

an online reef store. Selling high end corals including SPS, LPS, Zoanthids, and mushrooms. Torch, chalice, hammer, zoa, blasto, acan & monti etc. WYSIWYG section offers ready to go corals. Joker corals also including the JCC which is short for Joker coral signature collections.

jokercorals.com

I'd probably dip it since another head is looking bad.

just ordered some Flugol's solution and planning on dipping tomorrow. Thanks for the help. That product is sold out but have my name entered to notify when it becomes available.

 

[kevgib67]

We have two 100 gallon custom cubes from a local tank company and so have a contract with them to service them weekly. Having said that this past Monday he tested and said the parameters were all within range. We have been battling an algae problem and trying different things, and the latest was to raise the Magnesium in the tank to about 1500. But the first head died before he did that. He does weekly water changes of 10% sometimes slightly more. I am thinking from everything I have been reading that it might be a good idea to dip and then maybe frag the heads that are looking iffy. They seem to be going down one by one. I overnighted Lugol's iodine solution so I could dip for parasites in case that might be the culprit. Have had this torch for about three months and it has been doing amazingly well but put a bubble coral down on the sandbed beneath it. When I realized the next day it might be irritating it I moved the bubble coral to the back of the tank, where it is thriving, but thought maybe that was the issue at first. But now each head is going down so it is making me think it might be some parasite.

Those bubble corals do have nasty long sweepers that can take out just about every coral they touch. Can we have a complete list of the parameters?

 

[VintageReefer]

just ordered some Flugol's solution and planning on dipping tomorrow. Thanks for the help. That product is sold out but have my name entered to notify when it becomes available.

The lugols is a good start and I would definitly make sure it’s out of range of sweepers from other corals

The coral infection elimination product is the only type of its kind on the market and only became available to USA in January. It definitly is something that helps with bjd as long as it’s not too far advanced. IS it might not save the shin bead but it will keep it from spreading to remaining.

I would frag off the bad head as low as possible and redip in lugols and then CIE when it comes in

@Joker Corals do you have an eta on restock for CIE ?

 

[Shnetts]

We have two 100 gallon custom cubes from a local tank company and so have a contract with them to service them weekly. Having said that this past Monday he tested and said the parameters were all within range. We have been battling an algae problem and trying different things, and the latest was to raise the Magnesium in the tank to about 1500. But the first head died before he did that. He does weekly water changes of 10% sometimes slightly more. I am thinking from everything I have been reading that it might be a good idea to dip and then maybe frag the heads that are looking iffy. They seem to be going down one by one. I overnighted Lugol's iodine solution so I could dip for parasites in case that might be the culprit. Have had this torch for about three months and it has been doing amazingly well but put a bubble coral down on the sandbed beneath it. When I realized the next day it might be irritating it I moved the bubble coral to the back of the tank, where it is thriving, but thought maybe that was the issue at first. But now each head is going down so it is making me think it might be some parasite.

I recently had this happen to me. I have a torch garden of about 6 different torches. I was battling algae and nutrient problems and once I beat them my nutrients swung a good bit and it royally ticked off one of my torches and he died within a day. Some of them can be super intolerant to nitrate and phos swings and you saying your also dealing with that I might suggest looking into it. See if you can ask your maintenance man for the actual numbers

 

[kwelsh]

Those bubble corals do have nasty long sweepers that can take out just about every coral they touch. Can we have a complete list of the parameters?

Okay just tested as I usually leave this to the guy who comes to take care of the tanks.
PH 7.7 (low)
Alkalinity 7.28DKH (low)
Phosphate .20 (high)
Nitrates 25 (We have been battling this for awhile now)
Magnesium 1350ppm
Amonia 0
Nitrite 0
Calcium 580

I did just dose some PH Buffer to raise the PH and alk a bit. I also did just do a dip in Coral RX of the torch and nothing that I saw that came off beside dead tissue. Any other suggestions would be great. Thanks.

 

[BryanM]

Okay just tested as I usually leave this to the guy who comes to take care of the tanks.
PH 7.7 (low)
Alkalinity 7.28DKH (low)
Phosphate .20 (high)
Nitrates 25 (We have been battling this for awhile now)
Magnesium 1350ppm
Amonia 0
Nitrite 0
Calcium 580

I did just dose some PH Buffer to raise the PH and alk a bit. I also did just do a dip in Coral RX of the torch and nothing that I saw that came off beside dead tissue. Any other suggestions would be great. Thanks.

I wouldn't be worried about nitrates or phosphates. You could lower them, but this isn't likely your problem.

That calc number is getting quite high. I do not know if that is contributing, but most people like 400-450.

Alk is only low if you knowingly have kept it a lot higher most of the time. So if you run 9-10alk, and its down to almost 7, this could be the cause. You can safely bring alk up .5 dkh a day.

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

That ph number also doesn’t seem right but I wouldn’t suspect that’s your issue either. How have u been battling nitrates? Sometimes swings from gfos can cause issues

 

[Ocean King Corals]

The lugols is a good start and I would definitly make sure it’s out of range of sweepers from other corals

The coral infection elimination product is the only type of its kind on the market and only became available to USA in January. It definitly is something that helps with bjd as long as it’s not too far advanced. IS it might not save the shin bead but it will keep it from spreading to remaining.

I would frag off the bad head as low as possible and redip in lugols and then CIE when it comes in

@Joker Corals do you have an eta on restock for CIE ?

is still an hot item. I don't think ill have the next batch until two weeks later

 

[kevgib67]

That ph number also doesn’t seem right but I wouldn’t suspect that’s your issue either. How have u been battling nitrates? Sometimes swings from gfos can cause issues

I agree with all of the above and stability is key.

 

[VintageReefer]

See if you can ask your maintenance man for the actual numbers

Yes. Get the actual values, and the brands of kit for each test.

You pay for this service they should provide the numbers if requested. Never accept “everything’s in range”. Ranges ranges and in range doesn’t mean stable

Alk example can have an acceptable range of 8-10. Hypothetically speaking - if you are 8 one week, 10 the next, 8 the following, you would be considered unstable and swings like this could really stress corals.

 

[kwelsh]

I recently had this happen to me. I have a torch garden of about 6 different torches. I was battling algae and nutrient problems and once I beat them my nutrients swung a good bit and it royally ticked off one of my torches and he died within a day. Some of them can be super intolerant to nitrate and phos swings and you saying your also dealing with that I might suggest looking into it. See if you can ask your maintenance man for the actual numbers

Thanks so much for the insight. I did post the numbers in the thread. I just tested them myself tonight. Nitrate has been high for awhile now and we have done so much to battle this. chaeto in the sump with light, actually huge water change, we dosed Flux RX and did water change after 7 days, added tang, emerald crabs, turbo snails, two more that I can't remember right now.

 

[kwelsh]

Yes. Get the actual values, and the brands of kit for each test.

You pay for this service they should provide the numbers if requested. Never accept “everything’s in range”. Ranges ranges and in range doesn’t mean stable

Alk example can have an acceptable range of 8-10. Hypothetically speaking - if you are 8 one week, 10 the next, 8 the following, you would be considered unstable and swings like this could really stress corals.

PH 7.7 (low) (Hannah)
Alkalinity 7.28DKH (low) (Hannah)
Phosphate .20 (high) (hannah)
Nitrates 25 (We have been battling this for awhile now) (Hannah, Salifert)
Magnesium 1350ppm (Salifert)
Amonia 0 (Hannah)
Nitrite 0 (Hannah)
Calcium 580 (Hannah)