Rescue Corals

[MechEng99]

Was the coral recently stung in that area or otherwise damaged? Is there an anemone nearby?

If not, it looks like a bacterial infection. I would take it out and dip it in something like CoralRx, iodine, TMPCC, Revive, etc.

Is the area quickly growing? Over how long? What are your water parameters? Any fish nippers?

[Mr.Eeks]

Originally Posted by johnike

My chalices don't like too much light or flow.
Maybe get it under a ledge for a while and see what happens, good luck.

Did a PWC on Friday, got him a little more shade. I don't think the flow would be too much were I have him but will see how the shade helps.

Originally Posted by MechEng99

Was the coral recently stung in that area or otherwise damaged? Is there an anemone nearby?

If not, it looks like a bacterial infection. I would take it out and dip it in something like CoralRx, iodine, TMPCC, Revive, etc.

Is the area quickly growing? Over how long? What are your water parameters? Any fish nippers?

No 'nems in the tank, but he is probably 6 inches from a frogspawn. I just recently noticed the damage, maybe few days before the holidays. Doesn't seem to be getting rapidly larger, but I know the maroon tissue was larger when I purchased him back in probably July. As for fish I have a single clown (female committed suicide recently) and a fairy wrasse. I have not done any testing in a little while. But plan to Monday so will post most recent then, however I've never tested above nil for anything, little lower usually on dkH and pH but usually steady and within a good range. Also all my corals have been dipped prior to going in my tank with the Bayer method. Frogspawn, fire and ice zoas, a small chalice (not growing, not shrinking but I see the tentacles at night) and this larger chalice. All other seem to be doing well, I haven't ever dosed, and don't feed, though I did pick up some coral food to try.
Thanks

[MechEng99]

Let us know how your water tests out. The frogspawn might've stung the coral - they can have very long sweeper tentacles. Also, Bayer is only useful on pests, not bacterial/viral issues.

[Mr.Eeks]

NO3 - 0.0
PO4 - 0.25 (it wasn't quite that color but it was very slightly darker than 0.0)
pH - a hair lighter than 8.2 so maybe 8.1
dKH - 8
Ca - 460

Besides the NH3 and NO2 tests that all I have.
Here is a picture of where I have everything positioned, little hard to see but far left on top of rocks you can see my zoas, just left of center halfway up rocks is my smaller chalice, right of center and just below the clown is the troubled chalice, and far right is my frogspawn. After moving the larger chalice the other day he is in the same spot just more shaded, I slide that large boulder up a wee bit to mostly cover him from the light.
http://i.imgur.com/pb7hOyh.jpg

[Mr.Eeks]

You can also see in that picture how much more maroon tissue there was than there is now.

[NickReef17]

I love this, impressive job! were these bought at unsuccessful lfs or personal?

[MechEng99]

Originally Posted by NickReef17

I love this, impressive job! were these bought at unsuccessful lfs or personal?

The ones I take in come from a variety of places. Sometimes LFS get a shipment in that was delayed due to bad weather, and the corals are all near death. Sometimes LFS have been the target of chemical attacks from upset customers or whatever, so I take in those as well. Other times, corals just get stung or get pests...both in hobbyist tanks and at LFS.

[Kyle918]

Hey MechEng99. I bought this acan not too long ago that wasn't doing too hot but after a few days in the tank, it looked like the picture below. It continued to improve about another two weeks.



About a week later, the coral started to decline again. Eventually, I realized it was my cleaner shrimp stealing food and harassing the coral. I have since removed the cleaner shrimp and placed him in the sump until I take him back to a LFS.

The picture below was taken a few minutes ago. It has been two days since removing the shrimp. The coral doesn't look to be on its way up despite not being harassed. I have noticed a bit of bubble algae sprouting on the side and was going to remove the coral to clean that up and dip in CoralRx once again.



Is there anything else that I can or should do to help this coral out? All I have is some large bone cutters at the moment. I know from reading your posts that coral tend to grow new skeleton better than growing over old, jagged skeleton, which I do see since the middle has receded as much as it has. What is the best way to lesson that? Thanks man.

[ReefRescue]

Kyle918
How much flow do you have in the tank?
Where is the coral sitting with respect to the flow
In the picture I can't be clear if it's bleaching as well?
You said that the shrimp was harassing it. What where you feeding it?
How long has it been since it started declining?

[Kyle918]

Originally Posted by ReefRescue

Kyle918
How much flow do you have in the tank?
Where is the coral sitting with respect to the flow
In the picture I can't be clear if it's bleaching as well?
You said that the shrimp was harassing it. What where you feeding it?
How long has it been since it started declining?

I have two Tunze 6025, so around 24-27x the turnover rate taking into account the return. The coral is right in the middle of the tank and receives moderate indirect flow. It appears some of it is bleaching, but just the center most head. I cannot see the mouth of that head, just a very small side of it that still inflates a bit each day. I sometimes see a few feeding tentacles come out.

I was feeling the coral pellets and mysis. I also have reef chili. The shrimp was fed pellets and wafers and of course whatever else he found. I would say the shrimp was well fed but just figured out there is always good there. Even after the mouth was closed, he would wander over and harass the coral to open its mouth and steal the food from each polyp.

It has been declining now just going on two weeks I'd say. I realized it was the shrimp when I witnessed him do this about a week ago. Took a few days to get him out though.

