Torch coral is dying

[Auroraz]

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some help diagnosing what’s going on with one of my torch corals.
I have two torches in my tank:

• Torch #1 (on the right) – about 4 months old - the one that dying
• Torch #2 (on the left) – added about 1 month ago - looking good to me

When I introduced the new torch, I moved the older one to a different spot because I was trying to start a small “torch garden.” I’m not sure if the move is related, but ever since relocating it, the older torch has been declining. Today I noticed some of its tentacles actually detaching.
Current parameters:

• Nitrate: 6
• Phosphate: 0.14 (I did have a spike up to ~0.4 two weeks ago)
• Alk: 9
• Calcium: 450
• Magnesium: 1400
• Salinity: 35.5 ppt

My questions are:

1. Could the decline be related to the phosphate spike from two weeks ago? The strange part is that all my other corals look great
2. Could the placement change have stressed it enough to cause this?
3. Do torches sometimes recover from this stage, or is it better to remove it before it fully bails out?

Any advice or similar experiences would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

IMO no phosphate did not cause this. Personally I would move it back where it was before. Just because one torch likes the spot doesn't mean every torch will like the same spot know what I mean

 

[VintageReefer]

Your parameters are fine. And I have a ton of torches and have been all over the board with phosphate. I’ve spiked from .1 to .9 in a couple days and then spent 2 months bringing it down. There was zero noticeable impact.

Your issue is likely placement and it’s unhappy in the new spot. Or it was damaged slightly during the move. Or it has a bacterial infection. I would start with carefully moving it back to the original spot, in the same orientation, and give it 48 hours and watch for improvement or declining.

 

[Auroraz]

I moved it back to its original location
I hope it is not too late :(

I will update in a few days

ty folks

 

[Jack’s Reef 2024]

Torches have proven to be pretty hardy for me I’ve had some look like that just give it time. It will bounce back it most likely didn’t like the spot moved to as the others said.

 

[Auroraz]

Quick update:
Unfortunately, the Torch looks completely dead

I took a short video of what I believe is a feather duster worm (please correct me if I’m wrong) swaying right where the Torch used to be (dancing on the grave)
Could this worm be related to the coral’s decline? I was always told feather dusters are harmless, but I did notice it started appearing on the Torch’s flesh around the same time the deterioration began.

 

[dlee3814]

Happened to me and it sucks to come home to