Are any of these close to or touching the brain?runway1 said:I have a 55 gal with mushrooms, some gold polyps of some kind (forgot), orange sponge, LT-plate coral
The nitrates are a bit of a concern. You need to get those down below 10 ppm on a consitant basis. The chemistry is kinda high as well. You really should let that fall to a more NSW level. Elevating the chem above NSW serves no purpose and can actually do more harm than good. If you are using a swing arm hydrometer to measure your SG, I'd also let that fall towards 1.024. The hydrometer will most likely be reding innacruartely overall. Ph is good though..Chemistry is about 20 ppm nitrates, 450/460 Ca, 14 kH, 8.3/8.4 pH, SG was a bit high at 1.029. Lowered now to 1.026
The sixline could be picking at parasitic hitchikers. You might want to gentley pick up the coral (wear gloves) and inspect it underwater. If recesion or necsrosis have set in, you really need to get those nitrates down. They will only make matters worse. Water changes will be needed on a more frequent basis in the meantime.I did notice that my 6-line pecked at it a bit but I though that was after it died. Dunno. Nitrates were at 15 and have floated up to 20+. Not sure why
If the flesh is hugging the skelatal structure constantly there is something causing it. When the lights are on the coral should plump up quite a bit. High alkalinity, neighbourly irritants and water flow generally being the culprit.midiman said:Maybe I don't understand brains (I'm in the midst of the Borneman book right now), but I can see too many of the ridges of the coral skeleton for my tastes. Shouldn't it be "plump" when it's fully open? Are the ridges that radiate out from the center normally visible, or covered in flesh?
Mesenterial filaments are used for "prey capture". More commonly seen at night but the longer the coral is in the tank the more common it will be to see them whenever the tank is fed.I notice that, at night, a ring aroung the center seems to curl up , exposing more fleahy material underneath- feeder tentacles?
Couldn't tell you without more info about the "before and after". New additions/changes etc...?runway1 said:I water change quite regularly - 5 gal every week without miss in my 55 gal (with 3 gal in the sump +2 in the fuge). My NO3 was 10-15 and then floated up; wonder why?
I doubt the salinity problem would cause this although it could stress the coral I doubt it would kill it. Parasites are always a possibility but unless you catch one in the act, it's just guess work.Do you think the high SG may have done him in or a parasite I didn't catch?