My candy cane coral looks shriveled, help!

[nmojahed]

For a couple weeks now my candy cane coral looks shriveled and the "skeleton" is sticking out. My LFS guy told me it could be because of pH. Any thoughts?? Nitrates, phosphates very low, calcium 410. I'm about to upload a pic from my computer real quick

[fishfreak0114]

Sorry it don't know how to help, but mine did this when I first got it. It was shrivelled for probably 2 months and it lost tissue to the point that a thir of it was gone. I thought it was a goner but then one day it inflated nicely and it has since healed like nothing happened.

[nmojahed]

Sorry it don't know how to help, but mine did this when I first got it. It was shrivelled for probably 2 months and it lost tissue to the point that a thir of it was gone. I thought it was a goner but then one day it inflated nicely and it has since healed like nothing happened.

hey thanks for the reply. I've had my tank for almost two years and the coral is almost as old as the tank. This is the first time this has happened. I also got a AI Prime light that is fairly new (4 months) and I don't know if I adjusted the settings correctly, do you think that I could be "frying" them??

[righttirefire]

I've never had candy canes before, but I my Euphyllia will do that. One day giants flowing the next day small deflated and it changes minute by minute sometimes.

 

More information will definately help.

Are they new to your system? If so, could still be acclimating to there new environment. If not, have you changed something in your system? Lighting, flow, new additons, or maintance schedule?

 

I personally check my systems weekly. And document

Salinity, temp, Mg, Ca, dKH, No3, and Po4. I don't test ammonia, nitrites, or pH.

 

That's where I'd start. And it's constantly said, provide numbers, not "good" "hi" or "low". My systems run about 1600mg, which is high, but that's where it runs. Maybe I don't read my test kit properly, but it's constant. Same as my other tests. As long as your testing is consistent it'll give you an idea on a swing.

[nmojahed]

I've never had candy canes before, but I my Euphyllia will do that. One day giants flowing the next day small deflated and it changes minute by minute sometimes.

More information will definately help.

Are they new to your system? If so, could still be acclimating to there new environment. If not, have you changed something in your system? Lighting, flow, new additons, or maintance schedule?

I personally check my systems weekly. And document

Salinity, temp, Mg, Ca, dKH, No3, and Po4. I don't test ammonia, nitrites, or pH.

That's where I'd start. And it's constantly said, provide numbers, not "good" "hi" or "low". My systems run about 1600mg, which is high, but that's where it runs. Maybe I don't read my test kit properly, but it's constant. Same as my other tests. As long as your testing is consistent it'll give you an idea on a swing.

They're almost 1 1/2 years old. I have gotten lazy on my water changes, it used to be weekly 1-2 gallons, now it's 2-4 gallons every 2 or 3 weeks. I did get a new AI prime LED light but I gradually increased the lighting numbers but stopped like 2 months ago. I really haven't changed anything else. And my nitrates were less than 5, and phosphates almost undetectable. There has been a green hair algae bloom but I got a hermit to deal with that

They're almost 1 1/2 years old. I have gotten lazy on my water changes, it used to be weekly 1-2 gallons, now it's 2-4 gallons every 2 or 3 weeks. I did get a new AI prime LED light but I gradually increased the lighting numbers but stopped like 2 months ago. I really haven't changed anything else. And my nitrates were less than 5, and phosphates almost undetectable. There has been a green hair algae bloom but I got a hermit to deal with that

My tank is a 16 gal nuvo btw. One fish and some snails and a cleaner shrimp. Maybe 7-8 corals

[righttirefire]

Well, I'd recommend getting back to your 1-2 gallon weekly Waterchange if you didn't have the problem back then. Like I said I've never had this coral. I hope someone with more experience would chime in

[jack1978]

IMG_0146 (1).PNG

 

hey thanks for the reply. I've had my tank for almost two years and the coral is almost as old as the tank. This is the first time this has happened. I also got a AI Prime light that is fairly new (4 months) and I don't know if I adjusted the settings correctly, do you think that I could be "frying" them??

Guessing it's your parameters. .....looks like algae covering your rocks and part of the coral?

Go back to your frequent water changes if that's all that's been changed....and feed them.

[Elizabeth94]

I personally would give that guy an iodine dip for a few mins. Or maybe do a spot treatment of peroxide on the skeleton if it has algae on it (use diluted peroxide at first and see how that works).

[Pinner Reef]

Check your Alkalinity which is often the cause of this in candys... and post up ALL of your current parameters for us to review in order to help. Get back on those waterchanges as well. That's the best thing you can do.