Torch help!

[Davesreef’s]

Hey all, I’ve been having g some issues with two specific heads of my torches. One of my cotton candy and the other my OG holy grail. I don’t want to lose either head but I fear it might be BJD forming. These two heads have been ticked off/retracting and have these clumps of either BJD or algae and I’m unsure how to help or if I need to chop those two heads. Any advice would be greatly appreciated


View attachment 20260405_133636_7D840F92-80F2-4AF5-9664-BF721FBE9954.mov

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Are you able to upload some pictures as well?

Dipped the coral recently?

What are you running your lights at?

Parameters?

 

[Rocks reef]

Doesn't look like BJD. You would know if it was. Something is definitely irritating it. Any pests in the tank? EEFW?

 

[Davesreef’s]

Doesn't look like BJD. You would know if it was. Something is definitely irritating it. Any pests in the tank? EEFW?

Not that I’ve noticed, I’ve had brown jelly before and like you said, you pretty much know right away. I’ll have to keep monitoring it, it’s a little hard being that I’m away for college so I can only see the tank every few days at most. Thanks for the response tho!

 

[Davesreef’s]

Are you able to upload some pictures as well?

Dipped the coral recently?

What are you running your lights at?

Parameters?

I dipped it last week, I’m doubtful it’s the lighting as they’ve been here for close to a year with no issue and I have torches placed both higher and lower than those. These are the only photos I have right now. I ca get more in the next couple days.

 

[Marine Betta]

Are you able to upload some pictures as well?

Dipped the coral recently?

What are you running your lights at?

Parameters?

I dipped it last week, I’m doubtful it’s the lighting as they’ve been here for close to a year with no issue and I have torches placed both higher and lower than those. These are the only photos I have right now. I ca get more in the next couple days.

I think it would be looking way worse by now if it was BJD. If you dipped last week and nothing came off, it’s probably not euphyllia eating flatworms, but it couldn’t hurt to dip again. What fish and inverts do you have?

Another possibility is that these torches don’t get along with a neighboring torch, and they’re being stung. I’m not 100% convinced of this, but I’m just throwing it out there since it looks like the heads closest to another torch are the ones that are affected. If they’re from different regions it’s a possibility.

If you haven’t already, you could try an iodine dip and see if they perk up.

 

[Davesreef’s]

Are you able to upload some pictures as well?

Dipped the coral recently?

What are you running your lights at?

Parameters?

I dipped it last week, I’m doubtful it’s the lighting as they’ve been here for close to a year with no issue and I have torches placed both higher and lower than those. These are the only photos I have right now. I ca get more in the next couple days.

I think it would be looking way worse by now if it was BJD. If you dipped last week and nothing came off, it’s probably not euphyllia eating flatworms, but it couldn’t hurt to dip again. What fish and inverts do you have?

Another possibility is that these torches don’t get along with a neighboring torch, and they’re being stung. I’m not 100% convinced of this, but I’m just throwing it out there since it looks like the heads closest to another torch are the ones that are affected. If they’re from different regions it’s a possibility.

If you haven’t already, you could try an iodine dip and see if they perk up.

I thought the same in regard to BJD. My two little fishes duo says it expires this month so I’ll get a fresh bottle and dip again. I just have two clowns and some red led hermits/ astraea snails. I appreciate the response!

 

[Marine Betta]

Are you able to upload some pictures as well?

Dipped the coral recently?

What are you running your lights at?

Parameters?

I dipped it last week, I’m doubtful it’s the lighting as they’ve been here for close to a year with no issue and I have torches placed both higher and lower than those. These are the only photos I have right now. I ca get more in the next couple days.

I think it would be looking way worse by now if it was BJD. If you dipped last week and nothing came off, it’s probably not euphyllia eating flatworms, but it couldn’t hurt to dip again. What fish and inverts do you have?

Another possibility is that these torches don’t get along with a neighboring torch, and they’re being stung. I’m not 100% convinced of this, but I’m just throwing it out there since it looks like the heads closest to another torch are the ones that are affected. If they’re from different regions it’s a possibility.

If you haven’t already, you could try an iodine dip and see if they perk up.

I thought the same in regard to BJD. My two little fishes duo says it expires this month so I’ll get a fresh bottle and dip again. I just have two clowns and some red led hermits/ astraea snails. I appreciate the response!

I was going to recommend revive if you needed a dip, so good call there. I think we can rule out a tank mate being the problem. If the clowns were irritating them, the entire coral would probably be closing up. You could set up your phone to record while you’re not in the room to see they’re doing anything when you’re not looking just to rule it out.

If it’s not BJD, pests, or tankmates, I think the only other options are parameters, coral warfare between torches, or some other sort of infection that’s not BJD. The parameters I’d check first are nitrate, phosphate, alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium. The iodine dip would help if it’s some sort of infection. I use Lugol’s. Just a word of warning. I would keep an eye out for BJD still because they may not have it now, but unhealthy/unhappy euphyllia are susceptible to it.

 

[Davesreef’s]

Are you able to upload some pictures as well?

Dipped the coral recently?

What are you running your lights at?

Parameters?

I dipped it last week, I’m doubtful it’s the lighting as they’ve been here for close to a year with no issue and I have torches placed both higher and lower than those. These are the only photos I have right now. I ca get more in the next couple days.

I think it would be looking way worse by now if it was BJD. If you dipped last week and nothing came off, it’s probably not euphyllia eating flatworms, but it couldn’t hurt to dip again. What fish and inverts do you have?

Another possibility is that these torches don’t get along with a neighboring torch, and they’re being stung. I’m not 100% convinced of this, but I’m just throwing it out there since it looks like the heads closest to another torch are the ones that are affected. If they’re from different regions it’s a possibility.

If you haven’t already, you could try an iodine dip and see if they perk up.

I thought the same in regard to BJD. My two little fishes duo says it expires this month so I’ll get a fresh bottle and dip again. I just have two clowns and some red led hermits/ astraea snails. I appreciate the response!

I was going to recommend revive if you needed a dip, so good call there. I think we can rule out a tank mate being the problem. If the clowns were irritating them, the entire coral would probably be closing up. You could set up your phone to record while you’re not in the room to see they’re doing anything when you’re not looking just to rule it out.

If it’s not BJD, pests, or tankmates, I think the only other options are parameters, coral warfare between torches, or some other sort of infection that’s not BJD. The parameters I’d check first are nitrate, phosphate, alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium. The iodine dip would help if it’s some sort of infection. I use Lugol’s. Just a word of warning. I would keep an eye out for BJD still because they may not have it now, but unhealthy/unhappy euphyllia are susceptible to it.

My parameters have been pretty stable with 8.8-9 Dkh. 13-18ppm Nitrates and .03-.06 phosphate. Been like that for a few months now. The head looks pretty much cooked now, I’m probably going to chop it and get a fresh dip. My HG looks alright but the cotton candy looks cooked…any thoughts?

 

[BryanM]

I also agree, does not look like bjd.

With the close proximity of these torches, I would try to give the problematic one a big more room and see if it improves. Generally they can be together, but sometimes you get a "bad actor".