[idrum]

Have a branching colt coral in my 72 reef - has been the fastest and largest growing coral in my tank (for about 3 months) - come home from a 3 day weekend to find it slumped over - also looked like it had little 'bubble' type bumps on it?

I move it and little bits and parts of it flaked off into the tank.

I know corals can be near death and 'come back'

Before I post parameters and what not, does anyone have a preliminary diagnosis - i.e. does this sound like something familiar or common?

[GreenLincoln]

Having "blisters" on your colt is a classic symptom that something has come in direct contact with it to irritate its tissues. I had this experience once when I fragged mine...superglue really irritates this coral. Could have been anything such as undissolved buffer, another nearby coral with sweeper tentacles...take a closer look (maybe after lights off) to see if another coral has decided to "reach out and touch" your colt. HTH

[idrum]

Thanks for the response - my Galaxea could be the culprit (thought I placed it fer enough away).

So here's the magic question - will it survive or did I lose it? It looks real bad! Just put a spaghetti leather in there yesterday and its already fully expanded, so I know its not parameters.

[GreenLincoln]

Colts are very resilient and hardy, should it should bounce back after two or three days. You MIGHT lose the branch that was affected, especially if it was already dissolving. You should run carbon now, and if you already do, put in FRESH carbon, because as you know, colts produce copious amounts of slime, especially when injured, and this slime will irritate other corals (especially leathers and gorgs). And by the way, yes the galaxea was prolly the culprit, and a MEAN one at that. They can and will sting and kill anything within their reach, which can be as much as 8" I am told....my galaxea is only 3" across but it can put out sweeper tentacles about 6" long (so far). HTH