A lesson the Hard Way

[Kashi]

WOW! Had some kind of coral bacterial (I think) outbreak in my 125 tank that attacked only soft corals. A week ago I added a couple of soft corals (both Sinularia sp.) One was a typical sp. but the other was a large light green tree-like coral. Of course, I decided not to 'dip' them
and the typical sp. started to decay with this brown jelly looking stuff.
I removed it and 'dipped' it, cleaned it up and crazy glued the huge gap it mad in one of the larger stems (its doing fine now).
I thought everything was ok until the weekend when I saw my beautiful tree coral had disintegrated and my yellow leather and other tree corals affected. I quickly removed both of them and 'dipped' them in seperate containers. The green tree coral was a soggy, stinky mess. The yellow had some around the edges whic I gently scaped off.
I was able to salvage a small cutting from the tree coral and the yellow leather is fine. My other soft corrals are very hardy so they are clearing up ( some had small brown patches on them but they are attached to very large pieces of liverock and cant be easily removed).

Anyone ever had a similar experience?

I have learned my lesson and will always treat any coral going into the tank.

[bongobrian]

You should be more concerned with the tank's ability to "treat" the coral instead of just always doing dips. Your corals were most likely healthy when you bought them, but it sounds like they received some type of infection while being in the tank. Do you add iodine? I would check the levels in the tank. Not having enough idodine or none at all, will often result in corals getting infections like this, ESPECIALLY leather corals such as sinularia. Placing these corals in areas with medium to high flow will also help. Always always always do the research on a coral and it's requirements to live/thrive before you buy it.

[Kashi]

Well, this is the first time in the 5 years that I've been reef keeping that something like this has happened. Yes I do add iodine and check the levels to make sure I'm not overdosing.
Waterflow? I have a GENX at almost 1200 gph circulating from my sump and a closed-loop using a Dolphin Ampmaster.
And yes, I always read everything I can on the corals I purchase.

I have lost a few corals over the years as I'm sure everyone has but never had this happen before, just was curious if anyone else has had this happen to them.

[organicreefer]

"brown jelly " infections are not uncommon-it sounds like you handled it the "right" way.

most often they occur after a coral has been damaged or stressed in some way-ive had a colt get it after being fragged in the past.

once it happens -you have to move quick to erradicate it since it is contagious -as you have learned .

anyway sounds like you got it under control.