I bought a colt coral Friday evening it did not open Saturday and Sunday it's started to look like it was melting I know about the normal distress and slime but when I woke up my whole fish tank was white any help any suggestions
Colt Coral in distress
- Thread starter Shawn138
- Start date
- Location
- long island, ny
I had a very similar issue and unfortunately, my colt wound up passing. It was in my tank for a about 3 months and all of the sudden it turned a darker color and shriveled away.
The good news is that they are pretty resilient and if you find out what the issue is..... you can sometimes save the coral.
In my particular case it was one of my first corals, so I didn't know what was wrong. My nitrates were low, undetectable ammonia and nitrite.
I was dosing alk/calc every day but never tested, I only followed the bionic 2 part directions and trusted it.
Then read up that if magnesium is low, then calcium won't be as readily absorbed by the water... etc. So sure enough my calcium levels were off, due to the fact my magnesium was much lower then suggested.
If i had checked earlier maybe the colt would have survived ,however, IDK! This is Just a suggestion, check out your magnesium levels, and don't just look at n03 no2 and nh3 also check out your dKh and alkalinity!
I hope you the coral pulls through and is just adjusting. Sometimes you can be doing everything right, and the coral just doesn't make it
The good news is that they are pretty resilient and if you find out what the issue is..... you can sometimes save the coral.
In my particular case it was one of my first corals, so I didn't know what was wrong. My nitrates were low, undetectable ammonia and nitrite.
I was dosing alk/calc every day but never tested, I only followed the bionic 2 part directions and trusted it.
Then read up that if magnesium is low, then calcium won't be as readily absorbed by the water... etc. So sure enough my calcium levels were off, due to the fact my magnesium was much lower then suggested.
If i had checked earlier maybe the colt would have survived ,however, IDK! This is Just a suggestion, check out your magnesium levels, and don't just look at n03 no2 and nh3 also check out your dKh and alkalinity!
I hope you the coral pulls through and is just adjusting. Sometimes you can be doing everything right, and the coral just doesn't make it
- Location
- long island, ny
also Iodine levels.
These pics are from Friday night Saturday morning today it looks like one of the branches is melting.!!!!
Called a few places gave my water parameters conclusion was possibly water temperature a bit too high. We will see. Any and all advice welcome!
Called a few places gave my water parameters conclusion was possibly water temperature a bit too high. We will see. Any and all advice welcome!
- Location
- Westchester
How old is the tank? Are other corals doing OK?
+1...tank looks very 'new'...how long has it been running?
My tank is over 12 years old went from fish to reef back to fish now back to reef this is a first coral I put in the tank never stopped running in 12 years
72gal
150 wet dry w/skimmer
2- 802power head
72gal
150 wet dry w/skimmer
2- 802power head
Attachments
Colt coral today. last pic from saturday.
Help!
Help!
Attachments
- Location
- Westchester
Since it's the only coral in there, the problem really could be anything. Temperature, toxins, too much or too little light. Sounds like it's too fast to be due to minor elements. Sorry if this isn't too helpful. Wouldn't add anything else until you're sure everything is squared away. Colts are amongst the hardier corals.
Thanks for providing the info regarding the tank. It's tough for us to know when we are dealing with someone with experience when they are new to the site 
How high did the temp get in the tank?
My other comment would be that leathers tend to like more flow than it might be getting currently. Can you move one of the poweheads so it is discharging more in the direction of the coral...you don't want to blow it away, just get some good current on it.
If you plan to add more coral going forward, you might want to consider getting some more powerful powerheads in there
How high did the temp get in the tank?
My other comment would be that leathers tend to like more flow than it might be getting currently. Can you move one of the poweheads so it is discharging more in the direction of the coral...you don't want to blow it away, just get some good current on it.
If you plan to add more coral going forward, you might want to consider getting some more powerful powerheads in there
lol, you were adding pics as I was typing...get more current on it, and I'd leave the piece that is leaning down on the sand..it looks more pissed off than dead. Give it some more time after you increase the current.
Leathers are hardy but can also pout. Yours is pouting big time.
Leathers are hardy but can also pout. Yours is pouting big time.
This is my colt coral today. What should I do should I just scrape it off and save the rock or leave it for a few more days looking kind of dead to me
Attachments
Since you said that your tank is over 12 years old... when was the last time you checked any parameters?
calcium
alk
magnesium
ph
phosphate
nitrates
nitrites
ammonia
That colt def did not like what was going on with the water and he's not looking so good at all. probably next to dead at the moment.
calcium
alk
magnesium
ph
phosphate
nitrates
nitrites
ammonia
That colt def did not like what was going on with the water and he's not looking so good at all. probably next to dead at the moment.
- Location
- Westchester
If parameters all OK, pretty much leaves temp, lighting, flow.
- Location
- Brooklyn
This look like a serious water perimeter issue..... Since you had it as a fish only in the past have you ever treated your fish with chemical such as copper? Also try and get or borrow someone's test kit and check for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates because the colt is the first coral in my tank to signs distress when something in the tank is not right...... Lastly take it out of direct lighting and lower the water flow for a day or two.... These are the steps I had to take inorder for mines to aclimate properly to my system..... Now mines is the size of a basketball in under a year
- Location
- Upper West Side
Silly question, but when you went fish only, did you ever treat the tank with any medication that contained copper?
I don't see any snails, hermit crabs or other inverts.
Other than that, pop a waterhead and point it at it. (Don't have it too close)
Where in NYC are you?
Alfred
I don't see any snails, hermit crabs or other inverts.
Other than that, pop a waterhead and point it at it. (Don't have it too close)
Where in NYC are you?
Alfred
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