[Michael]

I added a colt coral to my tank a week ago. It has been doing great since being introduced. Extending and its base had even begun to spread. Today when I came home I found it looking a bit peaked with blisters on its main trunk. I did water tests and everything looks fine. There are no other corals in contact with this coral with only one exception. Yesterday I purchased a small tree coral frag attatched to a rather large piece of live rock. As the live rock was covered with red hair algae, I opted to cut the frag from the rock and place it on some gravel in a cup in the vicinity of the colt coral. I replaced the activated carbon in the tank. and relocated the frags to the other end of the tank.

Any ideas. I cant see how these tiny tree coral frags could have irritated the colt but cant see what else could have caused this. The frags are only 1/4 inch long.

Any thoughts?

[Reefland]

Michael,

I don't think it matters what size a frag is, it still poses the same components to defend it's territory. If the two came into contact with each other this is most likely your cause. Since you have already moved them out of reach of each other and added some fresh acrbon (a good idea), I don't think you'll see any permanent effects and the affected coral should heal up pretty quick.

[Michael]

Thanks for getting back. The odd thing here is that the frags could not have come in contact with the colt. The frags are only 1/4 inch and were located 6 inches fron the colt stalk where the blisters have appeared. If it was the frags which caused this it would have to be by their having released some form of toxin into the water. Is this possible?

Originally Posted by Reefland

Michael,

I don't think it matters what size a frag is, it still poses the same components to defend it's territory. If the two came into contact with each other this is most likely your cause. Since you have already moved them out of reach of each other and added some fresh acrbon (a good idea), I don't think you'll see any permanent effects and the affected coral should heal up pretty quick.

[Michael]

I moved the frags to the other end of the tank. Worked all day and when I got home, the colt polyps were open but the piece looked weak. Also, now my star polyps, mushrooms, and blastomosa look weak as well. Water chemistry is right on and I added fresh carbon last night. Cant believe that these two minute little frags could be emitting enough toxin to affect the whole tank but dont know what else could be causing this. If things dont shape up tomorrow Ill try removing the frags but would hate to kill them if they are not the culprits. Any ideas?

[Reefland]

You say your water is right on, could you tell us what all your test results are, including temp and salinity? Also, what kind of fish do you have in the tank?

[Michael]

I relocated the tree coral frags to a holding container last night. Today when I arrived home, the colt coral blisters had gone way down. The colt isnt as extended as it was originally but it is definately improving. All other corals also show improvement over last night.

PH is 8.3 at the end of the day, salinity is 1.023, temp is 77 degrees, calcium is 480ppm, alkalinity is 5meq/L.

I still find it hard to believe that such tiny(smaller than 1/4 inch) frags of tree coral could release enough toxin to affect the whole tank but it sure looks like it. Im thinking that when I cut the frags from their host rock, a defense mechanism perhaps cut in and the pieces started to fight back. Any thoughts

Originally Posted by Reefland

You say your water is right on, could you tell us what all your test results are, including temp and salinity? Also, what kind of fish do you have in the tank?

[Reefland]

Oh I see, you cut the frags right in the tank? That is probably the problem as they are going to become agressive at that point and could potentially release something.

[Michael]

Actually, let me clarify. I bought a piece of rock from the LFS with two tiny tree corals on it. The rock was large and had alot of red hair algae so I opted to simply cut the frags from the rock with a razor and placed them on some crushed coral in a shot glass. They were then placed on the tank floor in the shot glass. Again, both frags are tiny at about 1/4 inch. No corals could have came into contact but it seems the two pieces got their revenge. I only have one tank and now have the frags in a separate container. The frags seem to be looking better. Im wondering if I will be able to reintroduce the frags later once they settle down.

Originally Posted by Reefland

Oh I see, you cut the frags right in the tank? That is probably the problem as they are going to become agressive at that point and could potentially release something.