trachyphyllia dying?

I'm sorry to hear that. I feared the worst.

For those of you interested in my experience, here's some of it. I knew how controversial this was going to be, and I didn't have time to sit here and debate it, especially with a coral quickly dying. I still don't want to debate it without actual scientific proof to the contrary.

Several other reefkeepers and I have been studying trachyphyllia issues specifically for the last three years. Most issues are caused by simple stuff: water parameters, etc. However, there's definitely something else going on in another group of issues. I've managed to save 4 now with those issues, but I lost a lot trying. (More info:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1918483)

What I've seen happen is that a mouth die below the tissue on Trachy's (but will appear normal for a little while), and once the mouth goes, that whole side will start to go...which triggers an infection that kills the remaining healthy coral. When I've noticed this happening, the only way I've been able to save the healthy side is to cut off all necrotic tissue and into the healthy tissue. Then, I superglue the healthy tissue onto the freshly cut skeleton.dip it in a 10:1 tank water to hydrogen peroxide solution for 20 seconds, followed by a 10 minute dip in 0.5ml Bayer to 2 cups tank water, followed by a 10 minute dip in Coral Rx. If the recession nears the other mouth, then it's probably too late.

I don't know what causes this, and unfortunately my microscope broke. If I leave out any one of the three dips above, I haven't had a trachy make it. I'm not sure why that combination so far has been successful, but it has (as long as there is at least one fully healthy mouth.) Hydrogen peroxide dips tend to kill off nuisance algae, Bayer is an insecticide, and Coral Rx is great for infections. I do all three dips on most sick corals just to hit all three areas. I don't know why this particular syndrome (if I may call it that) responds to all three.   

Edited by ReefdUp - July 01 2013 at 4:58pm

Hi Burt...

I hope you mean that it was losing all of its tentacles....   

I treat nearly all my sick LPS with that three-step dip process. It seems to knock out everything on a sick coral. I don't recommend it for a healthy coral though. Most infections are knocked out with CoralRx and good water parameters...unless it's Vibrio (causes widespread bleaching in a coral usually.)

Bayer is great for real pests/parasites. However, it's nasty stuff, so I wouldn't touch it...and keep it away from kids. Here's all the info you'll need on it.
http://www.reefdup.com/2012/09/02/bayer-coral-dip/

Hydrogen peroxide dips are one that I rarely recommend to anyone but someone really experienced. It's tricky to tell when to pull the coral out... But, if you get experienced with it, it kills off all the bryopsis, bubble algae, etc.

ReefdUp wrote: Hi Burt... I hope you mean that it was losing all of its tentacles....    I treat nearly all my sick LPS with that three-step dip process. It seems to knock out everything on a sick coral. I don't recommend it for a healthy coral though. Most infections are knocked out with CoralRx and good water parameters...unless it's Vibrio (causes widespread bleaching in a coral usually.) Bayer is great for real pests/parasites. However, it's nasty stuff, so I wouldn't touch it...and keep it away from kids. Here's all the info you'll need on it. http://www.reefdup.com/2012/09/02/bayer-coral-dip/ Hydrogen peroxide dips are one that I rarely recommend to anyone but someone really experienced. It's tricky to tell when to pull the coral out... But, if you get experienced with it, it kills off all the bryopsis, bubble algae, etc.

Sorry for the typo, yes I did mean losing.

I'm pretty familiar with using Hydrogen Peroxide to kill off nuisance algae. I usually try to remove the corals from the tank and spot treat then replace but have on occasion done a dip. Thanks for the info on Bayre.

Got to love automatic spell checkers. Well at least I'll give everyone a laugh over that one.

Edited by bfessler - July 02 2013 at 8:41am

Hi Paul,

Sounds like a good research project for you. Check it out and report back.

builderofdreams wrote: Maybe Mark has a all natural way to keep up the corals testosterone levels.

Edited by Pete Moss - July 02 2013 at 11:41am