Help!! What is wrong with my plate??

Amador · #1 05/20/2007, 01:48 PM

I added this plate coral on Friday, and today I find it looking like this:

I fed it a small piece of shrimp last night. Could it be a reaction to that somehow?

The only thing I can see that is off with my parameters is that my alk is pretty high (~12 dKH). Could that be affecting it? I have also noticed it is producing some strings of mucus.

As you can see, I am keeping it on the bottom of my starboard tank. Could the starboard be having a detrimental effect on the fungia's health?

Please help!!

Buster4900 · #2 05/20/2007, 03:44 PM

Maybe it is taking a few days to get used to surrounding?

Amador · #3 05/20/2007, 04:52 PM

Yeah, but overnight it goes from pristine to that?

MikeP471612 · #4 05/20/2007, 05:16 PM

Mine looked like that when I first added it. In about a week it was back to normal with tentical extension and it was eating. Keep an eye on it but I think it will be fine after it gets used to your tank.

HTH

nebraskareef · #5 05/20/2007, 07:11 PM

There is some tissue death on the bottom right. It is likely caused by the starboard.

These guys need sand.

Amador · #6 05/20/2007, 09:24 PM

I placed him in a tupperware container of sand to see if that helps. Thanks for the info guys.

nebraskareef · #7 05/20/2007, 09:33 PM

That will definitely make it easier on him. Continue to offer foods when the coral is expanded.

ocnluvr · #8 05/20/2007, 11:54 PM

My plate looked like that for a long time befor i relized kit even had tenacles. My salt was high then low and i had no idea what i was doing, i was a chemical soup person. Now its gorgeaous blooming everyday. Mine is high up on a peice of live rock, near the imput of the sump and lots of light. Try that.

jenajet · #9 05/21/2007, 12:04 AM

What lighting do you have? Mine did that at first (I have 500wattmh total) I moved him to a shaded area and he puffed back up within a few days.

jer77 · #10 05/21/2007, 02:43 AM

During the day in bright sunlight they usually retract their tenticles and mucus netting. They are very delicate creatures too when expanded. They only receive like 70% of their food from sunlight so make sure to feed, especially at night when its ready. They definately need sand and like to move around to find a good spot so if you put it into a container make sure its a low light area with low-moderate flow. What are you feeding it?

jskaras · #11 05/21/2007, 09:38 AM

I hope it turns around for you. I just added one last weekend and in 2 days it had bleached. I found my brittle stars tearing hunks off of it and eating it. I've never seen them eating coral before. Anyone else ever see brittle stars interact this way?

Amador · #12 05/21/2007, 10:06 AM

Hmm, now you've got me thinking! I do have a brittle star(actually a serpent star), that probably hasn't been getting much to eat since I've gone BB. Wonder if he is the culprit?

I fed the plate a small piece of raw shrimp on Saturday, that's it. He is on the bottom of the tank (~22" down) under 250W MHs. I've made a shady spot for him by putting some eggcrate with some window-screen type material on that part of the tank. Hopefully he'll start to improve!

jeffbrig · #13 05/21/2007, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Amador
I placed him in a tupperware container of sand to see if that helps. Thanks for the info guys.

The suggestion to put him on sand is incorrect. Fungia plates in the wild are typically found on top of rock rubble or coral skeletons. If the tissue on the underside is in sand, the tissue can be smothered and die.

I have two on the bottom of my bb system, and they are very healthy and happy.

jeffbrig · #14 05/21/2007, 10:37 AM

From Eric Borneman's Aquarium Corals

Quote:

In general, those fungiids with sharp septal spines and flat morphology are less able to rid themselves of sediment. These species are common to rocky or rubble bottoms rather than soft substrates and are readily available in the aquarium trade. As such, the customary tendency to place fungiids on a soft sandy bottom exposed to significant sedimentation may be problematic.

Interestingly, of 19 plate coral photos in his book, the only one on sand is the only shot taken in someone's aquarium.

Amador · #15 05/21/2007, 10:40 AM

Well, now I am all confused! When I picked him up to put him in the container of sand, there was a reddish spot on the starboard where the plate was sitting. My thought was that it was from some damage to the fungia. What gives!?

jeffbrig · #16 05/21/2007, 10:42 AM

Is this a new tank, or new starboard? For the time being, I would place the fungia on top of a piece of LR, or put 3-4 pieces of LR rubble down and place him on top.

I wouldn't automatically assume that you're doing anything wrong. Some corals have a bad time in transit and/or acclimation. You may still be dealing with issues stemming from that. My favias are typically more inflated late in the photoperiod going into the night, so a morning shot may not be the best indicator of health.

Amador · #17 05/21/2007, 10:49 AM

Thanks for the tips. The tank itself is about a year old, but I recently switched over to starboard. I'll give the LR a try when I get home tonight. At the LFS he was sitting on a piece of PVC pipe standing on end, I wonder if suddenly being on substrate again takes some getting used to.

ihopss · #18 05/21/2007, 11:15 AM

on top of rock is where my plate coral does the best,

ocnluvr · #19 05/21/2007, 11:36 AM

Like I said the top of my rock,I totally agree with jeffbrigs, BEWARE. I'll send u a picture, I know it gets confusing. After so many books and "advice" its hard to get the best advice :>

mgregg99 · #20 05/21/2007, 11:39 AM

Mine sits on crushed coral and is doing great. I've had it about 2 1/2 years now. I've never fed it directly, but it does catch some mysis now and then that the fish don't catch first. It's fun to watch it grab a piece of food and carry it up towards the mouth.

Mike

Der_Iron_Chef · #21 05/21/2007, 12:07 PM

mgregg99....has it grown in the time you've had it? and if so, how much? beautiful coral!!

mgregg99 · #22 05/21/2007, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Der_Iron_Chef
mgregg99....has it grown in the time you've had it? and if so, how much? beautiful coral!!

Thanks! It's probably grown about an inch in diameter at most. I don't know if that's typical, but it seems to be doing well.

corals b 4 bills · #23 05/21/2007, 01:00 PM

Here's one that I had for a year now sitting on a flat rock, mine wasn't doing this well untill I bought a better skimmer and mega flow.

jeffbrig · #24 05/21/2007, 01:30 PM

Just for fun, here's my pair of fungias sitting on the bare tank bottom.

Amador · #25 05/21/2007, 01:38 PM

Wow, those are fantastic guys. Thanks for the tips, hopefully mine will recover and look as good soon.