[dsmhero]

Figured I'd post an update:





Unfortunately I don't have a before picture but this was half gone when a hammer fell on it at the LFS, so I bought it for $20 hoping to save it. I'd say it is looking much better.

[paul87]

Here is a lobo I purchased at a bad LFS. I've had it about 4 months. It's finally starting to regrow missing flesh and color up.

Before:


Now:

[dsmhero]

Originally Posted by paul87

Here is a lobo I purchased at a bad LFS. I've had it about 4 months. It's finally starting to regrow missing flesh and color up.

Before:


Now:

Very nice

[AcroDesCoraux]

Wow great thread. tagging along.

[AcroDesCoraux]

Hi guys,

My rainbow Acan just got stung by my Orange Crush Acanthastrea echinata in my frag tank, and I thought they were from the same family but I guess they still sting each other. So I dipped it in Iodine for 5 minutes this morning as soon as I noticed it, and I was just wondering if someone had Acans that survived from being stung before? Or any advice on what to do?
Sorry the pictures are not great but you can see that it's covered of slime and doesn't really look like an Acan anymore, on the second picture the orange Echinata coral on the right is the one that stung it.
Thank you so much!

[ReefRescue]

AcroDesCoraux
It's a bid of waiting game for the next day or two. Depending on how badly it was stung. The slime is usually what most corals will produce immediately after any kind of stress to protect themselves.
If the slime has not subsided by tomorrow the I would take it out and see if it has any foul smell and if it does then I would brush off the dead tissue and dip it again, I believe there is more then one head on the picture posted and if only one was stung the others should survive.
Good luck and keep us posted

[deaddat]

Kind of rescued brain...My brain darkened for a long time and is now regaining colors after changing lights.

12/31 - 1/17

[Philly_Reefer]

I have stalked this thread long enough, I love this thread, I need to get some pics, but have learned and used info from here to save corals. mainly acans. ty everyone for idea and advice

[xruss]

Hello!
I just found your website and this thread.
I am amazed what you have done for these corals to bring them back to life.

I have recently bought an Acanthophyllia, that seemed to be really cool becouse of its colour..

Several days later i realized that the coral was "bleached".. i keep on feeding it now with brine shrimp and mysis since 1 month, nearly everyday - it is not getting better.

Then i realized that the tissue went of right at that spot where i glued it, but the coral doesnt like the glue at all, the tissue ripped nearly instantly again at that spot also it looked very bad after that..


The tissue also was ripped of at one of its sharp edges when i bought it, i removed the sharp edge but the coral has a realy hard time growin over it.

Altough is mouth is always opened now, it reacts to food and blows itself a little bit up, so the mouth is closed and it will take the food that lies on the mouth by itself.
It also diggests the food, but im curious about when it will start to regenerate..

Sadly, i have no dip available cause here where i live, no one knows about this method.. Seems i have to buy bayer from the usa and ship it over here.

Also i have an little bubble coral that i want to rescue, it is accepting food, so i keep on feeding it and look what comes out.

Greetings from Austria!

[burakko]

Hi awesome job guys!!! I have a Trachyphyllia that is missing 1 mouth the other is fine and eating but the other half has flesh but missing the mouth and wont expand tentacles. I need to sand down a little bit where the mouth was but i don't know what to use to sand it down? Dremel?

[Reeferz412]

Here are my rescue corals. The scoly is doing well because I have had it for two weeks, i am going to file down the dead skeleton. The wellso is also doing great (was totally white) and the encrusting coral (name slips me) was a few polyps but is now totally healed. The acanthophyllia and pink goni are newcomers today, both in horrible shape. Let's see if I can bring these back.

[johnike]

Good for you Alex, and welcome to the rescue thread!!

[DEA Coral]

I suspect my peppermint shrimp or dwarf hermits taking food from my acans after feeding, sometimes the acan heads get torn up from this food theft (this is only the second time). I have not added anything to my tank in six months and everything is thriving. Just after feeding this week one acan was torn up really bad. I feed everyone else before I slip the corals their share. I suppose the shrimp and hermits could use some more then I have been giving them. Seems like a hazard to be a shrimp/crab messing with my coral...but their brains are so small, they underestimate the danger. I dipped the affected coral as a precaution and got some more food for the starving population. I only spot feed fresh seafood (shrimp, scallop, muscles, missis shrimp, brine shrimp) to my tanks every two days. I think a daily ration for the shrimp would be better. They are so eager to grab the food I give them already, like a hostage getting back their freedom.

[Reeferz412]

Originally Posted by johnike

Good for you Alex, and welcome to the rescue thread!!

Thanks john, I saw you posted way back when on this thread. I'm late to the party but some of the rescue stories on this thread are nothing short of amazing. I think I have found my new thread to stalk and sub to.

My wellso is beginning to show a lot more feeder tentacles during feeding... at 3 am.... thats the only time I can get it to eat. I brought another newcomer which I doubt will make it but I figure I would give it a shot... a blasto colony that is not doing well at all.

[Fish Ed]

Nice thread! I'm tagging along.
This is an Acan echinata I got for free, it was broken off the mother colony in the shop and melting away.

Before(several months ago 2014):
It only had 1 polyp.


Today:
It has 4 polyps now.


Now I'm rescuing this Fungia