Death of a Brain Coral

[bobbo1]

As you can see the white part is its skelton and its showing. I can see skelton 40-50% of the brain skelton.

Some background:
I have had my 20 Gal long tank for about 5 month. The tank parameter has pretty much settled down. Last week I had Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate very close to 0. Ph was between 8.0 and 8.3. Calcium is 400-450. I haven't done alk for awhile but last time I did it ( A month ago) it was close to real ocean level.

I got 2 clown, 1 yellow watchman, 1 RBTA, 1 Fuzzy, 5 tubro, 1 queen conch and 3 hermits.

The last addition to the tank is the goby but that was 2 weeks ago.

Runnning 130watt PC, a Aquac Remora, and 2 Maxijets. Water temp has been a little hot lately 80-84. Summer in Socal.

Fastforward:
Last saturday I went out to purchase a brain. I always thought brains were softie until I put it in the tank and it slight touched the glass and I noticed its hard. Immediately after I placed it I saw it had a white stringie, like mocus from your nose, hanging from one side of it. I didn't pay much attention. Sunday I saw a great display of flesh.. they had all bubbled up but the brain looked healthy. I was afraid they might burst but I didn't take much attention. When I purchased the brain I asked the LFS if I need to target feed it but they told me no so I didn't bother feeding it. When I came home tonight it looked like that.

I am a little depressed. My yellow goby thought it's a meal. Went up to it and tear off some dead flesh. I have taken it out already. I can't risk anything remotely dying in a 20. That might ruin the water quality fast. You guys have any idea why the brain died so fast? Everything else in the tank looks alright. "knock on wood"

Thanks !

 

[Anonymous]

Whats your acclimation technique?

 

[ChrisRD]

...and also, what is your specific gravity...

 

[nice1bruva]

is the goby a sand sifter??
if so...then it probably helped to kill it in the first place whilst spitting sans around. i lost a gorgeous long tentacled plate coral due to this.

 

[bobbo1]

Accimlate techinque is none because I specifically asked the LFS owner what I should do. He said these corals can be dropped straight in. I trusted him for my fuzzy mushroom and it turned out ok.



SG is between 1.022-1.023. Closer to 1.023 due to higher temperature.

My yellow watchman is a sand shifter.

 

[nice1bruva]

Accimlate techinque is none because I specifically asked the LFS owner what I should do. He said these corals can be dropped straight in. I trusted him for my fuzzy mushroom and it turned out ok.



SG is between 1.022-1.023. Closer to 1.023 due to higher temperature.

My yellow watchman is a sand shifter.

....i think you may your culpit!!!

they tend to dump sand around without a care. a lot of corals that get placed in their way suffer.

 

[ChrisRD]

IMO your SG is a bit low, although 1.023 should be OK.

If it's getting sand blown on it, that could be an irritant, although I doubt it would have effected the coral so quickly.

My guess is (barring any other water quality issues) just dropping the coral in with no acclimation probably stressed it considerably. Given some time it may have recovered.

 

[Simon1]

I would find a new LFS to.

 

[nice1bruva]

IMO your SG is a bit low, although 1.023 should be OK.

If it's getting sand blown on it, that could be an irritant, although I doubt it would have effected the coral so quickly.

My guess is (barring any other water quality issues) just dropping the coral in with no acclimation probably stressed it considerably. Given some time it may have recovered.

sorry.. .....didn't realise the coral was only a week old....

 

[bobbo1]

I would find a new LFS to.

Thanks guys. I should have known better instead of trusting them. Just an awful feeling whenever something dies. From now on full acclimation procedure on all live stocks.

I am having some trouble getting my salinity to be exact every mix. Do you guys all keep it at full strength? 1.025?

 

[Simon1]

Your corals will be happier at 1.025 or 1.o26.