[zhenya]

Hi all!
I did a 20% w/c in my 110g and three days later my green table is loosing tissue and it seems like it's going fast
I made sure all parameters match in the new water and aerated it for 48hrs priop to changing and now this...
Should I try to dip it in lugols or maybe some other antibiotic,or, should I just frag the piece and take a small still healthy part and mount and move it to my other tank?You think it could be dreaded RTN?
Man I'm MAD.

[zhenya]

Oops,I do have a pic to show...it started last night on the base of it and is now moved to one side.I fear it'll be consumed fast.

[Palmetto]

Gene, I would frag away the healthy parts. It is moving too quickly to mess with- the ones I have had do that were gone in no time. The healthy part looks just fine, and may grow very quickly.

Good luck!

[zhenya]

Hi Darren,
Thanks for replying.I'm thinking along the same lines.I have one question for you,if you did frag a tabular colony,what type of tool did you use?Just braking it with hands leaves too much room for errors,any advice on this
This has me puzzled,it was doing quite well since I put it in my tank for a couple of weeks and now this...I can't believe that simple water change could of done this.

TIA.

[Palmetto]

Tables are some of the worst about doing this when wild-caught specimens that have dense growth like this are put in tanks with less than totally turbulent water.

I don't think it was the water change, I think it was probably just insufficient current and/ or light to penetrate into the thick growth that formed in the ocean under much different conditions. (even though other more open branching colonies may totally fluorish in there!)

A frag in your tank may not grow into the same table shape, but will grow into a formation that is more suited for your conditions, usually a more spread open table-like growth.

JMO....
Good luck!!

[Palmetto]

Oh, and I use a very sharp, pointed pair of TOENAIL CLIPPERS of all things!

I just saw them one day in Wal-Mart or something. They look like little side-cutters with a tapering, curved point- but they are stainless steel.

I have found them to be my best fragging tool for tight places.

I also use a Dremel saw whenever possible.

[zhenya]

Thanks Darren
I actualy had a PH pointed in the direction of the colony,not directly but reflecting off the overflow box and glass.I could see polyps swaying in the current,but you're right,wild colonies prone to this and it's a chance you take.
Now,someone gave me a stainless still clippers for my b-day one year and I never used them ,good thing I asked.

[Palmetto]

Oh, I am sure that by reef-tank standards you had LOTS of current, but imagine the surging tide and waves, currents, etc wild ones are used to. It's just my theory, but I have seen it happen repeatedly with tables especially, and it seems to take longer in higher-current tanks.

Of course, there are so many other factors with wild acros, it is hard to tell!

Good luck on the toenail clippings!

[kevinpo]

I would frag several od the healthy tips ASAP. I use a small set of needle nose pliers. Sorry that it's necessary. I hope you save some of it.

Regards,
Kevin

[zhenya]

Thanks guys!
I just hacked a good chank off and clipped some healthy tips like you said Kevin.I also did some lugols dip on the remaining good part and place it in a small qtank with a PH.I hope for the best.

[Palmetto]

Good idea on the dip on the mother colony, Gene.

I hate that it had to be done, that was a beautiful colony.

I think the tips will grow out just fine, and we will keep our fingers crossed on the rest-

Good luck!

[zhenya]

Thanks for incouraging words Darren

Here is a pic after the dip,but now it's been moved to smaller tank.Frags are in my 75gal and hopefully I can glue them up tomorrow.The colony actualy was turning pink for the most part and only deep inside it was still green, now half of it is gone

[SueT]

Gene, Hi and I'm so sorry about the table. I agree with Darren about the current we are able to replicate in our tanks being nothing compared to the ocean. These tables grow this way for a reason and we cannot hope to duplicate the action they see. I have given up on tables as they do so good for a while and then over night sometimes they do exactly like yours has. I have had them for up to 2 years and then overnight crap out. And when they start to go it usually does happen fast too. I also think the water change had nothing to do with this. Good Luck!!!

Hopefully the frags will make it. Given that some of the branches were also fragged off the colony might do better too. Hopefully....

my 180 ecosystem sps/clam tank:
http://berlinmethod.com/suet/
my 120 ecosystem tank:
http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html

[MtnDewMan]

Sorry to hear about the table Gene ... Keep an eye on it. I have found that every acro colony that I have had that showed some RTNing, whether I fragged it up like crazy or not, I eventually lost the whole colony (frags and all). I don't know why that happened, but it happened almost every time (well, not 100% of the time, but most).

So I recommend that you do keep a close eye on it and good luck.

[Palmetto]

Really, Mtndew? Even ones that had barely started?

I have saved some that way, but others did just what you describe once it started the really fast tissue shedding.

Usually if you get some to live it is the new growth tips.

I used to order in a lot of wild SPS colonies, and I lost some money over RTN. I went for the big showpieces and learned an expensive lesson in coral sales! What is funny is how many times I would make a frag from a small piece that broke off in the bag- then after the whole mother colony RTN'd, I still had the little frag growing like crazy. After enough of this, I figured I would go with smaller colonies that can get circulation and light throughout.

(Or frags from ORA!)

[zhenya]

I like to thank you all for caring enough to share your opinions.It makes me feel good that I'm not alone with this problem and someone cares
Chuck,I hate it,but I tend to agree with you
Sue,I'll write to you and share some things that I can't say here

Darren,thanks for all your help and understanding

[SueT]

I agree MDM, once some of these corals show signs of RTN, there is nothing that you can do to save them. "Usually" plus it is also the most exotic coloration or rare species ones too. I have had some success with saving a frag, but for the ones you sure don't want to lose I always end up with atleast a frag that makes it. I have had them go down to a single polyp and make a comeback. My confusa to name one. This had grown into the most awesome colony and the next thing I know tissue is falling off, but I ended up with a piece the size of my finger tip. Now it is already back to a small tea cup size. You just never know.

Gene, you know I care, email me, I have some errands this morning and then I'll be home.

my 180 ecosystem sps/clam tank:
http://berlinmethod.com/suet/
my 120 ecosystem tank:
http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html

[MtnDewMan]

Yah, that has been my experience. Maybe a teeny tiny bit lives. But rarely a decent sized frag for me. For some reason once it starts going, it GOES ... and nearly always stays with the one colony, not surrounding colonies.

Keep us updated on the progress.

[zhenya]

Chuck,
Everything I took yesterday is gone
The parent colony is heading for the trash bin I think soon.Very sad day indeed. I took this tips far away from the affected area but they were stark white this morning I'll try taking few more but my feeling is that it's useless at this point.

[MtnDewMan]

Sorry to hear that Gene ... Sounds like the experiences I have had as well, where it doesn't matter what part of the tank you put them in, the frags go as well. I have fragged and given them away to other tanks too, and they will still RTN ...

One trick I have tried if it is from a tip toward the base. Nip the coral where there is still live tissue. Then super glue a blob on the end where you just clipped. See if the RTN stops and if it does it will soon grow over the super glue upward again. Not in this particular case for you, but maybe for future reference.